In Shanghai, Don’t Rush to the Next Stop
The Bund, Lujiazui, Suzhou Creek: there is always one more place to save for your Shanghai trip. But if you only have half a day, what can you do beyond taking a photo at each stop?
Shanghai has convenient transport, plenty to eat and drink, and neighbourhoods worth exploring on foot. Getting around is easy. The harder part is deciding where to linger — and discovering the stories behind the buildings and bridges along the way. Knowing how to get there is only the beginning.
In the past, some Pudong residents crossing to Puxi would say they were “going to Shanghai”. Today, visitors often recognise Shanghai by the skyscrapers on the Pudong side. The river is the same, but what each shore means to people has changed.
That change is written into the buildings, too. Many of the Bund’s older buildings once housed banks, insurers and trading firms, their stone façades and columns conveying stability and trust. Lujiazui’s towers rose with the development of a new financial centre after 1990. The skyline we associate with Shanghai gradually came to span both shores.
Bringing these stories into a walk takes preparation: researching the history, choosing materials and planning the route. LokBuddy’s A Century Between Shores does that work in advance, then pairs you with an English-speaking Local Buddy to explore the places together. It is a private city walk: you will not be grouped with strangers.
At one point along the way, you will hold an old photograph and compare building outlines, windows and arcades to find the building that is still standing today. Your Buddy joins the search and offers a hint if needed. Once you spot it, you can discover the stories behind it.
Your Buddy is a local companion who lives in Shanghai and prepares for the walk by learning the route and its stories. They bring their own experiences and perspectives, too. A conversation about an old building might lead to local expressions, food or everyday life.
They have their own food favourites, too: little places they return to, snacks they love and dishes they would recommend to friends. When you want a rest or something to eat, share your tastes and budget and let your Buddy help you choose a spot.
You can ask questions, take photos or quietly enjoy the view. If you would like to linger, talk with your Buddy about how to adjust the rest of the walk.
If a ferry notice is hard to understand, or queues or weather affect the plan, your Buddy will help you work out what is happening and discuss the available options. You do not have to look everything up and make each decision alone.
A Century Between Shores follows Suzhou Creek towards the Bund, then crosses to Pudong by public ferry. Allow about four hours and around four kilometres of walking. Consider your own stamina and that of your companions before choosing the walk.
If you just want river views and a breeze, exploring on your own is a lovely option. For an in-depth look at a particular kind of architecture or history, you might choose a professional guide who specialises in it. If you would like to spend less time preparing and have someone to explore with, swap stories and work through changes along the way, take a look at A Century Between Shores.