Shanghai
2 days in Shanghai - Spring 2026
People’s Park, Shanghai
April, 2026
It was a rainy, foggy day when I landed at Pudong International Airport (mid-April). My previously purchased eSim didn’t work (something about Canadian phones) so I proceeded to a kiosk at the baggage claim area selling SIM/VPN cards and had one installed in my phone (500 RMB). When I tried to pay for it through WeChat, it immediately asked for a SMS code (so I had to switch back to my Canadian SIM to get the code) - and restart my phone - then the payment went through. The seller at the airport told me it would be a one-time thing. So, I switched back to the Chinese SIM - but when I went to pay my cab driver it did the same thing. Good thing I had some cash handy.
My cab driver was very friendly, and had a great translation app (that came with his phone) and we had a nice chat on the drive into Shanghai. I told him I was there on a ‘Tea Tour’, which he thought was a little funny…but offered to share some of his Longjing green tea he had in his thermos. It was delicious, and I was already falling in love with China. Despite the fog, I could see how clean the streets were and the traffic noise was limited due to the fact that so many of the vehicles are electric.
He dropped me off at the Crowne Plaza near People’s Square (as I wanted to be within walking distance of the Shanghai Museum). The concierge tried to help me with my WeChat/Alipay apps and the SMS issue - but my Canadian bank eventually just blocked the apps. I would have to get cash to pay for everything. This is not ideal, as many places don’t carry cash or have proper change and some places only allow you to pay via these apps. (First issue - in future I will have to make sure my bank clears these apps and doesn’t send an SMS - which it usually does not do when I’m in Canada.) Fortunately the hotel allowed me to pay by credit card, and other expenses when I join the tour were already paid upfront.
I was pretty tired from the long flight so I rested a bit, and enjoyed a piece of fruit from the platter left in my upgraded junior suite! I took a shower and then went for a walk to The Bund. However, the fog was too dense and I didn’t get any good photos.
The next day (Monday) I planned a trip to the museum, so I went to sleep by 10 pm. I got up and had some more fruit for breakfast and then walked to People’s Square Park to enjoy the greenery - and made my way to the museum by 9am. Unfortunately, the information from the website hadn’t been updated, and the museum is actually closed on Mondays. I should have time the following morning to go again before I have to make my way to the Pudong hotel to meet up with the tour people. This museum is supposed to have an Egyptian collection, as well as a wonderful ceramics exhibit. I spent the rest of Monday walking around the wet and foggy Shanghai streets, wandering through shops and found that Yu Garden is also closed on Mondays. I did another tour along The Bund and took some daytime photos, and many photos of the incredible Shanghai architecture (below). I grabbed some wonderful (chicken and cordyceps) noodles for lunch and wandered through Nanjing Road.
Tuesday, I again made the trek to the museum, and lined up in the rain to get in. I found out after getting inside that the Egyptian collection and the ceramics hall were both closed (for renovations) - so I guess this means I’ll have to make another trip to Shanghai later to see these artifacts. I did go through the rest of the halls and they had a special exhibit on the local fashion of Shanghai, ‘Qipao: Glamour and Modernity Beyond Shanghai’.[1]
Despite the wet weather I really enjoyed Shanghai. It is a beautiful and very green city. I wished I had more time to explore, but this trip is more about tea than other tourism…so it will have to wait for my return visit.
Night view from my hotel room.
I headed to Atour hotel in Pudong to meet up with my tourguides. We collectively made introductions, had dinner together and prepared to travel the next day to Guizhou…
[1] Zhang Kun (2025) The iconic qipao celebrates its distinct fashion culture. China Daily. Posted online December 26, 2025.
