1 Day Shanghai High-Tech Tour (X-Meta, Drone Food Delivery)

Today, you will spend the entire day exploring Shanghai's future and past, featuring modern city highlights and latest technical edges, including XR experiences and drone food delivery.

First, drive to Sichuan North Road, one of Shanghai's three oldest commercial streets. Beginning in the early 20th century, this area was a lively mix of lights where people speaking different native languages gathered. It remains vibrant today, with its streets lined with traditional Shikumen houses, garden villas, and lilong (lane) architecture. You are free to explore and take photos in spots like the Duolun Road Historical and Cultural Street and the lilong districts.

Then, we enter Jinchao 8 Lane to experience the X-Meta project. Wearing VR headsets and vests, you and other participants will travel through time and space to adventure alongside the Terracotta Warriors and figures from the Chinese mythology text Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Seas). You can move and collaborate freely within a vast virtual space that seamlessly blends with real-world sensations like wind, weightlessness, heat, and vibration.

For lunch, we head to the currently popular Restaurant No. 3 to enjoy a unique dining atmosphere. Its design features red brick walls, exposed steel beams, and high ceilings, contrasted with neon art, graffiti walls, and vintage metal. Here, you will taste beautifully presented, creative Chinese cuisine.

After lunch, head to the CapitaLand Guozheng Center near Wujiaochang to receive your coffee delivered by drone. Then, move to Yu Garden, the most celebrated classical Chinese garden hidden in the bustling downtown area of Shanghai, where you can appreciate the beauty of a Jiangnan water town ! Yu Garden was a private garden of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with a history of over 460 years, was built in 1559 by Pan Yunduan (潘允端) for his father to enjoy his retired life. You will see the winding paths and changing scenery, the plants and ponds, the brick carvings, stone carvings, clay sculptures, and wood carvings in the garden, all designed with great craftsmanship. On the way to Yu Garden, you will pass by the iconic Jiuqu Bridge (九曲桥Nine-Bend Bridge/Zigzag Causeway) and the Huxin Pavilion (湖心亭Mid-lake Pavilion, built in the Qing Dynasty, 1616-1912). According to Chinese Fengshui, the zigzag causeway is designed to thwart spirits, who can only journey in straight lines. As you enter Yu Garden, you can explore various beautifully crafted dragons hidden in the buildings, count them, and learn more about the Chinese dragon totem from your guide.

Then you can take a hike from Nanjing Road to the Bund, which is less than a 2 km walk. Typically, when mentioning Nanjing Road, it refers to strolling from Nanjing Road West to Nanjing Road East (about 1.1 km), and then continuing from Nanjing Road East to the Bund (about 0.6km).

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is one of the iconic attractions of Shanghai, known as the "Number One Commercial Street in China". It has a history of more than 170 years, dating back to 1848, and showcases various architectural styles including European, Chinese, and modern designs. It serves as a window to Shanghai's openness to the world and a paradise for shoppers from both domestic and international locations. Nanjing Road is the perfect place to experience century-old Chinese time-honored shops, such as Wuliangcai Optical (吴良材眼镜店), founded in 1806; Hope Brother's & Co (亨达利钟表店), established in 1874; Duoyunxuan (朵云轩), the most famous calligraphy and painting store in Shanghai, founded in 1900; and Wang Kai Photograph(王开照相馆), the largest deluxe photography studio in Shanghai since 1923. You can also visit Shanghai Shimao Festival City (上海世茂广场) and explore the first flagship LEGO store in Asia, the flagship Nike store, and the exclusive flagship store of MM Chocolate in Asia, etc. At the Peace Hotel, you can capture a photo of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower standing in the middle of the street alley. Nanjing Road is also a paradise for food lovers, so don't miss a visit to Shanghai's first food store and Shen Dacheng Dim Sum Shop.

Later, stroll along the Bund, you will have the feeling of traveling back to the 1930s and 1940s. As the Top 1 Place to Visit on the Shanghai Bucket List, the Bund is the best spot to view the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (a symbol of Shanghai) and the three skyscrapers of Lujiazui. Located on the bank of the Huangpu River and renowned as “An Exhibition of International Buildings”, the Bund is a collection of 52 buildings representing various international architectural styles. Since 1844 (Qing Dynasty), foreign banks, trading companies, clubs, and newspapers have gathered here, showcasing the former glory of the "Wall Street of the Far East" (远东华尔街).

Optional Activity - Huangpu River Ferry Ride:

After the Bund tour, you will reach Jinling East Road to board a public ferry to cross the Huangpu River, transferring you from Old Shanghai Town to Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai Pudong New Area. The Huangpu River is a man-made river that flows north through Shanghai and serves as the last significant tributary of the Yangtze before the Yangtze empties into the East China Sea. The Huangpu River Ferry Ride takes about 10 minutes, departing from Jinling East Road Pier (金陵东路渡口) and arriving at Dongchang Road Pier (东昌路渡口路). Since the ferry operates every 15 minutes in the afternoon, including the queuing time, it will take about 40 to 60 minutes to experience the Shanghai Public Ferry (2 yuan per person上海轮渡) like a local and enjoy the splendid views along Shanghai's Mother River. (Notes: The ferry is a regular means of transportation rather than a tourist sightseeing boat or cruise, so it is rather simple and lacks seating. The best view can be enjoyed from the second deck, but it may be crowded, so be sure to secure a favorable position and prioritize safety.)

Then, it is time to end your 1 Day Shanghai High-Tech Tour. Your guide will escort you to your hotel. Or head to the airport/train station for your flight or high speed train to your next destination.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip around China and Asia. Safe journey!