I saw this message from Curt about how difficult it is to love Shanghai, and there’s some truth in that. I’ve now lived here for over seven years, and I think most tourist attractions are boring, or I have grown out of them. Or maybe Shanghai is too big a city to love. But below are several hidden gems, unknown places I love to visit in Shanghai and can recommend.

Let me have a go.

Ye Garden

Ye Garden (叶家花园), a ~100-year-old park in Yangpu, hidden behind a hospital. Usually very empty.

Jiangwan Stadium

Sitting on the stands in Jiangwan stadium (江湾体育场), again in the Yangpu district.

The North Bund

Watching people and listening to the humming sound of cargo ships at the North Bund.

Xinchang

Strolling Xinchang (新場古鎮) in Pudong, and eating these sesame buns (Named Crab shell yellow 蟹壳黄 because they look like that).

Tangzhen park

唐城绿地文化公园 唐城绿地文化公园 (Tangcheng Greenland Cultural Park) in Tangzhen (唐镇), especially further from the entrance it doesn’t feel as fabricated as other parks.

Sijing

Sijing (古镇泗泾) in the Songjiang district, an old town being redeveloped as a cultural center.

Wet park

吴淞炮台湾湿地森林公园 (Wusong Paotaiwan Wetlands Forest Park) in the Baoshan district.

Book store

This second-hand bookstore near Fudan University (复旦旧书店).

Tianzifang

And Tianzifang (田子坊), even though it’s very touristic, these tiny alleys made me fall in love with Shanghai the first time I came here in 2017.

Gaoqiao

Gaoqiao is a gem because it’s super well preserved and not a touristified town.

Luodian Town

A similar gem is Luodian Town (罗店镇) — although very far out of the city!