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PhatLife Project returns to Shanghai after eight years and explores the city through food, architecture, and small discoveries. The trip begins with crab roe xiaolongbao at Lai Lai Xiao Long and a view of the Bund from Conde Restaurant at the Regent. The itinerary includes a speakeasy hidden behind a barbershop, the French Concession, Wukang Mansion, bakeries, bookshops, Chinese herb-inspired gelato, and a spa with fruit and hot springs. Later stops include crab roe noodles, Sinan Mansions, pastries, doughnuts, and a European-style area at Lu Heng Road station.
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Food and skyline views
PhatLife Project returns to Shanghai after eight years and begins with crab roe xiaolongbao at Lai Lai Xiao Long, a Michelin Bib Gourmand shop. The queue moves quickly, and the traveler is able to get in within about ten minutes. Nanjing Road follows, with large stores such as Miniso Land and Popmart and a bright, busy atmosphere. To see the Bund skyline without crowds, he recommends ordering a drink at Conde Restaurant on the fifth floor of the Regent; a full meal is not necessary.
A hidden bar behind a barbershop facade sets the tone for a trip full of tucked-away places. The next day begins in the French Concession around Wukang Road. PhatLife Project sees Wukang Mansion, visits Baker & Spice and Apoli Itabakery, and explores a bookstore, 13 De Marzo, and Harmay. The itinerary includes a Chinese medicine-inspired gelato shop with flavors such as ginseng jasmine and perilla pomelo.
Spas, noodles, and hidden bars
Rain sends the traveler to Yang Space Spa, where 299 RMB includes unlimited fruit and access to hot springs. Guests can stay until 2 a.m., making it a relaxed option on a wet day. Meals include crab roe noodles at Renhe Guan and another less expensive, queue-free noodle shop recommended by a friend. The traveler prefers the alternative.
Other stops include Sinan Mansions, a historic memorial house, Sit Gelato, Butterful and Creamorous croissants, Nunu doughnuts, and a surreal display at Haus Nowhere. The trip also includes fish croaker noodle soup. At Lu Heng Road station, Exit 5 leads to a European-style area that makes for a surprising photo stop. The final night is at Flask Bar, hidden behind a takeaway-shop facade; visitors can order bao from the food shop to eat at the bar. Across three days, the city’s skyline, historic streets, food, and secret interiors keep revealing new places.
Exploring the French Concession
The second day is rainy, so PhatLife Project walks around Wukang Road and the French Concession. From Baker & Spice, he looks toward Wukang Mansion, a building whose flatiron shape stands out in the neighborhood. He visits Apoli Itabakery and explores a range of distinctive local businesses: Wudi Bookstore has a cinema area, 13 De Marzo has a bear-themed cafe, and Harmay combines skincare shopping with an industrial warehouse look.
Zhongyao Tang Gelato offers flavors inspired by Chinese herbs, including ginseng jasmine and perilla pomelo. The traveler finds them refreshing, despite expecting unusual flavors. Rain leads to a visit at Yang Space Spa, where the 299 RMB price includes unlimited fruit and hot springs and guests can stay until 2 a.m. Later, crab roe noodles at Renhe Guan are followed by a less expensive, queue-free noodle shop recommended by a friend; he prefers the alternative.
Hidden places and final food stops
The itinerary continues through Sinan Mansions and a historic memorial house, then visits Sit Gelato, Butterful and Creamorous, Nunu Donut, and Haus Nowhere. There is also a fish croaker noodle soup, a Jiangnan dish with a rich broth. At Lu Heng Road, Exit 5 leads to a European-style area that feels unlike the surrounding city.
Flask Bar is concealed behind a panel in a Chinese takeaway shop front. The traveler says visitors can order bao from the shop and bring it into the bar. His three days end with a wish that he had time for Shanghai Disneyland and with a travel guide containing more than 50 recommendations. The return to Shanghai after eight years lets him compare memories with a city that continues to change.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What is special about Zhongyao Tang Gelato?
- A: The shop offers gelato inspired by Chinese herbs, including ginseng jasmine and perilla pomelo. The traveler finds the flavors surprisingly refreshing.
- Q: How do you enter Flask Bar?
- A: It is behind a secret panel in a Chinese takeaway-shop facade. Pull the discrete panel on the right side; you can order bao from the food shop to eat at the bar.
- Q: Which Shanghai station has a European-style area?
- A: Take Exit 5 at Lu Heng Road station to find a European-style area that feels different from the rest of Shanghai. The traveler describes it as a surprising place for photos and a break from the city’s usual pace.
