We landed in Shanghai late last night. The city is absolutely beautiful, especially all lit up at night! Even the sidewalks light up green or red at the start of crosswalks to match the stoplights. Yet again, our cab driver from the airport tries scamming us by passing our hotel, and J-lin tells him to stop so we can get out and walk back.
Zhujiajiao: Ancient Water Town
Today’s adventure is Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town. But first, we’re grabbing the world’s best food from Yang’s Dumplings: deep fried dumpling buns. Even though this is a fast food chain, it’s the most delicious food I’ve ever had in my life. Imagine the most succulent shrimp and pork simmered and wrapped lovingly in the most succulent dough, deep fried on one side for a crispy finish.
Apparently, you can’t get anything prepared the same way anywhere in the United States (someone please tell me I’m wrong), so I guess this is the only thing I’m eating in Shanghai!
We hop on the metro, which is seemingly brand new and extremely clean, the interior of each line painted a pretty color. A voice announces stops in British English. There are monitors playing animated video clips showing how to properly take care of dogs. This is incredibly entertaining; one clip explains that if you kill, cook, and eat a dog, you will have to go to the hospital.
Zhujiajiao is alive with people and food. J-lin and I basically go on a food crawl, trying things like pork belly marinated in a blood red soup, rice cakes, pickles inside bread, and donkey rolls in sand (dough pieces rolled in peanut butter powder).
For dinner, we head downtown and check out a restaurant called The Refinery. I have never seen so many white people in my life!! It’s actually weird since I’ve been in China for about a week and haven’t seen white people until tonight.
Things you should know about China so far:
- Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town, is a great day trip with tons of interesting food to try. But do NOT get the “donkey rolls in sand!” It looks really good but it literally tastes like cardboard sand. DO try the pork belly simmered in blood red soup.
- If there’s no menu inside a restaurant, you may get scammed (in terms of meal price) by the servers.
- Have tea at a traditional Chinese tea house – it’s so relaxing!
- You can find white people in downtown Shanghai.
Nanjing Road
I’ve never been to New York City, but I’m about to see the Times Square of China: Nanjing Road.
This area is insane! All the stores are level one million compared to any store I’ve ever been inside. The Nike store has a fully functional build-your-own-shoe station, the LEGO store encapsulates my childhood dream, and the M&M store is legitimately the most lit store I have ever been inside, amping me up with flashing, colored lights and loud, upbeat dance music.
We also bop into a traditional Chinese medicine store with hundreds of different herbal remedies for particular ailments on display. As much as I want to purchase something, everything is so expensive and I have no clue what to even look for.
Before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the night, J-lin and I grab a happy hour beer on an outdoor patio right off Nanjing Road and people watch. He reiterates how his game is next level in China because he speaks English and has social skills, so I ask if he’s going to get a little spicy tonight. He says he wouldn’t ditch me like that; he’d rather just hang out and enjoy the night. We’ll see about that!
As for me, it’s Friday night, and I’m definitely feeling spicy! There are a few nightlife spots on my list that I want to check out, starting with Revolucion.
Revolucion
When we arrive around 10pm, it’s not super busy, but I love the vibes. I’m quick to make friends with a guy named Gin, who just bought an entire bottle of tequila from the bar. Not only that, but someone keeps buying jager bombs and passing them out like candy. It’s rude to decline shots in China, so I’m basically f*cked.
Gin’s friends convince J-lin and me to stick around until midnight for a special surprise, which turns out to be a quick intermission of hyphy music during which the bartenders blow whistles, climb onto the bar, swing the overhead lights, and pour liquor into everyone’s mouths. What a treat!
That was worth sticking around for, but I’m ready to dip out to M1nt Nightclub before Gin and his friends black me out. There’s a line and cover when we arrive, but J-lin walks up to the hostess and says we’re staying at the Waldorf, and she lets us in. We have no idea if that meant anything to her or if there just wasn’t actually cover, but we’re in!
M1nt Nightclub
The dim hallway right inside is lined with tanks full of baby sharks swimming around to the music. I’m already into these vibes.
We pop out right at the bar, where J-lin immediately starts hitting on a local girl. He turns to me and asks me to ditch him so he can do his thing. I laugh at how quickly he forgot about not ditching me, but I’m totally cool with doing my own thing, too.
I mingle with some Greek models here for work, then head to the front of the stage to dance. There, a white dude pretends to only know Chinese when I try striking up a conversation, so I turn my attention to this group of Asian baby girls having the best time of their lives. Suddenly, one of them is climbing onstage to dance.
That’s when I know I have found my crew for the night. After realizing no one is trying to kick this girl off the stage, I climb up and join her.
Next thing I know, we’re invited to a table off to the side, and shots are passed around. I’m still not ready to drink more since Revolucion, but it’s rude to say no to shots, so I toss the shots over my shoulder. It’s actually so ridiculous how many shots these people take!! My new friends and I decide we have to leave the table before any more are offered to us.
All of a sudden, J-lin appears, absolutely slammered. My friends actually try to get him to go away because they thinks he’s a creeper, and I have to explain that he’s my friend and that I need to take him home. We exchange Instagrams before saying goodbye – I hope to run into them again soon!
Things to know about China so far:
- It’s rude to say no to a shot, so just toss it over your shoulder if you want to avoid taking it!
- You can buy an entire bottle of liquor at some bars. The bar will also provide you with a tray of shot glasses to go with it.
- I would highly recommend Revolucion. Make sure you’re there for the midnight show!
- Water is not free at the club, but sometimes the locals can help you get some if you ask for their help.
- M1nt Nightclub is also a good time, with a fun crowd and nice layout. Security will apparently let you dance onstage!
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