Our journey into Shanghai begins with a warm welcome at the airport or train station, where our travel expert meets us on arrival and transfers us comfortably to your hotel. The drive offers a first impression of the city’s contrasts: illuminated towers rising beyond older rooftops, tree-lined boulevards unfolding beside contemporary districts and glimpses of the Huangpu River that has shaped Shanghai’s evolving story. After check-in, there is time to relax, refresh and ease into the rhythm of the evening. 

As night descends, our travel expert returns to escort us to our bicycles for an elegant, historically focused cycling experience centred around the Bund. Moving at a gentle pace, we follow the riverfront promenade where the grand facades of the former Shanghai International Settlement glow beneath soft golden lighting. Neoclassical banks, Beaux-Arts trading houses and Art Deco clubs feel especially striking at night, when carved stonework and sculpted columns take on greater depth. Our travel expert shares insight into the foreign influences that shaped this iconic waterfront and the architectural legacy that remains today. 

A short detour leads us into quieter backstreets behind the Bund, where narrow lanes preserve fragments of Old Shanghai. Heritage shophouses, modest brick dwellings and tucked-away courtyards reveal how local communities once lived beside these monumental riverfront structures, creating a contrast that adds meaning to the evening’s exploration. 

Returning to the water’s edge, the view widens toward Pudong’s illuminated skyline, its futuristic towers shimmering in vivid tones. The experience concludes at a refined rooftop bar within a beautifully restored heritage building. Here we settle into a reserved table for cocktails and dinner, enjoying uninterrupted views of both the Bund’s glowing facades and the modern silhouettes across the river. When ready, our travel expert arranges a smooth transfer back to your hotel.

Shanghai wakes early, and this morning’s experience follows the neighbourhood rhythms that unfold at first light. Our travel expert meets us just as the streets begin to stir, guiding us into narrow alleyways where residents prepare for their day. Steam rises from small kitchens, bicycles roll past with baskets of fresh produce and neighbours exchange warm greetings as shutters lift. The early light softens the scene, creating an atmosphere that feels timeless despite the city’s rapid evolution. 

We soon arrive at a bustling wet market at the heart of local morning life. Stalls overflow with seasonal vegetables, fresh herbs, seafood, noodles and aromatic spices. Vendors call out to familiar customers, small negotiations take place over ingredients and lively conversations reveal the market’s role in shaping daily routines. The colours, aromas and human interactions highlight the foundations of Shanghai’s culinary heritage. 

From the market, our walk continues to street-side kitchens where classic breakfast dishes are made fresh each day. Scallion pancakes crackle on hot griddles, jianbing are folded with herbs and savoury fillings and clay ovens warm sesame bread to a comforting aroma. Our travel expert shares stories of migration, flavours and family tradition that have shaped these beloved dishes over generations. 

After a short break, we shift into the afternoon with a visit to the Jewish Quarter — one of Shanghai’s most remarkable historical chapters. Our travel expert leads us through the quiet streets where thousands of Jewish refugees found safety during the Second World War. We pass landmarks such as the Broadway Theatre before continuing to the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, where personal artefacts, photographs and moving testimonies preserve the experiences of those who lived through these years. The narrative is both historical and deeply human, revealing Shanghai’s role as a city of refuge in a time of global darkness. 

By the end of the day, we have explored two different sides of Shanghai — the warmth of its morning rituals and the profound humanity of its multicultural past.