Lost in Translation, Found in Shanghai: Our 7-Day Adventure
My husband and I, armed with absolutely zero Mandarin skills, recently embarked on a whimsical 7-day journey through Shanghai 😄
We wondered if anyone else was as delightfully crazy as us, ditching the typical tours, all-inclusive packages, meticulously planned itineraries, and famous foodie hotspots... opting instead to wander and explore, hoping to connect with the real heart of the city we were visiting.
Even now, writing this, my mind still drifts back to the banks of the Suzhou Creek, where the golden afternoon sun poured down like honey. We were dragging our feet after walking nearly 20 kilometers, our legs aching, but our hearts full as we watched our shadows stretch long on the sun-drenched pavement, the shimmering tiles sprinkled with fallen flower petals – a scene of unexpected peace.
Shanghai lived up to its reputation: clean, modern, and incredibly safe. We only prepared about two weeks in advance with a very simple plan:
- Visa: Applied through an agency, took 7 days, about 2.3 million VND per person
- Flights: Booked via Trip, around 5.5 million VND per person
- Hotel: Booked the first 3 nights on Trip, then winged it. Prioritized locations near a metro station, 1.2 million VND per night
- Local SIM card: 2GB per day
- Itinerary: Wake up each morning, randomly pick a direction, and spend the day wandering and discovering 😄
The total cost for the entire 7-night, 8-day trip (including 2 nights on the plane, a 1-night, 1-day stop in Hangzhou, and all our souvenir and snack purchases) was 30 million VND for the two of us – significantly less than our initial estimate.
Each day, we sampled dozens of street food delights, impulsively diving into anything that looked or smelled delicious, without even knowing what it was 😆. Our feet carried us from bustling local markets to residential courtyards strung with red scarves and even red underwear, to fragrant parks alive with birdsong. We even joined the throngs of commuters on a Monday morning in People's Square, confidently crossing the street like seasoned locals.
My husband said:
"Just enjoy every step of our exploration, forget the plans and the must-see sights. It's just you and me, experiencing spontaneous moments of joy."
This trip wasn't about staged Instagram photos or perfectly curated backdrops. Instead, it was about creating authentic memories, achingly beautiful, and etched forever in our hearts.
Tips for First-Time Independent Travelers to Shanghai
Building on the helpful insights shared by others, here are a few tips for anyone planning their first independent trip to Shanghai, like we did:
- Deepseek App: Download this for chatting and translation – the language is more natural and easier to understand than Google Translate (ChatGPT/Gemini is blocked there).
- Apple Maps: Incredibly accurate for navigation and finding the best metro routes.
- Hotel Address in Chinese: Always have your hotel address written in Chinese to show taxi drivers, as they may not read English addresses or hotel names.
- Public Restrooms: Often found on the second floor of shopping malls and in metro stations, but they can be hidden. It's best to ask a staff member for directions (and bring your own tissues, as they may not always be available).
Navigating the Metro:
- Don't hesitate to use a translation app to ask staff at the Service Center for help (buying 1–3 day passes, finding restrooms, assistance with transfers to other cities, locating lost items...).
- Before arriving at a station, check which exit is most convenient for your destination; note the next station to confirm you're heading in the right direction; and know your destination station so you know when to get off. You'll get the hang of it after a few rides!
In conclusion: Traveling independently isn't as daunting as you might think. Just do a little research beforehand. And when you don't have too many expectations – everything will exceed them!
Wishing everyone a joyful and memorable trip!
