Charming Alleys and Spicy Night Views of Shanghai with My Sister
As soon as we arrived in Shanghai, we headed straight to a lush, tree-lined street shaded by long rows of green plane trees. Lined with low-rise buildings and chic boutique shops, the street had a unique atmosphere that made me want to grab my camera and start flashing away. Looking around, I saw people who looked like influencers or online store models busy posing for photos. It brought back memories of my own glorious(?) past when I dreamed of becoming an influencer, only to give up after failing to break through the zero-follower barrier. Hoping I could capture at least one great shot here, I handed the camera to my sister and posed next to a tree.
As we walked slowly along the street, a delicate floral scent caught my attention and made me stop. It was a tiny, charming flower shop nestled under a small, stylish arched ceiling, packed with colorful fresh flowers. Perhaps because of my past experience taking floral design classes, I couldn't just admire the beautiful blooms; my mind immediately drifted to practical matters. "How on earth do they manage the inventory of all these fresh flowers?" Standing in front of a romantic flower shop while worrying about practical logistics made me laugh at myself.
When my legs began to feel tired, we sat down at a nearby terrace cafe and ordered a warm cup of coffee. As we were taking a breather, a dog with shiny brown fur walked up to us, wagging its tail. The way it shook its head with pure excitement was incredibly cute, and I wanted to pet it. However, it looked like a high-end, pedigree dog of substantial value, so I didn't dare touch it and simply admired it from a distance.
After leaving the cafe, we stopped by a cute character shop. The shelves were stacked with a large number of purple Baikinman plush toys, wearing purple hats and smiling sweetly with closed eyes. Seeing rows of toys with the exact same expression brought a smile to my face.
Mesmerized by the Night Views and Garlic Crayfish
Once the sun went down, we headed to the Bulgari Bar, which my sister had booked in advance. Truth be told, neither of us is the type to strike a pose at a fancy cocktail bar, so we burst out laughing the moment we sat down under the elegant lighting. However, our jaws dropped when we saw the luxurious night views of the Huangpu River and Pudong stretching out beyond our glasses. Along with our cocktails, we ordered cheese, jamon, and salmon canapes, devouring them as if they were a massive main course.
When we stepped out onto the rooftop terrace, the buildings of the Bund were lighting up in real time. The spectacle of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the surrounding skyscrapers turning golden and red one after another was absolutely overwhelming. While slender influencers were busy taking photos all around us, I huddled in the corner like a dried squid, quietly enjoying the enchanting view.
Now that our eyes had feasted on the views, it was time to treat our taste buds. We moved to a famous restaurant specializing in spicy crayfish (mala longxia). Looking at the menu, my sister unhesitatingly ordered fried frog skewers. She absolutely loves the frog character Keroppi, so watching her eat actual frog with such relish—claiming that characters and food are completely separate things—shocked me. But I suppose loving something completely, in whatever form, is what truly matters.
Next came the highly anticipated freshwater crayfish, xiaolongxia. We debated getting the spicy mala flavor, but as true Koreans, we opted for the garlic version, topped with a mountain of minced garlic. A staff member wearing plastic gloves kindly peeled every single crayfish for us, which made eating it incredibly easy. If we had to peel them ourselves, we might have lost our patience. The crayfish meat, soaked in the savory garlic sauce, was an absolute flavor bomb.
From Corn Drinks to a Washbasin Bowl of Rice: Unforgettable Shanghai Eats
The next morning, while I usually just wander into any restaurant without a line when traveling alone, my foodie sister had us try a unique drink for breakfast. At a high-rise cafe overlooking the distant Oriental Pearl Tower, we had a drink made with a coconut milk base, real corn kernels, and chewy grains of rice. After taking a sip, I stared at my sister and muttered quietly, "Sister, I think we can stop experimenting with unusual foods now..."
For lunch, we went to a popular malaban (dry-tossed hot pot) restaurant where locals were lining up. As we enjoyed the malaban, which was coated in a savory and spicy peanut sauce, we noticed people at neighboring tables bringing in pan-fried pork buns (shengjianbao) from the shop next door to eat together. The culture of bringing food from another restaurant to share so naturally felt fresh and friendly. The combination of the shengjianbao, with its crispy bottom and bursting broth, and the malaban was absolutely superb.
After our meal, we headed to the plaza right in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai's iconic landmark. Determined to fit the soaring tower into a single frame, I was lying almost flat on the ground, struggling to find the right angle. My sister, watching me with a look of disbelief, quietly said, "What are you doing? Just use the zoom-out function on the camera." Feeling thoroughly embarrassed, I sheepishly pressed the zoom-out button. Sure enough, with a single tap of a finger, the massive tower fit easily into the frame.
For our final meal before heading to the airport, we stopped at a casual local diner. Being a true Korean who needs at least one proper meal of rice a day to feel satisfied, I confidently ordered, "Give us the largest bowl of rice you have!" A moment later, the server brought out not a rice bowl, but a massive ceramic bowl the size of a washbasin, with rice piled up high like a mountain. The bowl of rice was so imposing that the plate of stir-fried tomato and eggs next to it looked tiny, and we couldn't stop laughing. Our quirky and delightful Shanghai trip with my sister ended with our hearts and stomachs as full as that giant bowl of rice.
