Originally from Germany, Vivienne and Alexander moved to Shanghai in the spring of 2016 with their little boy Oskar when he was 14 months old. This family was craving an adventure and couldn’t turn down the opportunity to live in China. Basking in the Shanghai glow, they tell us some of their favorite things about the city they now call home.
Our Favorite…
Things to do
We love Cages. They have so many activities for kids and we go for the Little Kickers – a youth soccer club that Oskar really loves. Cages also hosts Fitfam and Shanghai Papas, so it is perfect for everyone in the family. We also like to go to Mini Mars for indoor play dates – it’s the best one that we have found so far.
Places to dine as a family
We love Thought for Food, especially for Sunday brunch. They also have a play area for kids with ayis and everything. We enjoy Cages for the food too in addition to the activities.
Date night places
We usually start at Funkadelino (which is the first Funkadeli). It is a very small Italian restaurant and is right in our neighborhood so its very convenient. It is always the first stop – or last – for nights out with just the two of us. Commune Social is a great place for special occasions. For something a little different, we have to recommend Fly by Jing, Jenny Gao’s private dinners featuring her take on modern Sichuan cuisine. It was one of the best nights we’ve had so far here. It’s great to go as a couple and meet new people over a delicious meal.
Summer activities
We love to have picnics and play dates for Oskar at Zhongshan Park and Fuxing Park when the weather is nice. We also love to take long walks as a family and experience new neighborhoods.
Places to travel in China
Haitang Bay (the most eastern part of Sanya) is the place to go when you need to get away from the crowds. We wouldn’t recommend going into the city center with kids, but this location was a very good experience for us.
Places to travel outside of China
We have only been to Thailand as a family when traveling outside of China. We went to Koh Lanta and loved it. It is very relaxing, has good beaches and a good atmosphere in general. We are going to Bali soon and we can’t wait!
About the experience of living in Shanghai
Living in America or the other Western countries wouldn’t offer the same experience as Shanghai. This city is the perfect mixture between the metropolitan lifestyle and adventure. Shanghai is also a place where you have to explore on foot to really understand its vibe; there is always something new to see.
Leisure Activities
We are very sporty people – so we enjoy going to sporting events like the Formula One or NBA games. There are so many opportunities here to see high-class athletes play, so we take advantage of it. We are excited to start taking Oskar with us when he is old enough to appreciate it all.
