Amazing Shanghai Eats: In Partnership with Food & Wine Magazine
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Port
Shanghai, China
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All,61
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$169.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
What does the future hold? Visit Shanghai -- China's most populous city -- and you'll soon know. Shanghai's dramatic growth has been accompanied by the rise of an equally prolific and exciting food scene.
On this food-hopping tour, you'll explore the city's less-trodden streets and take a bite out of several authentic Shanghai restaurants that have been featured in Food & Wine magazine.
Your first stop is at Wujiang Road -- a popular snacking street and home to Nanxiang Mantou Dian, which first opened its doors 100 years ago. This tiny hole-in-the-wall spot is famed for its xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings). Your waiter will show you how to eat them -- you bite a tiny hole in the skin, sip the soup, then devour the whole dumpling with rice vinegar and ginger slivers. You can try different types of xiao long bao with tea and local rice wine.
Next, head for the city's former French Concession -- an elegant, leafy neighborhood. You'll explore a local flower, bird and fish market and weave your way along streets where tourists usually don't venture. It's a chance to capture a snapshot of Shanghai life.
At Taoyuan Village, you'll sample xian dou jiang -- a typical local breakfast item. This savory soybean curd is served with slices of deep-fried dough, chili oil, dried seaweed and a sprinkling of spring onions.
Transfer to Fuzhou Road -- Shanghai's 'book street' -- and venture on foot to a stall selling old books by the pound. What a concept!
Then, snake your way through the neighborhood to a back alley where you'll sample lamb kebab -- a popular Chinese street-food snack proving that the humblest dishes often produce the best flavors. See the largest bookstore in China as well as old grocery shops.
Your next destination is The Press, located in the historic Shun Pao building. Built in 1872, this building is the former home of China's longest-running daily newspaper, Shen Bao, which played an influential role in local journalism. Although it has been renovated and is now the setting for this modern café, the building retains some elements of the past, including the 100-year-old neo-Classical embossed dome and a mosaic floor. Take a seat and sample a coffee or iced tea and dessert as you take in the mix of modern and nostalgic Shanghai.
Your tour concludes with a transfer back to the ship.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. The approximate duration of the tour is calculated from Baoshan Cruise Terminal.