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Shanghai First Impressions: Bund, Vegan Food & Hotel Tour

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SHANGHAI, CHINA 🇨🇳🇬🇧

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation: 24.9 million
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SHANGHAI, CHINA 🇨🇳🇬🇧
Jess & Jay57 min

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SHANGHAI, CHINA 🇨🇳🇬🇧. This was filmed by Jess & Jay. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

Our first time in Shanghai! Come with us as we explore the Bund, and give the room tour of a lifetime! We have some incredible vegan food in Duli, and also have a tumultuous trip up to the top floor of our hotel! Keep watching to find out!

--- Jess & Jay
November 2, 2025, Autumn in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

On their first visit to Shanghai, Jess and Jay are struck by the futuristic skyline, tall skyscrapers, and unexpectedly quiet streets. Their hotel has a lobby on the 54th floor and a room on the 67th, with multiple rooms, a large living area, a marble bathtub, a washlet, artwork, and city views. They enjoy vegan dishes at Duli, including mapo tofu hummus, mushroom-and-tahini Dandan noodles, and vegan tiramisu. At the Bund they compare Pudong's modern skyline with historic Western-influenced buildings, including the Fairmont Peace Hotel and Custom House. Cocktails at the Grand Club Lounge and a crowded 88th-floor observatory round out the day.

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SHANGHAI, CHINA 🇨🇳🇬🇧

First views of Shanghai and a high-floor hotel

Jess and Jay, a couple from Darbyshire, arrive in Shanghai for their first visit to China. As they leave the metro, they see the Oriental Pearl Tower and very tall, twisting skyscrapers. The scale and futuristic skyline leave them speechless; Jay jokes that his mouth has been open for three minutes. They are also surprised by how quiet the streets seem, and speculate that electric cars may be a reason.

Getting to their hotel is an experience of its own. Gold elevators take them up to the lobby on the 54th floor, and their room is on the 67th. The room has several rooms, a large living area, a marble bathtub, a high-tech washlet, artwork, and wide city views that feel slightly unnerving from that height. Jess jokes that the safe is shaped like a pumpkin and that they could get lost in their own room. They weigh whether to check into the hotel early or wait, considering the actual cost of the offer. The hotel has amenities including a complimentary lounge and cocktails, which they later enjoy at the Grand Club Lounge on the 83rd floor.

Vegan food and the Bund

After settling in, they visit Duli, a recommended vegan restaurant. They enjoy mapo tofu hummus and Dandan noodles with mushroom and tahini sauce, describing the noodles as sweet and sticky, with a teriyaki-like glaze. They also try vegan tiramisu, which they compare to a creamy cheesecake. The food becomes one of the highlights of the day.

They continue to the Bund, a historic waterfront promenade. Across the river, Pudong's modern skyline contrasts with Western-influenced art deco and neoclassical buildings on the Bund, dating from the early twentieth century. They discuss landmarks including the Fairmont Peace Hotel and Custom House. The Custom House clock tower chimes like Big Ben. Their walk gives them a view of the old and new sides of Shanghai in one place.

Night views and first impressions

Jess and Jay return to the hotel and have complimentary cocktails at the Grand Club Lounge on the 83rd floor, taking in panoramic city views. They also go to an observatory on the 88th floor. They find it crowded, with obstructed views and many tour groups, and decide that the experience is not worth the cost. Despite that disappointment, they consider the first day close to perfect and see the hotel as surprisingly budget-friendly luxury. They are excited to continue exploring Shanghai, including a planned trip to Disney. The video includes their arrival, hotel tour and decision about check-in, Duli meal, Bund history, lounge visit, observatory experience, and initial impressions of the city.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What first struck Jess and Jay about Shanghai?
A: They were immediately impressed by the futuristic skyline and the city's scale, especially the Oriental Pearl Tower and the very tall, twisting skyscrapers.
Q: What was unusual about their hotel?
A: The lobby was on the 54th floor and their room on the 67th, with city views, several rooms, a large living area, a marble bathtub, a washlet, and artwork.
Q: What did they eat at Duli?
A: They recommend the vegan restaurant and particularly enjoyed mapo tofu hummus, sweet and sticky Dandan noodles with mushroom and tahini sauce, and vegan tiramisu.
Q: What can visitors see along the Bund?
A: The waterfront contrasts the modern Pudong skyline with historic Western-influenced buildings, including the Fairmont Peace Hotel and Custom House, whose clock tower chimes like Big Ben.
Q: Did they enjoy the 88th-floor observatory?
A: They found it crowded, with obstructions and tour groups, and ultimately did not think it was worth the cost.
Q: What were their first impressions of Shanghai overall?
A: Despite the crowded observatory, they considered their first day close to perfect and were excited to explore more of the city, including a planned Disney visit.

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Shanghai First Impressions: Bund, Vegan Food & Hotel Tour

Our fist time in Shanghai! Come with us as we explore the bund, and give the room tour of a lifetime! We have some incredible vegan food in Duli, and also have a tumultuous trip up to the top floor of our hotel! Keep watching to find out!

Shanghai First Impressions: Luxury Hotel, Vegan Food & The Bund

Embark on a captivating journey through Shanghai with Jess & Jay! Witness their first impressions of this dynamic Chinese metropolis, from the iconic Bund to an unforgettable hotel room tour. Savor delicious vegan food in Duli and experience the thrill of a hotel elevator ride. This vlog promises an exciting glimpse into the heart of Shanghai, blending cultural exploration with personal adventure.

Attractions in this video: Oriental Pearl Tower, The Bund, Pudong Skyline