Shanghai Summer Travel Guide: Exploring the Magic City's Many Faces

Duration: 2 days, Time: July, Average cost per person: 3000 yuan, Companions: Friends, Activities: Cuisine, Photography, Free Travel, Bohemian Lifestyle, Weekend Trip. The author visited these places: Hengshan Road, The Bund, Guangfulin Ruins, Zhiye Zen Temple, Lujiazui. Published on 2021-07-23 14:48. Preface: Shanghai, a collision of fashion and tradition. I have always been fond of Shanghai, enamored with the dilapidated old Western-style buildings on Hengshan Road, where the plane trees cast a dappled shade over the sun in summer. I enjoy sitting on a double-decker bus observing the crowds passing by, or holding a cup of hot coffee on The Bund, waiting for a splendid sunset. This international metropolis is a fusion of fashion and tradition. Often, you can witness its bohemian side and also find traces of old Shanghai in countless moments. She is like a woman with a thousand faces, full of surprises waiting to be discovered. Shanghai is fresh and vibrant. Strolling through the alleys and streets, you will surely be attracted by the colorful buildings, with popular check-in spots everywhere in squares and parks. Shanghai is international and charming. As night falls, a grand South American carnival begins. Argentine dancers’ skirts flutter, their passionate dances, the aroma of steaks, an intoxicating night. Shanghai is fashionable and up-to-date. Murder mystery games, flash mobs, fashion weeks, electronic music festivals, this city is always at the forefront of trends and fashion! Come and watch a punk flash mob, step into a five-dimensional psychedelic world in an instant. Shanghai is enchanting with her infinite charm. As a child, my impression of Shanghai mostly came from Zhou Xuan’s ‘Night Shanghai’, where the old record played on the phonograph. What flowed slowly was not only music but also her infinite charm. When you come here, you must wear a cheongsam, and in an instant, you dream back to the Bund. Shanghai is full of history and unique cultural heritage. Often, walking here, you will unconsciously forget the bustling city you are in and slowly immerse yourself in a journey of reminiscence. These are all distinct faces of Shanghai, each charming and fascinating. This summer, come and check in the Magic City! First: Aegean Shopping Park – Santorini in Shanghai. How many colors does Shanghai have? It’s probably countless. Every street and square here seems to have its own color, and because of this, the magical capital’s popular check-in spots are constantly being discovered. As a Pisces, I have always loved blue, and surprisingly, Shanghai also has a place like Santorini, right in the square of the Aegean Shopping Park.
If Greece is out of reach for now, then a mini version is a great alternative. Drive to the Aegean Sea Shopping Park, a cultural experience and commercial complex with a dedicated underground parking lot. Directly opposite is the Santorini-inspired spot, easily visible from the fountain plaza. The structure is modest in size and open to the public for free. Previously, one could climb it, but now it’s cordoned off for maintenance with security patrolling the area, so visitors must find suitable photo spots around it. It’s recommended to visit in the afternoon around three or four o’clock, as the midday sun is too harsh. Wearing clothes of the same color can make for great photos, and you can finish in half an hour. You can also enjoy dinner at the shopping park before heading back.

Secondly, Shanghai Songcheng – A Trendy and Cool Spot to Check-In: Word has it that Shanghai Songcheng has opened! Being in Shanghai recently, I couldn’t wait to bring my friends to check it out. I’ve visited Songcheng attractions in various places before, and the performances and entertainment have left a lasting impression. Located in the Expo Park by the Huangpu River, Shanghai Songcheng boasts an excellent location. The main building is a six-story structure with most entertainment indoors, keeping guests comfortable in both winter and summer, which is fantastic!

The ‘Ghost Ship’ on the first floor was the first venue we visited. It’s an ideal place to test your courage. Although I’m usually timid, with my friends’ encouragement, I took the first step. Inside the Ghost Ship, there are many scenes. Initially, I was very scared, following closely behind my friends, not daring to look around, just wanting to get out quickly. As we walked, the fear subsided, and the most memorable moment was the sudden heavy rain in the ship’s wine cellar at the end. We came out a bit wet, making it a fun and thrilling experience. There’s also a water play area and a music square outdoors on the first floor. In summer, children love to play with water, and here they can play freely with their friends, enjoying a cool summer. The central stage in the square hosts regular performances, such as the one featuring Huang Feihong and his disciples, who put on a martial arts competition. Chinese martial arts are truly impressive, with these disciples, both male and female, each possessing unique skills, ultimately defeating the foreign challengers and promoting the spirit of Chinese martial arts.

The second floor of the attraction mainly houses the Songcheng Story Exhibition Hall, cafés, and restaurants. The third floor is an art exhibition space. Continuing upwards, you’ll reach the exciting fourth floor, which features the No. 1 and No. 3 theaters, and magic shows are held periodically in front of the Shenhu Yuan Bar. The Modern Costume Hall on the fourth floor in the Songcheng Eternal Love Street offers a variety of costumes such as Hanfu, Qipao, and Kimono, allowing visitors to experience the joy of dressing up for a small fee.
The entire street offers a variety of distinct scenes that can keep you photographing all day long, with the crucial advantage of avoiding the sun, which is incredibly important. Moreover, if you rent costumes, there’s no time limit; simply return them when you’ve had enough. The celestial marketplace on the sixth floor is brimming with exotic charm, akin to stepping into Arabia. Visit a crystal ball performance here, then explore the slanted house, side house, and invisibility house, and enjoy a turn through the kaleidoscope for ultimate stress relief. The marketplace also sells numerous small items, and for a moment, I felt as if I were abroad, with each item exquisitely crafted, making me want to take them all home. After strolling around with friends, we came across a small, delicate Aladdin lamp that we instantly adored and decided to purchase, hoping it would bring good fortune. When tired from shopping, you can rest on the marketplace benches, flip through a book, order a drink, and take a break before continuing. At Songcheng, there’s no need to rush; you can walk and play at a leisurely pace. The Songcheng scenic area features two red chair sculptures, one on the first floor and one on the terrace, which are iconic and must be photographed for remembrance. The glass observation deck on the seventh floor offers a view of the Huangpu River and Shanghai’s high-rise buildings, making it an excellent spot for a beautiful silhouette photo, which should not be missed. Additionally, there are elf valleys and Hobbit houses that children love, filled with surprises both inside and out. Children who enjoy challenging themselves can experience the slide, with dedicated staff supervising each activity, ensuring both children’s joy and parents’ peace of mind. As the night falls, a grand South American carnival begins. Argentine dancers’ skirts flutter, their passionate dances, the aroma of steak, and the intoxicating night. ‘Passionate Samba’ is the dining show we were most looking forward to that day. It starts promptly at five forty in the afternoon, and you can enter early to secure a good seat. The show begins with an exciting South American drum performance. The passionate drumbeats stimulate the appetite, as if one is in the South American tropical rainforest. The performers of ‘Passionate Samba’ are all foreign, hailing from Argentina, Cuba, Russia, Ukraine, and other countries, allowing the audience to experience the most authentic American style without leaving Shanghai. Samba is a dance and music genre originating from Bahia, Brazil. It has its earliest roots in the ritualistic dances of African indigenous people, brought to Brazil by African slaves trafficked to Brazil, and gradually evolved into today’s Samba after mixing with other local cultures. The entire performance is ingeniously choreographed, incorporating not only South American songs and dances but also thrilling aerial hoop acts, significantly enhancing the visual appeal and leaving a profound impression on the audience.
Exotic charm, swaying to the top. Suddenly, the entire venue plunged into darkness, followed by the emergence of several green lights undulating in the dark—a novel design that I had never seen before. Hot and uninhibited dances, thrilling aerial performances, a combination of strength and flexibility, all immersed me in the experience, keeping my eyes glued to the stage the entire time, even forgetting the delicious food right in front of me. The entire show lasted about 60 minutes, with a succession of dishes being served alongside the performance. This is a dual feast for the eyes and taste buds, the most unmissable experience of this summer. After watching the ‘Passionate Samba’ on the first floor, a punk flash mob is about to take place on the Magic Street. This is a new breed of performance specially created for young people, where you can see a group of actors dressed in punk-style clothing delivering a performance that stirs the blood. They use lighting, sound, smoke, special effects, and exaggerated punk costumes to transform the scene into a world full of futuristic technology. Instantly, I felt as if I had stepped into a five-dimensional space where time and space intersect, with the sound and light effects being superb, and the actors’ performances being quite professional. Heaven and hell, past and future, reality and virtuality, at every corner, you encounter different characters and trigger different stories. Do you want to experience it? An extraordinary visual enjoyment, at the end of the performance, all the actors led us in an ultra-high-energy dance to the passionate music, and the atmosphere of the venue instantly reached its peak. After the flash mob ended, everyone was still eager for more, and the color carnival night continued to spread joy on the square. Cool singers sang on stage, and a water fight was about to start in the audience. Foreign drummers began to beat the drums, and with the stirring rhythm, the color carnival night officially began. Parents with their children nearby were eager to join the carnival team. The cheerleading dances of the young ladies were also quite wonderful, and at this time, the staff on the side had reminded parents who had not yet bought raincoats and water guns to get ready, yes, the water fight was about to start. It was unclear who fired the first shot of the battle, and everyone began to wildly spray with water guns, and some adults even took basins and buckets to scoop water, it was too exciting. At this moment, whether wearing a raincoat or not, getting wet was inevitable. But in the summer evening, being able to revel in the carnival and play with water, the heat and fatigue of the day had long been swept away, leaving only coolness and joy. At this moment, whether you know each other or not is not so important, what matters is to have fun and enjoy yourself. So everyone splashed water on others, and instantly, the square was splashed with water, and laughter rose one after another. From day to night, an open art district, multiple transformable spaces, and a performance square that can accommodate tens of thousands of people, Shanghai Songcheng can meet all your fantasies and expectations.
III: Songcheng Costume Hall – A Night of Old Shanghai Charm. Shanghai, night Shanghai, you are a city that never sleeps. As the lights come on and the music plays, the songs and dances fill the air… From my childhood, my impression of Shanghai was mostly derived from Zhou Xuan’s song ‘Shanghai Night’. The old record on the phonograph rotates slowly, and what flows slowly is not only the music but also her myriad charms. I have been searching for an entryway, one that can take me back to the old times of Shanghai, until I stepped into the Songcheng Costume Hall in Shanghai. In an instant, a strong sense of time travel filled my body, and countless classic scenes appeared before my eyes. Songcheng has two costume halls, one is the Time-Traveling Costume Hall on the first floor, and the other is the Modern Costume Hall on the fourth floor, with thousands of sets of costumes for a transformative experience, allowing you to have a life of a hundred changes. The first floor is mainly the Qipao Costume Hall, while the fourth floor is a comprehensive costume hall. I wanted to experience wearing a Qipao, so I found suitable attire on the first floor. Here, props and makeup are all provided, with a very reasonable price of 158 for the costume and makeup. After the styling is complete, you can not only take photos on the first floor but also visit the ‘Eternal Love Street’ on the fourth floor, where many scenes are also perfect for Qipao. The staff at the costume hall are very enthusiastic, specially reminding me not to miss the bed and chair on the fourth floor, which look superb in photos. Wow, it really feels like stepping back into the era of the Bund just by walking around. As long as you wish, you can stroll around Songcheng in Qipao for the entire day. Moreover, during summer, the last thing you want is to get sunburned, and Songcheng is a six-story indoor complex where you can enjoy the air conditioning while taking beautiful photos. If you don’t have a photographer, don’t worry, there are professional photographers available to capture your moments with a DSLR at a reasonable price. When I visited, I happened to encounter an elderly lady taking Qipao photos, which was truly elegant and full of a sense of the times, filling me with a sense of nostalgia. IV: Guangfulin – A Meeting Across Millennia. If you wish to explore the history of Shanghai, then the Guangfulin site in Sheshan is a must-visit. As we all know, Songjiang is the cradle of Shanghai’s history and culture, with a popular saying among the people, ‘There was Songjiang Prefecture before there was Shanghai Bund, there was Guangfulin before there was Songjiang history.’ Walking into the Guangfulin Cultural Site is like arriving at a treasured land with thousands of years of history. It is very suitable for taking photos in traditional costumes, with winding bluestone paths and the white-walled and black-tiled Hui-style courtyards, serene and remote. Guangfulin in the rain has a unique charm. The Fuling Wall is simple and elegant. Guangfulin is not only a place to trace your ancestry but also a great place for weekend leisure and vacation. It’s only a little over an hour’s drive from the city center, and Guangfulin is a place where you can spend an entire day exploring.
Zhi Ye Zen Temple is a temple with a very long history. Legend has it that a Tang Dynasty monk traveled to Songjiang and, after a decade of alms collection, managed to build it. Today, Zhi Ye Zen Temple is reconstructed in memory of the benevolent acts of Zhi Ye Zen Master who was known for his medical aid and rescue efforts among the local people of Songjiang. The Fulin Tower stands between Zhi Ye Zen Temple and San Yuan Palace, with the entrance to the Ancient Pottery Art Museum beneath the tower. Numerous national treasure-level pottery pieces excavated from Guangfulin are displayed here, and it is highly recommended to take a look if you have the time. Five: Jianguo Puyin – A Sanctuary of Zen. Jianguo Puyin Hotel is located in the core business district of Pudong Lujiazui. ‘Pu’ implies a return to simplicity, while ‘Yin’ means to hide in plain sight. Just by hearing the name, it seems like a secret space in a bustling city, a place of return that weary bodies and minds have been seeking. Entering the space, the theme of the Tang and Song dynasties is fully displayed in the Chinese style. Su Shi once said, ‘Where the heart is at peace, that is my hometown.’ Living in a metropolis, under the pressure of long hours of work, it is easy for both body and mind to become exhausted. What we desire in a living space, apart from warmth and comfort, is also a sense of belonging to the soul. The design of Puyin Hotel is deeply rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese civilization and closely integrated with Chinese culture, creating a tranquil and peaceful accommodation space that returns to nature amidst the city. Even in the public areas leading to the rooms, inkstones and brushes are thoughtfully placed, allowing you to converse with yourself and find a sense of belonging for your heart while walking. There are dedicated rest areas on both sides of the lobby, where you can enjoy a cup of light tea, relieve the fatigue of traveling, and listen to the beauty of flowers falling. The quiet and comfortable environment, with its natural wood tones, is the cozy life I desire. At Puyin, forget all the noise and return to the starting point of the soul, to enjoy the rare purity and comfort in the simplest way. The life I yearn for in my heart is probably no more than this.

Related Content：

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply