In the summer of 2009 I was in the midst of my first stretch of independent travel around China. During this time I spent a week exploring Shanghai. Looking through those old photos, I am reminded of a magical time taking in the city’s streets, parks and temples.

Unfortunately, my photos from that time have not aged well. It’s a long story involving a dropped storage brick and no backup. The end result being a folder of reduced quality thumbnails. However, in March 2019 I was able to make amends with another trip to this fantastic city.

With a precious second bite of the cherry, I made sure to make the most of my visit. This time I investigated deeper, seeking out a handful of curious and quirky under-the-radar sights. In addition, of course, to some of the main draws. 

Among the highlights, I discovered the little known stories of Shanghai’s Second World War Jews. Moreover, I saw China’s biggest and most impressive public display of propaganda art. And rolled through an amazing art commercial complex renovated from an old cattle slaughterhouse.

Furthermore, I got to absorb the exceptional architecture of the French Concession District. And even catch one of my musical heroes in a live performance.

For the full story on my time in this fantastic city, why not dive into my travel reports on:

The Bund & The Pudong (coming soon!) 

1933 Slaughterhouse (coming soon!)

The French Concession (coming soon!)

Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre (coming soon!)

Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum (coming soon!)

Paul Draper Live at Yuyintang Park (coming soon!)

Snippets of Shanghai (coming soon!)

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Take a look at my Q&A on Andy’s World Journeys.