What was the biggest difference between your experience and the Western media's portrayal of China?

Ken was surprised by how organized, modern, clean and peaceful Shanghai felt. It was not chaotic in the way he had expected, even though the city is described in the old FAQ as having 26 million people.

What did you think of China's cashless society?

Ken found the system convenient after adjusting, although his foreign card did not work everywhere. Cash was widely accepted, and his friend Joseph could pay for purchases with a phone.

How much pollution and poverty did you see?

Ken says he did not see poverty in Shanghai during this visit. He found the city clean and the air quality better than in some Southeast Asian cities he had visited; this is his personal observation.

What was your favorite food?

Ken particularly liked the noodles he ate on his first day and also enjoyed dumplings sold as street snacks. He remembers a pork dish in the Venice of Shanghai as another good meal.

What were some challenges you faced as a visitor?

The language barrier was the main challenge, since many people did not speak English. Ken says residents were helpful and often used translation apps to assist him.

Did you feel under surveillance?

Ken says he did not feel followed or told to stop filming. He says the cameras actually made him feel safer during his stay in Shanghai.

How much did your trip cost?

Ken estimates that six days cost around $1,000, including flights, hotel, food and other expenses. He says Shanghai itself was less expensive than he had expected.

Will you visit China again?

Yes. Ken says the 15-day visa-free program for certain nationalities makes it easier for him to consider returning, and he was already planning a trip for January or February. Travelers should check whether the rules apply to their own nationality.

What surprised you the most about China?

Ken was most surprised by how quiet and peaceful Shanghai felt despite its size, and by how open, friendly and helpful people were during his visit.

Shanghai Travel Vlog: Honest Insights & Cultural Experiences

Name: My Honest Thoughts About My Trip To Shanghai, China 🇨🇳
Uploaded: 2023-11-28
Duration: 25 min 39 s
Channel: Ken Abroad
Description: Ken Abroad's Shanghai adventure: honest insights into culture, food, and daily life, leaving him with unforgettable memories.

My Honest Thoughts About My Trip To Shanghai, China 🇨🇳

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation: 24.9 million

Ken Abroad2023-11-2825 min

Video Chapters

Ken Abroad spends six days in Shanghai, comparing his experience with Western media portrayals and discussing food, transport, safety and the city's cashless payments.

China travel video

My Honest Thoughts About My Trip To. This China travel video was filmed by Ken Abroad. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

My Honest Thoughts About My Trip To Shanghai, China

After spending 6 days in Shanghai, China, here are my honest thoughts and opinions. In this video I will answer the questions that you sent me about my time and experiences in China and in Shanghai. If you plan to travel China, these answers might also be interesting for you.

. After spending 6 days in Shanghai, China, here are my honest thoughts and opinions. In this video I will answer the questions that you sent me about my time and experiences in China and in Shanghai. If you plan to travel China, these answers might also be interesting for you.

--- Ken Abroad

November 28, 2023, Autumn in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Ken Abroad shares impressions from a six-day Shanghai trip. He finds the city organized, clean and modern, with friendly residents and affordable public transport. Noodles and dumplings are among his favorite foods, and a typical metro ride costs less than a dollar. Ken initially finds cashless payments difficult because his foreign card does not work everywhere, but he says cash is commonly accepted and his friend Joseph can pay by phone. He also discusses air quality, surveillance cameras, language barriers and the trip cost of about $1,000 including flights. He plans to return and invites suggestions for other places to visit.

Next travel video:

26 min

2024-01

China Exploration: Guangzhou's Cantonese CultureWinter, January 19, 2024

More about the current video:(Published on 2023-11-28)

Ken's first impressions of Shanghai

Ken Abroad spends six days in Shanghai and compares what he finds with Western media portrayals of China. He is surprised by the city's organization, modern infrastructure and cleanliness. He describes the streets as peaceful and says residents are friendly, including outside the main tourist areas. He also comments on Shanghai's air quality, which he found better than in several Southeast Asian cities he had visited.

Food is a highlight of the trip. Ken mentions noodles and dumplings, including street snacks, and particularly remembers noodles from his first day. He also enjoyed a pork dish in the “Venice of Shanghai.” Public transport is another positive: a typical metro ride costs less than a dollar, and he found the system efficient and affordable.

Payments, travel questions and costs

Ken says the cashless payment system was challenging at first because his foreign credit card did not work everywhere. Cash was widely accepted, however, and his friend Joseph could pay for purchases by phone. The language barrier also came up, since many people did not speak English, but residents often helped by using translation apps.

He addresses viewers' concerns about surveillance and says the cameras made him feel safer; he was not followed or told to stop filming. He also says he saw no poverty during his visit, while acknowledging that this describes what he encountered in Shanghai rather than every part of China. The trip cost around $1,000 for six days, including flights, hotel, food and other expenses. Ken says Shanghai was less expensive than he expected and plans to return to China, inviting viewers to suggest other destinations. The video also mentions a 15-day visa-free program for certain nationalities, with advice to check requirements for one's own passport before travel.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What was the biggest difference between your experience and the Western media's portrayal of China?: A: Ken was surprised by how organized, modern, clean and peaceful Shanghai felt. It was not chaotic in the way he had expected, even though the city is described in the old FAQ as having 26 million people.

Q: What did you think of China's cashless society?: A: Ken found the system convenient after adjusting, although his foreign card did not work everywhere. Cash was widely accepted, and his friend Joseph could pay for purchases with a phone.

Q: How much pollution and poverty did you see?: A: Ken says he did not see poverty in Shanghai during this visit. He found the city clean and the air quality better than in some Southeast Asian cities he had visited; this is his personal observation.

Q: What was your favorite food?: A: Ken particularly liked the noodles he ate on his first day and also enjoyed dumplings sold as street snacks. He remembers a pork dish in the Venice of Shanghai as another good meal.

Q: What were some challenges you faced as a visitor?: A: The language barrier was the main challenge, since many people did not speak English. Ken says residents were helpful and often used translation apps to assist him.

Q: Did you feel under surveillance?: A: Ken says he did not feel followed or told to stop filming. He says the cameras actually made him feel safer during his stay in Shanghai.

Q: How much did your trip cost?: A: Ken estimates that six days cost around $1,000, including flights, hotel, food and other expenses. He says Shanghai itself was less expensive than he had expected.

Q: Will you visit China again?: A: Yes. Ken says the 15-day visa-free program for certain nationalities makes it easier for him to consider returning, and he was already planning a trip for January or February. Travelers should check whether the rules apply to their own nationality.

Q: What surprised you the most about China?: A: Ken was most surprised by how quiet and peaceful Shanghai felt despite its size, and by how open, friendly and helpful people were during his visit.

Previous travel video:

30 min

2023-11

Zhujiajiao: Exploring Shanghai's VeniceAutumn, November 24, 2023

Shanghai Travel Vlog: Honest Insights & Cultural Experiences

Ken Abroad's Shanghai adventure: honest insights into culture, food, and daily life, leaving him with unforgettable memories.

Shanghai Travel Vlog: Exploring Modern China's Clean & Organized Metropolis

Ken Abroad shares his honest opinions about his 6-day trip to Shanghai, addressing viewer questions about his experiences. He contrasts the portrayal of China in Western media with reality, discusses the cashless society, pollution, poverty, and favorite foods. He also touches upon challenges faced as a visitor, air quality, feelings of surveillance, negative comments, impressions of people, food, and transport, reasons for delaying his visit, exploring without a local friend, English proficiency of locals, using Alipay and WeChat Pay, comparing Shanghai and Hong Kong, plans for future visits, biggest surprises, and costs.

Attractions in this video: Venice Of Shanghai