Shanghai

The autumn of 2024 was all about our grand Asia tour. Japan and South Korea were already on our wish list, but we deliberately left room for surprises. And then came one of the most exciting ones: since late 2023, citizens of the Netherlands (and many other nationalities) can travel to China visa-free for up to 15 days.

So when we booked our flights to Asia, a stopover in Shanghai suddenly made perfect sense.

We made the decision quickly. Before heading to Japan, we spent four days in Shanghai, making the most of three full days in the city. We already knew that Shanghai is considered China’s most western and accessible metropolis, but still, it managed to surprise and amaze us in every way.

Shanghai is fast, modern, and relentlessly innovative. Yet at the same time, its deep-rooted history is visible all around you. The city is easy to navigate, with bilingual signage, a user-friendly metro system, and locals who speak a fair amount of English. It is futuristic and traditional, efficient and expressive, all at once.

Despite the speed of life here, Shanghai never feels impersonal. In fact, it was our first real taste of China, and it left us wanting much more.

Thanks to the current visa policy, traveling to China has become surprisingly simple. And make no mistake: China is far ahead in many ways, from infrastructure to tech. On this page, we share all our tips and insights to help you discover Shanghai, and travel China with confidence.

There is more to come, this was just the beginning.