In this tour, we'll venture into local streets of Shanghai, discover several authentic and delicious eateries, taste a wide variety of food that will keep you full for hours, and hear stories behind the food. Along the way, we'll pass through classic icons like Nanjing Road and People's Square, revealing the untold stories behind these landmarks. This journey is ideal for both first-time visitors as well as people who have lived here for years
This tour can be enjoyed either in the morning as a breakfast tour or in the evening as a dinner tour. There will be difference in food selection between the two, while the itinerary remains the same. The sequence of stops will be adjusted to fit the morning or evening schedule.
Tour Highlights:
1. Enjoy authentic food in Shanghai at five time-honored restaurants
2. Savor no less than 10 local dishes: crab roe soup dumplings, braised pork belly, Shanghai steamed rice, shengjian, egg pancakes, milk dessert, and more - enough to keep you full for hours!
3. Experience the vibrant People's Square, once a racecourse
4. Walk along Nanjing Road and hear stories of China's first department stores
5. Take home a unique gift
Detailed Itinerary:
1/ Nanjing Road (30 mins)
Once the commercial center of Shanghai 100 years ago, it remains bustling with shops and stores today. Discover China's first department store and its pioneering initiatives of that era
2a/ Egg Pancake & Rice Sweets Restaurant (since 1875) (30 mins) [For Breakfast Tour]
Taste the soft, chewy glutinous rice sweets from a beloved restaurant that has been a staple on Nanjing Road for over 100 years. Don't miss their made-to-order Chinese pancake, paired with a cup of soy milk.
2b/ Braised Pork Belly Restaurant [For Dinner Tour]
Savor tender pork belly, its lean and fatty layers melting in your mouth. Paired with Shanghai-style rice steamed with ham and vegetables, a local favorite. This comforting combo captures the essence of Shanghai cooking - the magical use of soy sauce and sugar
3/ Soup Dumplings Restaurant (since 1986) (30 mins) [For Breakfast & Dinner Tour]
Gently bite into a soup dumpling, and the savory crab roe juice bursts in your mouth. Taste the delicious soup-based little wontons, another Shanghai classics
4/ People's Square (30 mins)
Experience the lively People's Park, where the weekend marriage market brings parents together to arrange matches for their children. Also check out the tallest skyscraper in Shanghai over half a century and step inside the most luxurious cinema in the Far East in the early 19th century.
5/ Traditional Dessert Restaurant (since 1851) (30 mins) [For Breakfast & Dinner Tour]
Stewed milk dessert, this 19th-century southern Chinese treat, is now a national favorite, popular for its rich, creamy aroma and unique texture. For fruit lovers, there is a mango-themed dessert to choose from!
6/ ShengJian (crispy bun) Restaurant (since 1994) (20 mins) [For Breakfast & Dinner Tour]
Shengjian is one of the most iconic breakfast items in Shanghai, offering a perfectly crispy skin that crunches with every bite. Hear the rivalry stories of two styles of pan fried buns, just like the debate between NY style pizza and Chicago deep dish!
7/ Scallion Pancake (Food stand) (10 mins) [For Breakfast & Dinner Tour]
Scallion pancakes, freshly made to order, are prepared by frying green onions in oil to infuse their aroma into the dough. The pancake has a layered texture that is crisp, fragrant, and deeply satisfying!