Alone in Shanghai for the weekend, what would you do?

Off on my work travels again in mid October, includes a weekend alone in Shangahi and looking for something inspirational to do.

Last time I went to Beijing and ran sections of the Chinese Wall, which was a life goal, so was tempted to go back again but maybe something new instead.

One option would be to take the short flight to Tokyo, then a bullet train north into the mountains, there’s a guy there from NZ running MTB tours. I was there 10 years ago and it was amazing, so tempted to go back: https://www.mtbjapan.com/en/index.html

So, any inspirational ideas you think I could consider, say within 2 hours flight from Shangahi or ~4hours train?

TIA

Coke and hookers?

https://youtu.be/IqngrRBIpkw?si=ojy6FJPo7vqhDn11

Go visit my mate James and his wife Wan Ling and sample their tea.

https://www.wanlingteahouse.co.uk/pages/shanghai-tea-house

Tell them Freester sent you.

Tokyo and a fetish bar ?

…with my reputation.

I’ve got 10 days there for work in May. A lot will be busy but I’ve got at least one free day to fill, so following.

I had a weeks holiday there when working in Ningbo. Plenty of usual touristy stuff around The Bund area, I found a nice infinity pool in one of the hotels (can’t remember which). But my overriding memory of the place was that I couldn’t find any peace or solitude anywhere – just masses of people everywhere

Jealous. Always wanted to work in Shanghai but life took me elsewhere. Will make it one day.

Go up the enormous tower with the red ball on the top – this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Pearl_Tower

It was pretty stunning. Also check out the museum on the ground floor.

There’s also a castle/palace thing in the middle of Shanghai which was pretty interesting.

My brother runs this https://www.wildhomestay.com about 2 hours by train from Shanghai. He’s a very committed cyclist and there’s some amazing trails / road routes around there and has bikes to rent.

Ok ok, should have expected the usual ‘coke’n’hookers’ suggestions, in fact I think I’d have been disappointed without them lol. But that sh1ts for the youngsters and I ain’t got the risk assessment for it nowadays.

Been and done all the normal tourist Shanghai things over the years, now run out of things in the city and find it for the main just concrete and people, but in general like RustyNissanPrairie said!

So needs to be out the city really, or a sub 2 hour flight away, like Tokyo for less than £300 return!

I need mountains and escape from the masses, either biking or trail running etc

If you’re into escaping then swap the fetish club for a shibari or hojojutsu club instead 🙂

Did the same back in April

Nanjing road for a mooch around

Yu garden

Up the Shanghai tower

Bund at dusk for the light show

I’m sure there are lots more things to do

Enjoy

Live dangerously, start taking images of political offices and security checkpoints visit a few places that dislike the government  and see where it leads .

Thanks sanername, that’s actually a really good suggestion.

Great day suggestion from garlando, but done this already a few times myself.

Lol at stevedoc suggestion, could also include a scenic day trip to North Korea also to add spice to that!

Looks like I’ve found a plan, thanks to sanername, the weekend I’m there there’s a big event on called The Big Dirty! So it would be perfect if they could host me and I could participate in the event. Dropped them a line so fingers crossed. https://www.wildhomestay.com/big_dirty/

Up the Shanghai tower

Is that a euphemism?

Looks like I’ve found a plan, thanks to sanername, the weekend I’m there there’s a big event on called The Big Dirty! So it would be perfect if they could host me and I could participate in the event. Dropped them a line so fingers crossed. https://www.wildhomestay.com/big_dirty/

That looks great! I’m now on Skyscanner searching for London-Shanghai flights

An update after my trip and wow, what a trip is was, something I’ll never forget!

Wild Home Stay is an amazing place, located out in the sticks of rural China away from the Westernised landscape. Run by Justin and his wife Qing, it was an extremely hospitable location in the foot hills of some nice mountains. Even better was my timing for the Big Dirty gravel event, 130km with >3000M climbing made for an epic day out, superbly supported and run. Shame it’ll be the last Dirty for the foreseeable future but just seems the hard core gravel scene in China isn’t maybe as strong as other parts in the world right now. But next time I’ll try to join the Clean version and take the road kit instead.

https://www.strava.com/clubs/575654/group_events/1551123?hl=en-GB

An event round up and some great photos on their events page: http://www.wildhomestay.com

Over and out until next time.

Wear this and get a free extension to the excursion. 🙂

Winnie the Pooh… Destroyer of dictators. Apparently.