Why Shanghai Might Be the Most Mind-Blowing City on Earth

Shanghai: Where the Future and the Past Went Out for Drinks

🎯 FunTrip Index™: 9.5 / 10 🎯

Tooltip: The FunTrip Index blends wow-factor, culture shock, food happiness, walkability, safety, and “will-this-haunt-my-dreams-in-a-good-way” energy. A 9.5 means: book it, clear your calendar, and emotionally prepare. 🌆 

Some cities are impressive. Some cities are beautiful. Some cities are historically important.
And then there’s Shanghai—a city that looks like the future had a coffee with the past and decided to build something outrageous together.

Think Rome, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Jerusalem… and then imagine one of them after a triple espresso and a software update. Shanghai isn’t just a city you visit. It’s a city that visits you back.

Here are ten reasons why everybody should go. No exception. No excuses. No “maybe next year.” 👀

1) 🏙️ A Skyline That Looks Like Sci-Fi Got a Budget Upgrade

On one side of the Huangpu River: The Bund, a perfectly preserved lineup of early 20th-century European architecture. On the other: Pudong, a forest of glass, steel, and ambition—home to the Shanghai Tower and friends.

It’s not a skyline. It’s a time machine.
You literally stand in one place and watch two centuries argue politely.

Pro tip: Go at night. The lights turn the whole thing into a Blade Runner screensaver, but in real life.

2) 🏨 Sleep in the Sky (Yes, Really)

Do yourself a favor: stay high. Not metaphorically—geographically.

Hotels like the Grand Hyatt Shanghai (floors 53 to 87 of the Jin Mao Tower) offer:

• 🌌 Floor-to-ceiling views of the Bund and Pudong

• 🌀 A jaw-dropping 33-story spiraling atrium

• 🚢 Boats drifting on the Huangpu River like tiny toys

• 🏙️ A constant reminder that you are, in fact, very small in a very big city

Waking up to that view feels like living inside a futuristic postcard.

3) 🚶 A Walker’s Paradise (In the “Urban Marathon” Sense)

Shanghai is a fantastic walking city—just don’t underestimate the scale. You can walk for hours and still be in the same neighborhood. This is not a bug. This is a feature.

Walk for:

• 👀 The people

• 🥟 The street food

• 🛍️ The markets

• 🏘️ The neighborhoods

• 🧠 The cultural whiplash (in the best way)

Every block feels like a new episode in a very binge-worthy series.

4) 🏛️ The Shanghai Museum = The Louvre, But With More Dynasties

If you only visit one museum in Shanghai, make it this one.

The Shanghai Museum isn’t just about art—it’s about civilizations. Plural.
Bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jade, seals, furniture—each room is basically saying:
“Oh, you thought history started in Europe? That’s cute.”

You don’t leave thinking “Nice museum.”
You leave thinking: “Wow, I need to rethink everything I know about time.”

5) 🥟 The Food: Michelin, Street Stalls, and Life Choices

Let’s be honest: you’re going to gain weight. Accept it. Embrace it. Celebrate it. 🥢

Highlights:

• 🥟 Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) = edible happiness

• ⭐ Mr & Mrs Bund (1 Michelin star) = classic, elegant, worth it

• ⭐⭐ Fu He Hui = refined, spiritual, unforgettable

• ⭐⭐⭐ Taian Table = culinary fireworks (you read that right: 3 Michelin stars!). Check the list of Shanghai restaurants reviewed by the Michelin Guide here.

Two of these are in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants (51–100) list, which is basically the Olympics of eating.

And the best part? Even the hole-in-the-wall places can blow your mind.

Paris rocks: Rue des Rosiers, L’As du Fallafel, Florence Kahn & Yann Couvreur

6) 🌿 Old China, New China, and Everything in Between

Shanghai is not just skyscrapers. You’ll also find:

• 🌸 Yu Garden: classical, poetic, Ming Dynasty calm

• 🌳 Former French Concession: leafy streets, cafés, quiet charm

• 🏮 Tianzifang & Xintiandi: old shikumen houses turned into artsy, trendy hangouts

It’s a cultural remix where ancient temples, art galleries, and coffee shops coexist like they’ve always been friends.

7) 🚄 Shockingly Modern (The Maglev Is Not a Gimmick)

Shanghai’s infrastructure is… ridiculous (in a good way).

• 🚄 The Maglev train gets you from the airport to the city at “is-this-even-legal” speed

• 🚇 The metro is vast, clean, efficient

• 🏙️ The city feels like it was designed by engineers who hate inconvenience

You spend less time stuck and more time exploring. Which is exactly how cities should work.

8) 🛍️ Shopping: From Nanjing Road to Hidden Boutiques

Nanjing Road is one of the busiest shopping streets on Earth. It’s loud, bright, chaotic, and kind of amazing.

But the real fun is:

• 🧥 Little boutiques in the French Concession

• 🎨 Artsy shops in Tianzifang

• 🧧 Random markets where you find things you didn’t know you needed—or existed

Even if you hate shopping, Shanghai will convert you temporarily.

9) 🛡️ Surprisingly Safe (And Genuinely Welcoming)

Shanghai feels very safe. Day, night, crowded, quiet—it’s consistently calm and orderly.

• 😊 People are generally welcoming

• 🗣️ The language barrier can be real—but smiles, gestures, and apps go a long way

• 🌏 The cultural difference is a feature, not a bug

You don’t leave indifferent. You leave changed. A little more curious. A little more humble. A lot more impressed.

10) 🗺️ The Perfect Gateway to the Rest of China (and Asia)

Shanghai is a launchpad:

• 🌸 Suzhou: Classical gardens, poetic beauty

• 🌊 Hangzhou: West Lake, serenity, postcards come to life

• 🏯 Beijing: Forbidden City, Tiananmen, the Great Wall

• 🗿 Xi’an: The Terracotta Army

• 🌏 And beyond: Hong Kong, Singapore, and the rest of Asia

Come for Shanghai. Stay for… basically everything.

⏳ One Warning: Three Days Is Not Enough

Three days gives you:

• A taste

• A teaser

• A cruel reminder of what you’re missing

You’ll skip galleries. You’ll skip restaurants. You’ll skip neighborhoods. You’ll leave with a to-do list longer than your flight.

Plan more. Future-you will thank present-you.

🧠 The FUNanc1al Verdict

Shanghai is not just a destination. It’s an experience upgrade.

No substances required. No filters needed.
Being there is the high. 🌇
You’ll leave so lifted you might say you “sang high” in Shanghai.

Miss it at your own risk.

⚡ Quick Take / TL;DR

• 🌆 One of the most visually stunning cities on Earth

• 🏛️ Deep history + wild futurism (a living civilization on fast-forward)

• 🧑🤝🧑 Wonderful people and a rich, living culture (welcoming, curious, unforgettable)

• 🥟 World-class food, from street stalls to Michelin stars

• 🚶 Amazing for walking and exploring

• 🛡️ Safe, efficient, welcoming

• ⏳ Needs more than 3 days

• 🗺️ Perfect gateway to the rest of China and Asia

Verdict: Just go.

❓ FAQ

Q: Is Shanghai expensive?
It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. You can eat amazingly at all price levels.

Q: Is it hard to get around without speaking Chinese?
Not really. Translation apps + metro signs + human kindness go a long way.

Q: Is it safe for solo travelers?
Yes—very. One of the safest big cities you’ll visit.

Q: When is the best time to go?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) for the best weather.

✍️ About the Author

Frédéric Marsanne is the founder of FUNanc1al — part market analyst, part storyteller, part accidental comedian. A longtime investor, entrepreneur, and venture-builder across tech, biotech, and fintech, he now blends sharp insights with a twist of humor to help readers laugh, learn, live better lives, and invest a little wiser. When not decoding insider buys or poking fun at earnings calls, he’s building Cl1Q, writing fiction, painting, or discovering new passions to FUNalize.

⚠️ Disclaimer (FUNanc1al-style)

No guide, just fun. This article reflects personal experiences and opinions and is meant for inspiration and entertainment—not as an official travel advisory. We’re just adventure pilgrims wandering from shack to country, fork in hand and joy in heart. 🥄❤️

This is not a sponsored review.
No dumplings were comped.

Eat and voyage at your own risk — but do enjoy. 🍷😄

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