[Shanghai] This Summer, Discover the Multi-Faceted Magic City

Preface: Shanghai – A Collision of Fashion and Classic

I have always adored Shanghai, with its faded old mansions on Hengshan Road, where each summer the plane trees canopy the streets, casting sunlight into dappled shadows. I love sitting on a double-decker bus, observing the endless flow of people, or holding a hot coffee while waiting for a spectacular sunset on the Bund.

In this international metropolis, fashion and classic merge seamlessly. You can often catch glimpses of its chic, laid-back side, and in countless moments, trace the imprints of old Shanghai. She is like a multi-faceted lady, holding countless surprises, waiting for you to slowly uncover.

Shanghai is fresh and vibrant. Wandering its streets and alleys, you'll be captivated by the colorful buildings. Plazas and parks are dotted with Insta-worthy spots.

Shanghai is international and alluring. As night deepens, a grand South American carnival begins. The hems of Argentine dancers' skirts fly, their passionate moves and the aroma of sizzling steak create an intoxicating evening.

Shanghai is fashionable and always ahead. Murder mystery games, flash mobs, fashion weeks, electronic music festivals – the city is always at the forefront of trends. Come watch a punk flash mob and step instantly into a five-dimensional psychedelic world.

Shanghai is full of charm and utterly captivating. When I was young, my impression of Shanghai mostly came from Zhou Xuan's "Night Shanghai". The old vinyl record spun on the gramophone, slowly releasing not just music, but her timeless allure. When you visit, you must wear a qipao, and in a moment, be transported back to the Shanghai Bund era.

Shanghai is steeped in history and deeply cultured. Often, while walking here, I forget the bustling modern city and slowly immerse myself in a nostalgic journey. These are all different sides of Shanghai, each enchanting and mesmerizing. This summer, come and discover the multi-faceted Magic City!

The colors of Shanghai are probably countless. Each street and square seems to have its own palette, and that's why new photo-worthy spots keep popping up in the Magic City.

As a Pisces, I've always loved blue. I never knew Shanghai had its own Santorini, right at the square of Aegean Shopping Park. Since I can't go to Greece just yet, a mini version is a nice alternative.

Driving to Aegean Shopping Park, a cultural and commercial complex with an underground car park, you'll spot Santorini immediately at the fountain square opposite.

The structure isn't huge and is free to enter. You used to be able to climb it, but it's now fenced off for maintenance, with security patrols, so you can only find angles from the perimeter.

I suggest coming around 3 or 4 p.m. Midday sun is too harsh. Wearing similar shades helps with photos. You can finish snapping in half an hour, then have dinner at the shopping park.

I heard that Shanghai Songcheng opened! As I was recently in Shanghai, I couldn't wait to check it out with friends. I've visited Songcheng in other cities before, and the "The Romance of the Song Dynasty" shows and various entertainments always impressed me.

Shanghai Songcheng is located in the Expo Park by the Huangpu River, offering a prime location. The main venue is a six-story building, mostly indoors, so it's not cold in winter or hot in summer – fantastic!

"Ghost Ship" on the first floor was our first stop. It's great for building courage. I'm usually a scaredy-cat, but with my friends' encouragement, I finally took that first step.

Inside, there are many scenes. At first, I was terrified, clinging to my friends' backs, not daring to look, desperate to get out.

But as we walked on, I became less afraid. The most memorable moment was the sudden downpour in the ghost ship's wine cellar at the very end. We came out a little soaked – thrilling and fun.

Outside on the first floor, there's a splash pool and music square. In summer, kids absolutely love playing in the water here, splashing around carefree with friends for a cool summer.

The central stage hosts scheduled performances. There, Huang Feihong appeared with his disciples, staging a martial arts championship bout.

Chinese kung fu is truly remarkable. These disciples, men and women alike, all had incredible skills, eventually defeating the foreign challengers and showcasing the spirit of Chinese martial arts.

The second floor houses the Songcheng Story Exhibition, café, and restaurant. The third floor is an art exhibition space. Go up to the vibrant fourth floor, where you'll find Theatre No. 1 and Theatre No. 3, and impromptu magic shows outside the Shenhu Trace Bar.

The Modern Costume Gallery is on the fourth floor's Qiangqing Street. Here, you can rent Hanfu, qipao, kimonos, and other outfits for a small fee and enjoy the fun of dressing up.

The street is full of varied settings where you could photograph all day long. Best of all, it's shaded – this is super, super important. And if you rent an outfit, there's no time limit; just return it when you're done shooting.

The Sky Bazaar on the sixth floor is exotically charming, like stepping into Arabia. Watch a crystal ball performance, then explore the slanted house, side house, invisibility house, and kaleidoscope – incredibly stress-relieving.

The bazaar also sells many small items. For a moment, I felt dazed, as if I were abroad. Everything was exquisite, making me want to take it all home.

Strolling around, I spotted a small, delicate Aladdin's lamp for sale. I loved it and promptly bought it, hoping the genie would bring me luck.

When you get tired, you can rest on the stools at the bazaar, flip through a book, order a drink, and relax before moving on. At Songcheng, there's no rush – you can take your time and enjoy.

There are two red chair sculptures in the entire Songcheng complex: one on the first floor and one on the terrace. Considered iconic, they're must-photograph spots.

The glass observation deck on the seventh floor offers views of the Huangpu River and Shanghai's skyscrapers – a perfect photo op. Don't forget to capture a beautiful silhouette.

Also up here is the Elf Valley that kids love, with Hobbit houses full of surprises inside and out.

Adventurous children can try the slide, with dedicated staff watching over each activity. Kids have a blast, and parents can relax.

As the night deepened, a grand South American carnival began. The hems of Argentine dancers' skirts flew, their passionate moves and the aroma of sizzling steak created an intoxicating evening.

The "Passionate Samba" dinner show was our most anticipated performance that day. It starts promptly at 5:40 p.m., so you can go in early for a good seat.

The show kicked off with a spectacular South American drum performance. The passionate beats whet my appetite, as if I were in a tropical rainforest.

The cast of "Passionate Samba" are all international, hailing from Argentina, Cuba, Russia, Ukraine, and other countries. Without leaving Shanghai, audiences can experience the most authentic American flair.

Samba is a dance and music genre originating in Bahia, Brazil. It evolved from African religious dances brought by slaves to Brazil, blending with other local cultures over time.

The performance is creatively choreographed, incorporating thrilling aerial hoop acts alongside South American song and dance, which greatly enhances the spectacle and leaves a profound impression.

Exotic charm and swing are paramount. Suddenly, the entire venue went dark, and then several green lights twisted and moved – a very novel design, the first of its kind I've ever seen.

The sizzling dances, breathtaking hoop routines, a combination of strength and flexibility – I was completely engrossed, watching intently and even forgetting the delicious food in front of me.

The entire show lasted about 60 minutes, and as it progressed, a series of exquisite dishes were served. This dual feast for the eyes and taste buds is this summer's most unmissable experience.

After "Passionate Samba," the punk flash mob on the first floor's Magic Street was about to begin. This is a new performance genre created for young people, featuring actors in punk costumes who deliver an exhilarating show.

Using lights, sound, smoke, special effects, and exaggerated punk attire, they transform the venue into a futuristic, tech-infused world.

Suddenly, I felt as if I had stepped into a five-dimensional space where time and space intertwine. The audiovisual effects were superb, and the performers were highly professional.

Heaven and hell, past and future, reality and virtuality – at every corner, you encounter different characters and trigger a new story. Want to experience it?

An extraordinary visual treat. At the end, all the performers, in the midst of passionate music, led us in a super high-energy wild disco, instantly bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

After the flash mob, we were still buzzing, and the Color Carnival Night on the square kept the joy going. Cool singers belted out tunes on stage, and a water fight was about to break out.

Foreign drummers started drumming, and with the rousing beats, the Color Carnival Night officially began. Parents and children nearby were itching to join the fun.

The cheerleaders also put on a brilliant show. By then, the staff was reminding those without raincoats and water guns to gear up – the water battle was imminent.

Who fired the first shot, no one knows, but everyone started madly spraying with water guns. Some adults even brought out basins and buckets to scoop water – so thrilling.

At this point, whether you wore a raincoat or not, you were guaranteed to get wet. But on a summer evening, being able to revel and splash without restraint, the heat and fatigue of the day were washed away, leaving only coolness and joy.

By then, it didn't matter if you knew each other; what mattered was having a blast. So people splashed everyone in sight, and the square erupted in water fights and laughter.

From day to night, an open art district, multiple flexible spaces, and a performance square that can accommodate thousands – Shanghai Songcheng fulfills all your fantasies and expectations.

Night Shanghai, night Shanghai, you are a city that never sleeps. Lights twinkle, music plays, singing and dancing fill the air... When I was young, my impression of Shanghai mostly came from Zhou Xuan's song "Night Shanghai". The old vinyl record spun on the gramophone, slowly releasing not just music, but her timeless allure.

I have always sought an entrance, one that could take me back to the bygone days of old Shanghai, until I walked into the costume gallery at Shanghai Songcheng. In that moment, a powerful sense of time travel permeated my body, and classic scenes flashed before my eyes.

Songcheng has two costume galleries: one is the Time Travel Costume Gallery on the first floor, and the other is the Modern Costume Gallery on the fourth floor. With thousands of outfits, you can experience a hundred different lives.

The first floor is mainly for qipao, while the fourth offers a variety. I wanted to try a qipao, so I found one that suited me on the first floor. Props and makeup are available, and a full styling package costs 158, a very reasonable price.

Once styled, you can shoot on the first floor or head to the fourth floor's Qiangqing Street, where many settings are perfect for qipao. The gallery staff were very enthusiastic, reminding me not to miss the bed and chair on the fourth floor, which make for gorgeous photos.

Wow, just walking around felt like returning to the Bund era. If you like, you can wear a qipao all day long inside Songcheng. Plus, in summer, the biggest hassle for photos is the sun. But Songcheng is a six-story indoor complex where you can enjoy air conditioning while taking beautiful shots.

If you don't have a photographer, no worries – there are professional photographers on site who can take photos with DSLR cameras at a reasonable price. When I visited, I happened to see an elderly lady having her qipao photos taken. She was so elegant, so reminiscent of a bygone era, and it moved me deeply.

If you want to trace Shanghai's history, then the Guangfulin Archaeological Site in Sheshan is a must. As is well known, Songjiang is the birthplace of Shanghai's history and culture. A folk saying goes: "First there was Songjiang Prefecture, then Shanghai Bund; first there was Guangfulin, then Songjiang's history."

Stepping into the Guangfulin Cultural Relics Park is like entering an auspicious land rich with thousands of years of history. It's perfect for photographing in traditional costumes. Winding flagstone paths, whitewashed walls, and grey-tiled Huizhou-style courtyards create a serene, distant atmosphere. Guangfulin is especially charming on rainy days.

The Fulin Screen Wall is simple yet elegant. Guangfulin is not only a place to trace one's roots but also a great weekend getaway. It's just over an hour's drive from the city center, and you can easily spend a whole day exploring.

Zhiye Zen Temple is historically very ancient. Legend has it that a Tang Dynasty monk traveled to Songjiang and spent ten years collecting alms to build it. Today, the temple has been rebuilt to commemorate the virtuous deeds of Master Zhiye, who provided medical aid to the local people.

Fulin Pagoda stands between the temple and Sanyuan Palace. Beneath it lies the entrance to the Ancient Pottery Art Museum, where many nationally treasured pottery pieces unearthed in Guangfulin are displayed. If you have time, do take a look.

Jianguo Puyin Hotel is located in the core business district of Lujiazui, Pudong. "Puyin" suggests returning to simplicity and seclusion – even the name hints at a hidden haven within the bustling city, a sanctuary for weary minds.

Upon entering, you're enveloped in Tang Dynasty-inspired Chinese elegance. Su Shi once wrote, "Where the heart finds peace, there is home." Living in a metropolis with high-pressure jobs can easily exhaust us. We need not just comfort and convenience, but also a sense of spiritual belonging.

Puyin Hotel is designed with roots in Chinese civilization, closely tied to its culture, creating an urban retreat that feels natural, tranquil, and harmonious. Even the corridors leading to guest rooms are thoughtfully set with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, allowing you to reflect and find inner peace as you walk.

There are dedicated seating areas on both sides of the lobby where you can enjoy a cup of tea, shed the fatigue of travel, and savor the quiet fall of blossoms. The serene environment and natural wood tones create the relaxed lifestyle I've always desired.

At Puyin, forget all the hustle and return to the origin of the heart. In the simplest way, enjoy the rarest purity and contentment. This, I believe, is the life I yearn for deep inside.