When I exited the subway after my evening arrival in Shanghai, I was blown away by the beauty of Shanghai’s modern skyline. It was a vast landscape of neon and steel that seemed to stretch on for eternity. I stayed at the Radisson Blue Hotel, which is topped with a rotating restaurant that resembles a UFO. Even though it was late December, the weather was merely cool as opposed to freezing. One evening I walked along the Bund, the famous waterfront promenade, and watched the sunset. I also spent a couple of hours visiting Yu Garden, which features koi ponds, carved woodwork, and Ming architecture. It was somewhat crowded, but it didn’t detract from the experience. The city has an underrated coffee culture, and I had no trouble finding amazing lattes to sip on. But of my three days there, my favorite one was spent exploring Zhujiajiao Water Town, an easy hour-long subway ride from the center of the city. Known as the “Venice of Shanghai,” it’s the perfect place to enjoy a gondola ride, take photos of the ancient bridges, and stop by the Kezhi garden.
