5D4N Shang Hai Itinerary 🥰🏝
helu zesties 🌻🍋
hope yall are doing well! I disappeared for abit because.. I was doing my exams and also signed up for some hackathon event and was busy with those 🙃😬 Got into top 10 though so that was gReat.
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Went to Shang Hai recently to destress.. and it was a chill but expensive trip because.. I shopped too much 🙃🙃
But here's where I went and how I felt about it!
Something I hated the whole trip was.. my hotel's wifi didn't work so I had to get more data. Purchase a pocket wifi if you can! Their data also sucks underground.
And before going to China...
‼️You need to prepare these‼️
Get a SIM card with China number if possible, they need a China number for authentication for almost everything. (They have it at the airport for $15 but you can get it on Shopee as well. Its the same card.)
Download Changi Pay - There's discounts in every transaction and if your purchase is above 200 RMB there will usually be a fee on wechat and alipay, but with this there will be no fee, however you can only top it up through paynow.
Wechat was my preferred payment method and they use wechat for everything! From ordering food to buying drinks to making reservations. You can use it to book didi as well, it allows international numbers now~
Amaps
Didi - It was quite cheap, about $4- $10 per short trip, to the airport it was about $20++
meituan for extra discounts
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🌻My 5d4n Itinerary🌻
🕐Day 1, Thu🕐
Landed at 4am
🌻Gong Yan
$92/pax with Hair and outfit
You can book 1 month in advance on their wechat miniapp! Its super hard to get a slot though so.. queue at 12am everyday 30days before hahaha.
🛍 安福路
• brandy melville(安福路店)
• Wiggle wiggle
• HARMAY 話梅(上海安福路香水店)
Its like their sephora! I got alot of travel sized makeup here~
• Huge pet shop here with alot of pet toys and snacks
• There was a thrift bookstore with affordable design books!
There's alot of small shops and local branded small fashion shops here as well, fun place to explore~
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🕐Day 2, Fri🕐
🏰 Disney
$88 for full day pass, I managed to take 5 rides, we went in at 11am till 8pm~
Go early so there's lesser queue for the rides, I didnt see the fireworks cus the queue was insane annnd I didn't wanna squeeze with the rest for didi.. after the park close. Tron is a must try, zootopia and pirates of the carribean as well, super cool effects and mechanics! You wont see it in Singapore.
💆♀️Spa + Massage at 水裹·汤泉(上海五角场店)
The spa pass was $51 but you have to pay extra for the games and all by hour. They only provide access to spa facilities - eg. sauna, onsens, freeflow fruits and free flow drinks and ice cream. The massage for tuina was about $70 for 50mins but wah it was so worth it!! I had super bad back pains and the aunty pressed all the knots out.. I was free from back pain the next few days until.. my period came lol >< its kinda pricey but I think their service was great.
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🕐Day 3, Sat🕐
• IAPM mall
Tbh nothing much here except citysuper log-on in the basement. They sell all the cute stuff and blindboxes!
• Nanjing road
Too much people and lots of shopping, theres a re-ment shop there~ if you like mini toys. Price is similar as sg though, 59-89rmb about $10 to $16 per box.
W management is here as well, but they have other branches in the malls I mentioned below with lesser humans.
• Ins乐园
6 levels club! $60++ for access to all levels, there was free drinks on every level. We went in kinda late though (1am) and it was way tooo crowded, managed to go to 3 levels only. Vibes and music were great but maybe don't go on a saturday... its the crowded until cannot walk kind on all levels except the basement LOL - which was a sit down zone with a mini dance floor.
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🕐 Day 4, Sun 🕐
Slept in
• 上海ifc商场, 正大广场
THErE were so many cool perfume brands here!! And I would say just skip iapm and nanjing road if you just wanna shop HAHAH They had like 3 malls here all connected and you can literally find everything here, with way lesser humans in each shop because the place was just too huge lol. You can see the cool tower up close here too!
• Rooftop bar @ Tales Shang Hai
Pretty view of the Shang Hai skyline and it was pretty quiet~
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🕐Day 5, Mon🕐
Slept in and we had to reach the airport at 2pm.
Managed to squeeze in one last mall near our hotel, Joy City, tbh super cool mall too! They had a whole shop of jellycats and a dog cafe as well.
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Summary of Shang Hai 🌻
Malls to visit:
• Joy city
• 上海ifc商场, 正大广场
Club, massage, shopping, cultural stuff, Disney,
Gong Yan
Places that I wanted to visit but didn't have the time to, because we mainly wanted to shop:
• 豫园
• 田子坊
• 朱家角
• Herbal bar酿青(niang qing)
by silver food apothecary - it's a TCM bar
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💀Damage for 5d4n😐
Flight: $498
Accoms :$292
Disney: $88
Gong Yan: $91
Transport, Shopping, Food : $1000
Total: About $2k (I shopped too much shh)
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That's it for my itinerary~ it was a chill trip and we didn't plan much just searched everything on the spot besides disney and gong yan which were pretty much the only things we wanted to go to heh.
xoxo,
tiny 🐧
If you're planning a leisure trip to Shanghai and want to balance sightseeing with relaxing hotel stays that enhance your time off, here are some top hotel brands and why you might consider or skip them for a beach vacation context, even though Shanghai is mostly urban: 1. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts: Known for luxury and excellent service, Shangri-La properties often have excellent amenities including spas and pools that can provide a mini beach-like relaxation experience. While Shanghai itself isn't a beach city, Shangri-La in nearby coastal cities like Sanya offers incredible beach access. I'd recommend their properties if you’re open to exploring other parts of China beyond Shanghai for a true beach vacation. 2. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG): Their brands like InterContinental and Crowne Plaza have impressive facilities and international standards. Some coastal locations under IHG in China provide tranquil beach settings. However, Shanghai hotels of IHG focus more on city luxury than beachfront vibes, so consider the location carefully. 3. Marriott International: Marriott’s luxury brands such as Ritz-Carlton can be great for leisure travelers looking for comfort and indulgence. Although their Shanghai properties emphasize urban chic, Marriott has resort options in coastal areas. So for a beach holiday, Marriott offers a wide selection but not necessarily in Shanghai. 4. Accor Group: Featuring brands from budget to upscale like Sofitel and Pullman, Accor operates hotels in various city and resort locations. For pure beach relaxation, their coastal resorts in Hainan or Guangdong might be better choices than those in Shanghai. Shanghai itself is more noted for its cosmopolitan urban vibe, rich culture, shopping, and high-end dining. If you want a complete beach vacation, it's wise to combine your Shanghai visit with travel to coastal regions such as Hainan Island or the eastern coast where famous beach resorts await. For your city stay, pick hotels with spa and wellness facilities to add relaxation to your itinerary. I hope these insights help you tailor your travel plan and hotel choices for both an enjoyable Shanghai experience and a rejuvenating beach vacation elsewhere in China.
Eh not bad leh! $2k for the whole trip