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empaths-hsp · 4 years

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10 Tips for Surviving an Outrage-Fueled Internet as a Highly Sensitive Person

Like it or not, we’re all in a long-term relationship with the internet. Here’s how to make it a peaceful one.

While the internet can seem like a dream come true, it’s also a big, scary digital world, and most of us can’t afford to go completely off-the-grid to avoid it. On the one hand, I personally love doing research and exploring new ideas — and the internet is like an endless buffet for doing exactly that. It feeds my mind, and since I’m a journalist, I use it often when I’m hunting for new sources or digging up truths.

But as a highly sensitive person, the internet can also be… overwhelming. Exhausting, even. Highly sensitive people (HSPs) are the twenty percent of the population who process information very deeply — which makes us both insightful and empathetic, but also easily overstimulated. As an HSP myself, there are days when I want nothing more than to chuck my phone and computer into a river and run away to a cabin in the woods, where the WiFi signal won’t be strong enough to load Wikipedia or Gmail even if I hadn’t gotten rid of all my devices.

Escaping the hustle and bustle of modernity might be a common daydream for HSPs, but it’s not a practical one. Most of us need to go online for work, to stay connected with loved ones, and do basic things like banking and grocery shopping.

10 Ways I Survive the Internet as an HSP

1. Know where to find “feed-your-soul” content — and go to it regularly.

Sometimes, even with the best intentions, you can wind up feeling completely burnt out just by spending a few hours online. When that happens, I like to turn to my collection of pick-me-ups. Sometimes, that’s visiting YouTube for inspirational videos, like the pep talk from Kid President (an oldie but goodie). Other times, I might look at the work of some of my favorite cartoonists, like Sarah Scribbles or XKCD. Similarly, everyone has different taste in art, so take some time to find work that feels like a warm blanket. Have this “comfort food” bookmarked or saved somewhere, whether on a playlist or in a folder, so you can quickly turn to it when the internet — especially news — is just too much to handle.

2. Make sure your music is working for you, too.

I love listening to music while I work, but sometimes even my favorite albums can feel overwhelming when combined with everything else that’s happening on my screen. When I need a little more mental space to process whatever I’m reading, I turn to nature sounds or white noise tracks. My favorite is the Spotify playlist “Birds in the Forest.” It’s incredibly soothing and helps me concentrate when my attention feels scattered. (You can also try this HSP playlist curated by a fellow highly sensitive person!)

3. Turn down the lights — or your screen’s brightness.

Since we HSPs are sensitive to any stimuli, that includes the level of light our eyes are taking in. Computer and phone screens are perpetually glowing beacons, and plenty of people have written about how that blue light can throw off our circadian rhythm before bed. But it can also be hard on your eyes to look at a bright screen with small font all day.

If you need the internet for work, try using apps like QuickShade to further refine the brightness of your computer screen. And if at all possible, stop looking at screens at least half an hour before bedtime! But if you must, make sure your screens are in night mode. These days, a lot of devices have dark mode capabilities and it’ll take you just a few minutes to adjust them. If you’re an Android person, you can also download an app like Dark Mode, and if you’re more an Apple person, you can try an app like NeuralCam NightMode.

4. Limit time on social media (and avoid doom-scrolling)…

We’ve all been there: one minute you’re checking Twitter for the latest news updates or to find something interesting to read, and the next thing you know, it’s been half an hour and you’re feeling shaky with the deluge of information. And it’s not just Twitter that pulls us into this endless vortex: it can happen on other social media platforms, on Reddit, and even on news websites. Yes, you’ve been trapped into doom-scrolling.

The internet — and especially social media — is designed to suck you in. Once you know that, you can plan strategies for protecting your time and energy. Set a timer whenever you go on social media and don’t let yourself stay there for longer than that time. Or, if your willpower isn’t strong enough, you can install browser extensions that block certain websites after you’ve been on them for too long — check out Limit for Google Chrome and FocusMe for an app that works across browsers and devices.

5. …But when you do go social media, make it meaningful.

Of course, social media isn’t inherently a bad thing: It can be a great way to stay in touch with friends, learn about new job opportunities, or simply socialize when you aren’t leaving the house. To get the most out of social media, invest in real relationships — use WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to ask friends about their day or share memes or GIFs. Or, curate your Twitter account so that it shows a variety of perspectives and voices that you’re interested in hearing. For myself, I look for specific hashtags so that I can easily follow scientists, writers, and people in the chronically ill community. It has made my Twitter scrolling a lot less unpleasant.

6. Be intentional with how much you share.

We’ve all heard it before, but it is largely true: The internet is forever. And as much as we may want to assume people are acting with the best intentions, that’s just not true of everyone. “Mobs” form quickly, and just about anyone can end up being doxed or harassed. So be mindful of what you’re putting online. Share only as much of yourself as you are comfortable with strangers knowing. It can be a wonderful experience to have an intimate connection with someone you’ve never met in person, but make sure those conversations happen privately.

Like what you’re reading? Get our newsletter just for HSPs. One email, every Friday. Subscribe here.

7. Understand your capacity for news media and set boundaries.

Similarly to setting boundaries in how much you reveal about your personal life, you also need to understand your mental and emotional capacity for news, be it sad, dark, or uplifting. Because HSPs feel everything so deeply, even an innocuous story about the things scientists still don’t understand about pregnancy can lead to overstimulation (yes, this has happened to me). Once our brains get revved up, it can be very hard to calm them down.

To protect myself from being emotionally overwhelmed by bad news or overstimulated by some exciting bit of research, I try not to read any news after 5 p.m. I also limit how much I read about particularly dark subjects, the coronavirus pandemic being one prime example. I do want to be informed, but I stick to things like daily newsletters rather than reading every single piece of news I come across.

8. Take breaks.

This sounds obvious, though it can be hard to put into practice. But no matter what you’re doing online, whether it’s for work or for fun, be sure to spend some time away from your screen: go on a walk, play with your pet, play a board game, simply sit and stretch — the options are endless. You just need to be sure that you have those options in place so you don’t end up spending hours mindlessly going from one tab to the next online.

Need an extra-restorative break? Try a little time forest bathing.

9. Build “phone-free zones” in your life.

Smartphones are great in many ways, but they also mean you’re carrying a little computer with you wherever you go, which makes the temptation to hop online almost impossible to resist. At the park and see a cute dog? Post a picture to Instagram! Spending time with friends and you can’t remember the last movie some celebrity was in? Hop on Google!

We’ve all done it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t break that permanent connection we seem to have with our phones. Create phone-free zones in your home and life. Maybe it’s a no-phones-in-the-bedroom rule, or no-phones-after-a-certain-time-of-night. Since the internet is built to make us reliant on it, we are the ones who have to set rules and boundaries for when it is allowed to engage us.

10. Acknowledge and embrace the internet’s limitations.

In a lot of ways, the internet can be a sanctuary for HSPs: We are in control of the sites we visit, the time we spend on them, and the amount of information we absorb. It’s easy to think that if we curate our online experience perfectly, we’ll be in a safe bubble where we don’t have to deal with other people’s emotions. However…

That doesn’t mean being online is a substitute for life offline — we still need in-person experiences, whether it’s walking through a forest or having (socially distanced) dinner with friends. That’s just part of human psychology.

So it’s important to understand what the internet gives you, and what it doesn’t, as well as to understand how it can both help and harm you. The more you know about your relationship with the internet, the better you’ll be able to navigate it.

You Might Like:

News Overload Is Real. Here’s How It Affects Highly Sensitive People.

This Is What Overstimulation Feels Like for HSPs

7 ‘Rules’ for Highly Sensitive People to Protect Their Energy

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exoticlifestyles-blog1 · 6 years

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AMAZING ADELAIDE WITH EXOTIC LIFESTYLES

Adelaide is South Australia's cosmopolitan beach front capital. Its ring of parkland on the River Torrens is home to prestigious historical centres i.e. the Art Gallery of South Australia which shows broad accumulations including noted indigenous craftsmanship and the South Australian Museum. The city's Adelaide Festival is a yearly global expressions gathering with turn offs including periphery and film occasions. Be that as it may appearbecause nowadays things are unique. Multicultural flavours implant Adelaide's eateries; there's a siphoning expressions and unrecorded music scene; and the city's celebration date-book has vanquished dull Saturday evenings. There are still a lot of chapel towers here, however they're pitifully dwarfed by bars and a developing number of hip bars concealed in paths. Right down the cable car tracks is beach Glenelg: Adelaide with its watch down and boardshorts up. Close-bytheir lays Port Adelaide which keeps on improving yet remains a raffish harbour.

ADELAIDEBOTANIC GARDEN

Adelaide Botanic Garden is a desert spring in the cosmopolitan heart of the city, including flawlessly arranged patio nurseries, lofty roads and shocking engineering. Crossing 50 hectares, the noteworthy garden includes a portion of Australia's best plant accumulations. Things to see incorporate the wonderfully re-established 1877-manufactured Palm House, First Creek Wetland, the Amazon Water Lily Pavilion, the Santos Museum of Economic Botany and the Bicentennial Conservatory. There are standard occasions for all ages in the garden. Offices incorporate the Visitor Information Centre and Diggers Garden Shop. It offers a wide scope of seeds, cultivating books and garden products. You can likewise have an easygoing dinner in one of the bistros, Simpson Kiosk and Cafe Fibonacci. Otherwise you can enjoy special food with full gusto at the Botanic Gardens Restaurant.

TANDANYA - NATIONAL ABORIGINAL CULTURAL INSTITUTE

Tandanya is the main Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts and Cultural Association. Tandanya's central goal is to create, advance and grandstand the decent variety of ATSI expressions practice.Secondly it perpetuates discussions and talks through an energizing project of visual and performing expressions through workshops, craftsman/caretaker talks, gatherings, social introductions and film screenings. Tandanya is a solitary National Indigenous Aboriginal Art Code and it specialises in promoting indigenous Australian art, music and storytelling.It showcases artists' work and multi performances within its galleries and theatre through sale of tickets. Tandanya is open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday. It remains closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

BAROSSA VALLEY

A Barossa Valley wine visit is one of Adelaide's features. The Barossa Valley is the most famous wine developing district in the Adelaide Zone of Australia. It is a prevalent goal for both Australian and worldwide wine sightseers. It is less than 100 kilometres from Adelaide, with more than 150 wineries going from recognizable top picks like Jacob's Creek, Wolf Blass and Penfolds, to family run tasks cutting out their own specific specialty. On the off chance that you are progressively keen on finding the Barossa at your calm pace, ensure you visit Maggie Beer's Farm Shop, the Barossa Farmer's Markets, each Saturday in Angaston and for something eccentric The Herbig Family Tree additionally in Angaston. The tree was home for two or three years to Friedrich and Caroline Herbig and two youngsters around 1860. In the long run the family developed to 16 kids and as anyone might expect exceeded the tree which is presently recorded with the National Trust.The laws of natural growth and origin of species hold good in the long run.

SEMAPHORE BEACH

Take a plunge in the perfect waters of Semaphore Beach with its staggering white sandy shorelines and low rise foundation. It gives you a feeling of being far from everything, except you are in reality just a short ways from Adelaide's CBD. The foreshore is a hive of movement with its popular offshore garden, offering two kilometres of open space saved and saved for what shoreline occasions should be about - having a ton of fun! Play smaller than expected golf, crawl down the waterslide, ride the vintage merry go round or ferries wheel, walk, cycle or run along the drift way. Kite-surfers, wind-surfers and every single climate swimmer make the waters their play area. You would love to take a ride on the steam train that puffs along the shoreline amid the mid- year months.

MCLAREN VALE

Albeit best known for its dry red wines the McLaren Vale wineries likewise create some fine white wines and the mix of a Mediterranean atmosphere and incredible fish make the zone a gourmet's enjoyment. One couldn't know whether it is the nature of their wines and they are probably the best or closer to aparticular quality mark. Its progressively confirmation that great wine and satisfaction go inseparable ally. Wirra likewise includes Harry's Deli sitting above the patio nurseries and vineyards where you can round out your morning with a quality lunch. The town of Willunga has cornered the market way of life and acquires its title of the "Market Town". Each Saturday morning, they hold the Willunga Farmers Markets, off St Peter's Terrace, where the neighbourhood ranchers and makers offer their items direct to you. This is your chance to meet the general population who are in charge of the fine deliveries utilized all through the locale. The Willunga Quarry Markets are held each second Saturday in Aldinga Road. Local people craftsmen and their handcrafted articles are the otherelements of this market.

VICTOR HARBOR

When South Australia was obscure and not even on the map of Australia, the eminent surveyor Mathew Flinders in his exploits discovered Victor Harbour in the beginning of 19th century. It connected North Adelaide with South Australia and gradually communications paved the ways for systematic improvements in accessibilities and transportation modes. It is 80 kilometres away from Adelaide and one can reach there thru 2 way train service, luxury buses and motor boats. It is part of Adelaide sightseeing. There is Horse Drawn Tram Service on causeway of Victor Harbour which delights the travellers as the city is in the periphery and the tram takes them to Granite Island. From time to time on some special occasions Grand Prix Motor Boats Races are conducted.The Steam Ranger Heritage Railways with locomotive run Cookie Train Service between Victor Harbour and Goolwa on Fleurieu Peninsular along harbour railway line. This train journey takes hardly 30 minutes and you can return quicklyto, from where you started.This train service is kept alive despite of modernity and has heritage status. Fishing opportunities are plenty on shore reefs. Excellent surf fishing is done on beaches closer to Murray Mouth. The city hosts three days Schoolies Week Festival for students who finish year long school graduation and they all celebrate the festival in November end. Victor harbour has a warm Mediterranean climate and sea breeze moderates the rising temperature. Mount Breckan is a grand 38 rooms residence which is having a typical edifice and iconic status. Over the years it was reclaimed and changed many hands since it was constructed in April,1879 by Alexander Hay. The huge mansion overlooks the sea and the tourists visit to see the grandeur. There is Granite Island Recreation Park and it is protected area. It is the most popular destination for tourists. This park is 120 kilometres away from Adelaide and lies in South of Adelaide. One-way train or bus journey costs $17 for reaching Victor Harbour from Adelaide. There is another spot for tourists and that is Green Hills Adventure Park near the harbour. There are many attractions viz canoes rides, paddle boats, aqua bikes, waves slides, 4 wheels motor bikes riding, electric cars riding, rock climbing, mini golf etc. All these activities attract tourists and they enjoy participating. No excursion to Victor Harbour would be finished without riding the pony attracted tramway to Granite Island. The principal cable cars kept running in 1894 until the 1950's, with administrations restarting in June 1986 as a major aspect of South Australia's 150th Anniversary. Additionally, arranged in Victor Harbour is the South Australian Whale Centre, where you can find out about whales and whaling in the territory. It is really a fun to see novelties and experience the exuberance of bounties of nature with extremely close encounters.

GLENELG

Glenelg is a prominent beachside suburb around 10 kilometres south of Adelaide CBD. In the event that you need to go on South Australia's solitary staying open transport cable car, you can get a cable car from Hindmarsh to reach Glenelg. Lamentably, it is presently just conceivable to go on the legacy style cable cars as a feature of extraordinary occasions. On the off chance that you feel burnt out on the shoreline or when shopping on Jetty you mix up with other tourists who give free maps that cover strolling and cycling trails in the territory. Glenelg is a beach holiday rental site where villas, apartments, hotels and homes on the ocean front have been built which have world class furnishing and modern kitchen wares and other amenities. This type of isolated living is the main attribute of Glenelg. Families or individuals coming to stay for short term or for long term in the splendid peaceful vicinity feel privileged where all cares are taken for healthy living in the lap of nature. In built roads and civic administration categorically provide security, comfort ability, luxury and extreme mobility for doing your jobs. For history buffs Glenelg has a copy of the HMAS Buffalo, the ship that purchased European pioneers to the zone. You can likewise observe the 'Old Gum Tree' close to which, in 1836, South Australia was announced. The first tree itself is a distant memory, however you can presently visit the territory where the announcement occurred.

MOUNT LOFTY

Mount Lofty is fifteen kilometres away toward east from the focal point of Adelaide. From the 710 meters high summit, the vista is breathtaking as you see the drift and also eminent perspectives over Adelaide. You won't have any desire to miss the Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. It covers 97 hectares and is an unquestionable requirement to see. There are strolling trails inside the patio nurseries and the Friends of the Gardens run free guided strolls. The Summit bistro is open 7 days a week and is an incredible place to sit and unwind. For individuals who have additional time prefer eating at "The Summit" eatery with perspectives that are amazing. The summit can be reached by motor vehicle or by open transport or by climbing from Waterfall Gully. This is a well known track and consistently followed by tourists and local people. Mt Lofty stands at the highest altitude in the southern ranges. The truck from Water Fall Gully to the summit is 4 kilometre uphill trek. There is a gift shop and a cafe-restaurant at the summit. It is apopular spot for tourists and also for cyclists. Visit Adelaide and get your self and amazingly discounted holiday break. Call Exotic Lifestyles on 1300 20 88 55 to know more.

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jimdsmith34 · 7 years

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Shanghai: Insider Travel Guide

(CNN)Welcome to the future.

This is the best of Shanghai, home to more than 20 million residents, 6,000 high-rises (and growing) and a constant chorus of jackhammers.

It’s a city striving to set all the benchmarks for the modern world.

The commercial hub was developed by far-sighted European traders 160 years ago and it remains the destination for people who can’t wait to experience tomorrow today.

Our best of Shanghai guide shows you how to enjoy the sprawling city’s — past, present and future. And, yes, there’ll be enough fun even for visitors who suffer from vertigo.

Beijing: Insider Travel Guide to China’s fascinating capital

Hotels

Luxury

Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund ()

The Waldorf Astoria occupies one of Shanghai’s oldest buildings: the restored 101-year-old former Shanghai Club.

With giant chandeliers, neo-classical ceiling carvings and original marble floor tiles shipped from Sicily a century ago, the interior feels more like a royal palace than a hotel.

Most of its 260 rooms are located in the newly built 24-story tower. Many deliver unobstructed view of Lujiazui’s skyscraper forest.

Rooms are decked out in nostalgic American style, with modern plush touches such as large walk-in closets, Herms bathing amenities and digital TVs embedded in the mirrors.

The hotel’s historic Long Bar (34 meters from end to end) mixes the city’s top-notch cocktails.

Park Hyatt Shanghai ()

Currently the highest hotel in mainland China, the Park Hyatt provides the best angle to view Shanghai: from the top.

Occupying the upper part (79th-93rd floors) of the 492-meter Shanghai World Financial Center, all 174 rooms enjoy stunning vistas overlooking Lujiazui high-rises, the Huangpu River or the Puxi downtown area.

Interiors follow a streamlined Chinese style with earth-tone furniture and outsize bathrooms that include a one-square-meter walk-in rain shower.

The hotel lobby is on the 87th floor.

On the 93rd floor, Music Room bills itself as the world’s highest nightclub.

Mid-range

Hengshan Picardie Hotel ()

Located in a protected historic building, this best of Shanghai hotel is for travelers who want to trade Lujiazui’s gridlocked avenues for the tree-lined streets of the former French Concession.

The 15-story, 259-room Picardie sits opposite Xujiahui Park, one of the best locations in town to observe China’s unique park culture: you’ll see massive exercise groups at dawn and a public dancing spectacle at dusk.

It’s also a quick stroll from Shanghai’s traditional bar district on Hengshan Lu, the shopping district of Xujiahui and Metro Line 1.

Hotel Equatorial ()

One of the first hotels in Shanghai built to receive international travelers after the Chinese economy opened up to world trade, the 520-room, four-star lodging is in the thick of things.

It’s a few steps away from Nanjing Xi Lu (ground zero for high-end shopping) and the fabulous Jing’an Temple, a 780-year-old Buddhist shrine.

Two metro lines and the Yan’an Lu elevated highway are right outside, so guests can zip to any part of the city quickly and without hassle.

URBN Hotel (URBN)

This 26-room boutique hotel in downtown Jing’an District was once a post office and now claims to be China’s first carbon neutral hotel.

The renovation, which was completed using 100 percent locally-sourced and recycled materials, has won numerous awards for its sustainability and design.

Located on a local street, across the road from one of Shanghai’s best little tonkatsu joints, URBN is popular with visitors looking for innovative design and a green feel, with rooms over-looking a courtyard and bamboo garden.

The food and beverage options are also none to shabby at URBN, with its Downstairs restaurant serving up delicious weekend brunch options accompanied by a mean Bloody Mary.

Pentahotel Shanghai ()

For starters, the check-in desk is attached to a bar. Right behind the front desk, there’s a pool table.

Pentahotel’s lobby also includes a caf, a games room and a restaurant.

Guests tend to chill and socialize in Wi-Fi-covered areas.

All 250 rooms are fitted out in a minimalistic style with views over downtown residential buildings.

The hotel is near three metro lines.

Budget

Jinjiang Inn ()

This no-frills hotel chain provides all the basics for a short stay for the price of a few drinks in a ritzy bar.

Location is superb for the price. The 159-room inn is within walking distance of many tourist attractions, such as Old Town, People’s Square, Huaihai Zhong Lu and Xintiandi.

It’s also at the south end of Yunnan Nan Lu, one of Shanghai’s original food streets with some of the city’s yummiest shengjian (fried dumplings) at Da Hu Chun (, 71 Yunnan Nan Lu, near Jinling Dong Lu).

The budget hotel brand operates at some 85 branches all over Shanghai, from commercial zones to airports and railway stations.

Jinjiang Inn (Huaihai Zhong Lu branch), 293 Yunnan Nan Lu, near Huaihai Dong Lu; +86 21 6326 2200; rooms from RMB 289 ($45)

Shanghai: The city that changes the way you see the future

Dining

Fu 1088 (1088)

This Shanghainese restaurant is housed in a 1930s colonial villa.

Instead of a dining room, guests eat in private rooms furnished with antiques.

On a menu of tweaked Shanghainese specialties, diners will find everything from traditional hongshao rou to creamy huangyu (yellow croaker) noodle soup served in a mug.

Modern dishes include goose liver poached in sake.

Shanghainese food critic Shen Hongfei () recommends the crab with egg white, a delicate, creamy dish brought to the table in an actual eggshell.

Jesse ()

With its curmudgeonly waiters and tiny, crowded dining room, the original Jesse location on Tianping Lu isn’t just a meal, it’s an experience.

Rica Lou, dining editor at Ganlan magazine, calls the original Jesse her “hands-down favorite Shanghainese restaurant.”

It’s the creamy crab roe potato soup that wins her over every time.

Shen Hongfei votes for the Shaoxing-wine-marinated crab, a best of Shanghai dish that’s popular with locals.

For an appetizer (or dessert), the xin tai ruan is a sweet dish of red jujubes stuffed with soft, glutinous rice cake.

Two of Jesse’s signature dishes, the eight treasure duck and green onion fish head, require 24 hours notice.

Yi Long Court ()

This Peninsula restaurant cooks some of the best Cantonese dishes in Shanghai.

“It’s so rare to see such classic Cantonese food,” says Shen Hongfei.

“It’s flavorful and light and it’s almost like the food prepared for the managers of Thirteen Factories [an 18th-century foreign trade zone in Guangzhou].”

One of Shen’s favorites at Yi Long Court is beef with oyster sauce, which is “a long-lost classic Cantonese dish.”

To make the most out of the meal, book the eight-seat chef’s table, prepared by executive chef Dicky To.

Xin Da Lu ()

Peking duck is the star at this Chinese regional restaurant.

The Hyatt recruited two Beijing master chefs and lugged a seven-ton brick oven from the capital especially to roast the ducks to crisp and lacquered perfection.

The open kitchens allow diners to admire the shining fowl roasting over a fire of fruitwood logs before they’re brought to table, sliced and served with sugar for dipping.

Xin Da Lu, Hyatt on the Bund East Building, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Nanxun Lu; +86 21 6393 1234 ext. 6318

Hai Di Lao hot pot ()

Tea, fruit plates, Wi-Fi, board games, shoeshines and even manicures are provided to customers for free.

Enthusiastic staff keep waiting diners upbeat.

The restaurant chain boils hot pot 24/7.

The meal itself embraces a staggering choice of vegetables, meat and seafood that diners cook themselves in a bubbling pot of broth placed in the middle of the table. Hot pot soups range from super-spicy to plain and diners get to DIY their dipping sauce.

The hand-pulled noodles are prepared tableside with a kung fu-style noodle dance.

The brand hosts a virtual dining service in two locations in Shanghai and Beijing.

Fu Chun Xiaolongbao ()

Xiaolongbao is Shanghai’s favorite snack food and everyone in Shanghai has an opinion about where the best xiaolongbao in town can be found.

There are many excellent options around town, but many visitors unfortunately usually end up at tourist traps in Yu Gardens, or at chains such as Din Tai Fung.

A very respectable example of the specialty can be had from Fu Chun, in the downtown Jing’an District.

Popular with locals, this place is perpetually busy with diners ordering Fu Chun Xiaolongbao (RMB 6 for six dumplings) and Crab Roe Xiaolongbao (RMB 16 for six dumplings) in ample quantities.

Fu Chun Xiaolongbao, 650 Yuyuan Lu, near Zhenning Lu; +86 21 6277 0701

Qibao food street ()

During public holidays, massive crowds of travelers swarm Qibao Old Street for a view of the canals, or to snap that atmospheric photo of morning haze dancing around the neighborhood’s scenic bridge.

But for locals, day trips to the water town are about one thing only: food.

Numerous hole-in-the-wall restaurants along the 400-meter-long street sell an extensive assortment of local snacks, from xiaolongbao to stinky tofu to tuang tuan.

Ultraviolet in Shanghai — 1 table and 22 courses

Nightlife

Flair

Flair is the crowning glory of the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong.

The rooftop bar’s interiors were created by Japanese design gurus Super Potato, but the real draw is the terrace.

Standing approximately 250 meters in the sky, this is the highest bar terrace in the city, with tiered sofa-seating that looks onto the financial district’s skyscrapers.

Drinks cost RMB 80 and up for cocktails. Sashimi is flown in daily from Japan.

When the skies are clear, call ahead to book a table and ask if there’s a minimum spend that day.

M1NT

This plush club/bar/restaurant remains a favorite of the city’s beautiful people.

It takes up the 24th floor of a building between People’s Square and the Bund and affords staggering views toward Pudong or Puxi city center.

Shark tanks run the length of the entrance, while uniformed waiters and bartenders shake up pricey drinks (RMB 80-120 for cocktails).

The door staff often turn away non-members when it gets crowded, so it doesn’t hurt to dress up or call ahead to book a table (minimum spends of around RMB 5,000 often apply).

The Apartment

Since opening in 2010, The Apartment has become one of the most popular bars in Shanghai.

It takes up two floors plus a roof garden in the center of the former French Concession and attracts a crowd that’s upscale without being pretentious.

In the daytime, the rooftop is a leisurely place to eat and sip wine — drinks cost RMB 50-80.

At night it gets rammed with cocktail-sipping, well-dressed Chinese and foreign guests, and stays that way until 4 a.m. or so.

JZ Club

This dim, smoky room is the go-to place for jazz aficionados in Shanghai.

Inside, it’s like a Parisian bar from the 1950s: a cluster of small round tables spilling out from a low stage, with a long bar at the back and a gallery up top.

There’s live music here every night, from Gypsy jazz to swing and blues.

Drink prices are around RMB 50 for wine and RMB 70 for cocktails.

This best of Shanghai nightclub fills up on weekends so come early — or very late — if you want a table.

Cashbox Partyworld ()

The best of Shanghai sports many flavors of karaoke bar (or KTV, as they’re known), from seedy to five-star.

Cashbox is somewhere in the middle — fun, inexpensive and hugely popular with a young crowd.

The Fuxing Park branch is next to a couple of Chinese clubs. On weekends, it swarms with well-dressed youths.

Guests book private rooms that seat eight to 20 people. Bring your own drinks or order beer and spirits from the house. Rooms run around RMB 200 per hour, depending on size and number of guests.

Cashbox Partyworld, 109 Yandang Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu; +86 21 6374 1111

No. 88 (No.88

This chain of bars is wildly popular in many of China’s second- and third-tier cities and since they opened their first Shanghai incarnation it’s become apparent that the formula works wonders in the big smoke as well.

Simply take some insanely gawdy decor (think a cross between Willy Wonka’s factory and a pirate ship), add flashing lights, tipsy people looking for a good time, an emphasis on bottle service and a setlist of top 40 remixes and you can’t lose.

No. 88 Bar, 2/F, Wujin Building, 291 Fumin Lu, near Donghu Lu; +86 21 6136 0288

6 ways Shanghai is different than the rest of China

Shopping

Taikang Lu ()

Crowds of tourists, artists, hipsters and fashionistas pour into the tiny longtangs (Shanghainese alleyways) of Taikang Lu to experience Shanghai’s bohemian charm.

The area represents a traditional Shanghainese residential form, shikumen (“stone door houses”), and is now a half-commercial complex selling everything from tailored qipao to French wine.

Souvenirs are overpriced, but the ambience is worth sampling.

Locals still live in some of these buildings — travelers can see elderly people chatting each other or middle-aged women hanging laundry outside.

Taikang Lu between Sinan Lu and Ruijin Er Lu

Dongtai Lu antique market ()

For anyone visiting Shanghai with time for only one market, this outdoor antique bazaar is a good bet.

It’s in an enclave of hanging laundry, locals washing vegetables in the street and kids playing tag.

Just don’t forget to bargain hard. Many of the “antiques” aren’t old, but they’re fun.

Stands sell 1930s-style posters featuring glamorous smiling Shanghai ladies, or statuettes of Chairman Mao playing table tennis (RMB 50 after bargaining).

Tianshan Tea City ()

This 23,000-square-meter, multi-level complex is completely devoted to Chinese cha.

More than 150 stalls sort, sell and brew tea from around the nation, but green tea (and all its variations) reigns supreme.

The market also sells a range of tea sets and kettles, from common porcelain to top-level Yixing clay teapots.

Friendly tea sellers will provide professional tips.

Shi Liu Pu Fabric Market ()

This three-story fabric market has almost every type of fabric, from cashmere to silk. Stalls are manned by experienced local tailors and seamstresses who speak fluent English.

Tailored clothes come at reasonable prices. Qipao (from RMB 250), shirts (from RMB 120) and suits (from RMB 300) are among the most popular items.

Some shops accept urgent orders and can deliver final products overnight at (amazingly) no extra charge.

Delivery service is available, but the stores need to be informed beforehand.

Super Brand Mall ()

This 10-story Lujiazui building is the top shopping mall experience in Shanghai: it’s loud, crowded and larger than a major university campus.

Spread over 247,425 square meters, this Thai-financed mall was the largest in Asia when it opened in 2002.

It reports an average of 200,000 visitors daily. The mall sells most of the mainstream fashion brands available in Shanghai.

Its dining scene is impressive: nearly 60 restaurants, from hot pot chains to Hooters.

Hongqiao Bird and Flower Market ()

A perennially interesting market, traditionally selling pets, flowers, home wares and more, a recent fire means the live animal section of the Hongqiao Bird and Flower Market is currently under renovation.

Despite the fact that you won’t be able to pick up a 100-year-old turtle or talking parrot here (for now), it’s still worth a visit in order to wander among the many-hued blossoms of the real and (seriously high-quality) fake flowers on display, or check out some of the unique housewares, which run the gamut from gaudy to graceful to gargantuan (see if you can fit a life-sized white unicorn with an asking price of RMB 22,000 in your luggage!).

Hongqiao Bird and Flower Market, 718 Hongjing Lu, near Hongsong Lu

Attractions

Bund ()

The 1,100-meter waterfront known as the Bund forms Shanghai’s backbone.

British and French colonized the strip in the mid-19th century to develop international trading — the Bund became one of the most prosperous ports in Asia in the early-20th century.

Nowadays the buildings, mostly built between 1901 and 1930 in various styles, house high-end boutiques, restaurants and bars.

A must-do on the Bund stroll is to pass through the revolving door of the former HSBC Shanghai office (today’s No. 12, Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu) and check out the original ceiling and wall paintings. Upon completion in 1925, the Brits declared the building the most exquisite structure in the eastern hemisphere.

Just off the Bund, next to the Peninsula Shanghai, is the Rockbund, a newly developed pedestrian street with more restored colonial structures.

Shanghai World Financial Center Observatory ()

Almost half a kilometer up in the air (474 meters to be exact), the 55-meter-long Skywalk 100 observation corridor spans a gap in the 100th-floor summit of the Shanghai World Financial Center.

As the world’s highest observatory, Skywalk 100 provides a powerful perspective: Jinmao Tower (420.5 meters) is right under its nose and the view (on a clear day) extends beyond Zhongshan Park in Puxi.

Walking through the deck is an almost hallucinatory experience: the observatory’s angled glass walls can make visitors feel as if they’re leaning over the edge.

And it has see-through glass flooring.

A slightly less vertiginous option is the Skywalk 97. It’s a mere 439 meters high, with a glass roof that opens up.

Xintiandi ()

This restored compound is one of the most popular attractions in Shanghai.

Only 15 years ago, the area was an ordinary shikumen residential area.

It’s since been converted to a business district populated by high-end bars, restaurants, shopping malls and the ubiquitous symbol of global gentrification: Starbucks.

The location is good for a lazy afternoon walk.

It also hosts some of Shanghai’s best foreign restaurant selections.

The Shikumen Open House Museum is another highlight.

Ironic background: the Communist Party of China was founded on this block — 91 years later it’s capitalism, not communism, that does the talking.

Visitors can nevertheless tour the room where the first party congress was held.

City God Temple ()

The City God Temple, or Cheng Huang Miao, is a 600-year-old Daoist temple in the heart of Shanghai’s Old Town.

It houses the Cheng Huang God, the deity that protects local people.

The phrase also refers to the temple fair and commodity market near the shrine.

Although the temple can still be busy with pious religious followers, more people now come for the shopping.

Endless stalls sell everything Chinese, from chopstick gift sets to Peking/Sichuan opera mask bottle openers.

It’s also the headquarters for Shanghainese snacks, from stinky tofu () to five-flavor bean ().

The best time to visit the market is around Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year when the whole area is blanketed with festive decorations.

City God Temple, 249 Fangbang Zhong Lu, near Anren Lu; +86 21 6328 4494

Happy Valley ()

Heaven for thrill-ride aficionados, the 900,000-square-meter theme park contains nearly 10 different scream machines, including various roller coasters and free-fall rides.

Highlights include a 30-meter-tall, 1,200-meter-long lakeside wooden roller coaster and 60-meter-high free-fall drop machine.

The super-speed log flume creates a splash as high as 15 meters.

People’s Park ‘marriage market’ ()

The “marriage market” is less tourist attraction and more about a view into unique local culture.

Every Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of parents gather at People’s Park, regardless of the weather, with the hope of finding an ideal partner for their high-time-they-got-hitched offspring.

Parents simply clutch single sheets of paper that present their children in a few simple phrases — age, height, education, job, salary, whether they studied abroad and whether they own their own apartment.

Female candidates outnumber male by far, so enthusiastic parents have a passion for chatting up any young single male in the area.

People’s Park ‘marriage market’, Gate 5 of People’s Square Park, 75 Nanjing Xi Lu., across from the Grand Theater. Take Metro line 1, 2 or 8 to People’s Square station, take Exit 9 to the ground level and turn left. The marriage market takes place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from about noon to three.

Walking Tours

Former French Concession

Planned and built by French colonists in the early 20th century, this neighborhood — roughly bound by Ruijin Lu to the East, Yan’an Lu to the North, Zhaojiabang Lu to the South and Huashan Lu to the West — is more Parisian than Chinese.

Its quiet, tree-lined streets now teem with boutiques, bars and restaurants.

Best locations to observe lingering “Frenchness” include Anfu Lu, Wukang Lu and Yongkang Lu.

Or follow the route designed by a French Concession native.

Several agencies in Shanghai provide multi-lingual tours around the former French Concession.

Contact Luxury Concierge China or Newman Tours.

Shanghai Art Deco Walking Tour

Shanghai’s art deco heritage is unsurpassed in Asia.

Having spent 16 years in Shanghai, architecture buff Spencer Dodington has a matchless knowledge of the city’s art deco history, which he imparts on customized tours.

“These lovely buildings got me hooked on the uniqueness of Shanghai 1930s architecture,” says Dodington.

“It’s really different and interesting compared to Texas, where I’m from, but it’s also different from other cities with their own art deco, like Miami and New York.”

Check out Dodington’s favorite art deco structures in Shanghai or join his multi-lingual art deco tour through [email protected] or +86 135 0166 2908.

Tours of Jewish Shanghai

Approximately 300,000 Jews escaped Europe and fled to Shanghai between 1933 and 1941.

They lived in the infamous Shanghai Ghetto (now Hongkou District) and made up one of the largest overseas Jewish communities at the time.

Led by Israeli Dvir Bar-Gal, these four-hour tours take in some of the most fascinating elements of Shanghai’s Jewish history.

As the tour progresses, the story of Shanghai as a melting pot of opium dealers, colonialists, business moguls and Holocaust survivors is gradually unveiled.

Photos: Driving China’s spectacular 24-bend road

source http://allofbeer.com/shanghai-insider-travel-guide/ from All of Beer http://allofbeer.blogspot.com/2018/02/shanghai-insider-travel-guide.html

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