A memorable Journey: First time visiting Shanghai
In this blog, I share the story of Louisa and Lubin’s first visit to Shanghai, which was an unforgettable time we spent together, with the travel plan I created to enrich their first China experience.
In December 2023, I received a WhatsApp message from Louisa, a New Zealander planning a trip to Shanghai with her husband, Lubin, in June 2024. Initially, I thought it was too early to plan, but Louisa was excited and had already booked their flights and accommodation. To ensure they had a decent first trip to China, I shared a questionnaire to understand their interests and needs better.
Louisa mentioned their passion for history and futuristic experiences, making Shanghai an ideal destination; she also mentioned that she is a pescatarian. However, they were anxious as they didn't speak Chinese and needed support in finding good food and enjoying their time. Curiously, I asked how they found me. To my surprise, Louisa said someone recommended me with a link to my website, which remains a mystery about who that person was.
I explained my services to Louisa: I assist expats, visitors, and families, as well as international students from all over the world, in settling in Shanghai, organizing trips and business visits, and arranging trusted transportation. My pricing is transparent, with detailed cost breakdowns, and I charge only for my time spent on tasks, which can be an hourly or daily rate. I was happy to be her travel planner for their upcoming trip!
Planning a trip to China can be daunting due to varying and outdated information online, some even from pre-COVID time, so many different opinions, travel blogs, and YouTube videos, and also those overpricing misleading Chinese travel agents. So, it can be a hit or miss if you aren’t on the ground and don’t speak/read the local language. It is also stressful and time-consuming to make a decision without knowing what makes sense and what does not. To address this, we scheduled a half-hour video call in January to get to know each other better. I answered their questions and informed them about the ever-changing Shanghai city and visa requirements, advising them to stay in touch for updates. For a few examples:
The Silk Museum in Shanghai is closed.
The scenic area near the seaport is also closed.
Team Labs Shanghai is closed and looking into relaunching in a new location.
The Shanghai Museum East is newly opened in February but now closed until June 26
and more…
In April, Lousia emailed me to let me know that their visas were all set! So, I sent them the itinerary plan for their review and asked if they had any questions. I also researched and found new attractions and shared some restaurant options, experiences, and events with them.
In May, we had a final check-in, and a week before their visit, I received their down payment, confirming the booking. I updated them on all reservations, including their round-trip high-speed train tickets to Hangzhou, an acrobatic show, and a tea experience with Wanling. I also prepared an Apple Map Guide and sent a quick guide with apps, VPN, digital payments, reminders, and packing tips two days before their arrival.
Finally, I met them in person last Tuesday morning with a pre-booked driver at the PVG Pudong Airport T2 arrival hall. I was so happy that the wait was over, and we finally met in person! First thing, I greeted them and assisted her in getting a local SIM card, and Louisa successfully used WeChat Pay for the first time. Due to the 5-hour time difference, I also kept in mind that they probably needed a rest in the afternoon. After the transfer to the hotel and checking in, we took a little walk through Yu Garden and Bund area as a first impression, followed by a delightful lunch at a local restaurant featuring crab noodles and xiaolongbao as specialities.
Over the next few days, we covered a lot of ground and explored Shanghai, which included Jing’an, Suzhou Creek, a suburb tour of water town and an ancient relics site. On the 4th day, I sent them to experience the Highspeed railway to Hangzhou, where I arranged an experienced local English-speaking tour guide with a driver to show them the West Lake and Tea Museum. Then, during the weekend back in Shanghai, we delved into the former French concession and visited a few former residences of famous historical figures in Shanghai. I am glad that my itinerary and suggestions were satisfactory, and it was my absolute pleasure to accompany them to some of these experiences. While I wasn’t with them, I ensured they could use Didi, the metro, and food delivery to gain independence and private time for their own adventures.
The weather wasn’t perfect during their visit, as it was the infamous plum rain season in Shanghai. Even though it rained almost every day except the first day, it didn’t bother us too much. As their trip photographer, I captured precious moments by taking photos of them enjoying the trip. Thank Louisa for allowing me to share some of the photos here on this blog 🙏.
One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Fotografiska on Suzhou Creek, where I used my membership benefits. The exhibitions were very interesting and showed we could enjoy creative, artistic, world-class exhibitions in the metropolitan city. After that, we strolled along the river to reach the bund to enjoy the spectacular night view of the waterfront.
Food was another vital aspect of the trip. I planned visits to various restaurants throughout the itinerary, accommodating Louisa’s diet, and used my Dianping account for discounts. We savoured a range of local delicacies, from hot pots to local breakfast snacks to traditional vegetarian food and Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisines in different styles, and the cost was very reasonable.
On our last day, we kept it easy and visited the Museum of Art Pudong in the morning. After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, we went on a series of souvenir shopping trips for their loved ones. It was really fun to visit different markets and haggle with the vendors. I was also able to help find a few unique Chinese condiments they couldn’t get in New Zealand.
My selfie with Louisa and Lubin from New Zealand
Throughout the trip, we shared many of our stories and life experiences. I truly enjoyed our cross-cultural exchange and am intrigued to visit New Zealand someday. We will stay in touch and continue to share. I wish them all the very best and hope they find the trip to China enriching to their travels. I look forward to meeting them again.
I am so grateful that they chose me as their guide in Shanghai and that we had a smooth and enjoyable trip. Here is Louisa’s review:
We are leaving Shanghai after a wonderful memorable trip. Thank you for suggesting Genie Yip. She was key to an easy and enjoyable adventure. She helped us put together a Trip ltinerary and consulted ahead via online meetings and messages to make sure it suited us. lt had a detailed budget and took into account the things we are interested in. She picked us up from the airport and hooked us up immediately with a local phone number - this is important because it enabled us to use Didi (Uber) and Alipay to pay things. Ahead of the trip she emailed which apps to download and she showed us how to use them. She had already booked our train, event and sightseeing tickets. She took us off the beaten path to local favourite restaurants ensuring that they catered vegetarian for me. We ate the most delicious food the entire time! She helped us trackdown the souvenirs we wanted to find, walked us through beautiful and fascinating streets, translating for us as needed. Oh and she took really great photos of us and sent them every day. She's a trained photographer. This was really a once in alifetime experience for us and Genie made it all possible. Definitely contact her if you're visiting Shanghai and have a great time!
As of today (25 June 2024), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Affairs made an announcement:
In order to further promote the exchange of people between China and other countries, China has decided to expand the range of visa-free countries. A trial visa-free policy will be implemented for ordinary passport holders from three countries: New Zealand, Australia, and Poland. From July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from these countries can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transit for up to 15 days.
This is wonderful news, allowing more visitors to explore China without the hassle of obtaining a visa. I look forward to showing more guests around Shanghai and other fascinating places in China with this new policy in place.
If you or anyone you know plans a trip to Shanghai or anywhere in China, I would love to help create a memorable and smooth travel experience. With my local knowledge, expertise, and passion for guiding, I ensure that every aspect of your visit is carefully planned and executed. Don’t hesitate to reach out and let me help make your journey to China as enjoyable and enriching as Louisa and Lubin’s.
Thank you for reading!