New to Shanghai and want to know where other families go to enjoy all this city has to offer? Welcome to Our Favorite Things, where we spend time with a Shanghai family and find out their favorite places for you.
Meet the Zheng family - Jinsong, Hannah, Evan (6) and Isobel (3) – who moved from the UK to Shanghai in February 2013. Their initial plan was to stay for just two years, and five years later they are fully entrenched in Shanghai life, with no sign of leaving. Jin is proud to play a leading role in China's growing aviation industry, while Hannah works with Shanghai Mamas, one of the largest communities for international families in Shanghai.
Coffee spot
La Parisienne bakery next to the riverside in Pudong is our local hangout. You can always find Hannah there on a Friday for the Shanghai Mamas Lujiazui coffee morning.
Sunday brunch
Without kids, el Willy or Azul Tapas Lounge. With kids, Mayita, for the outdoor play area and bottomless sangria.
Weekend activity
Cycling along the new riverside path in Pudong, hopping on a ferry to explore Hongkou by bike or off the beaten track in a park: Binjiang Forest Park, Huangxing Park or Luxun Park.
Experience for visiting friends
Sunset cocktails at Hyatt on the Bund or the Shanghai World Financial Center, followed by live music at the House of Blues and Jazz.
Thing about Shanghai
The food! It's very affordable to eat out regularly. The kids have learned to love Vietnamese and Thai cuisines along with Japanese sushi, Xinjiang lamb kebabs and Cantonese dim sum.
Weekend travel destination
Chongming Island. We've camped in a yurt at Mahota Farm, and in our tent at Dongping National Forest Park.
China travel destination
Jin’s home of Fujian province. Wuyishan National Park is easy to reach on the high-speed train, as is Xiamen. The countryside surrounding Fuzhou (the provincial capital) is beautiful.
Under the radar tip
Visit 1933 Shanghai in Hongkou. The fascinating architecture, which was designed originally as a slaughterhouse, includes 26 seemingly floating 'air bridges,' a favorite of amateur photographers and our hide-and-seek-loving kids.
Find more Our Favorite Things here.
