Overview
This is a public food tour. We'll discover the most authentic and delicious Chinese cuisine and dessert spots, sharing the fascinating stories behind the food. Along the way, we’ll pass iconic landmarks like Nanjing Road and People's Square, uncovering the untold histories behind them. This experience is perfect for both first-time visitors and long-time residents alike. Tour Highlights: 1. Enjoy authentic food in Shanghai at five time-honored restaurants 2. Savor 10 dishes like crab roe soup dumplings, pork chops, egg pancakes, dessert, and more – enough to keep you full until dinner! 3. Experience the vibrant People's Square, once a racecourse. 4. Walk along Nanjing Road and hear stories of China’s first department stores.
Why travelers book this
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Taxi from Xinghualou to the Bund
- Vegetarian friendly (please notify us in advance)
- A local dining guidebook
- Enjoy a big traditional Chinese breakfast or dinner at five or more sit-down restaurants - local favorites! The portion would keep you full for hours after the tour!
What's Not Included
- Pickup or drop-off to your hotel / preferred location
- Gratuities
Meeting & Pickup
Meeting point, pickup options and start time are confirmed on Viator before checkout.
Itinerary
Stop 1
Once the commercial center of Shanghai 100 years ago, it remains bustling with shops and stores today. Discover China's first department store and its pioneering initiatives of that era
Stop 2
Visit 2 traditional time-honored restaurants. First stop is an egg pancake and rice sweets restaurant, a brand since 1875. Taste the soft, chewy glutinous rice sweets from a beloved restaurant that has been a staple on Nanjing Road for over 100 years. With a perfect blend of sweet red bean and nutty sesame fillings, each bite is a delightful combination of flavors. Don't miss their made-to-order Chinese pancake, paired with a cup of soy milk. (this is only for breakfast tour) Second stop will be a soup dumplings restaurant, a brand since 1986. Gently bite into a soup dumpling, and the savory crab roe juice bursts in your mouth. Taste the delicious soup-based little wontons, another Shanghai classics.
Stop 3
(Only dinner tour) Stewed milk dessert, this 19th-century southern Chinese treat, is now a national favorite, popular for its rich, creamy aroma and unique texture. For fruit lovers, there is a mango-themed dessert to choose from!
Stop 4
Stroll through People's Square to take in the city's energy and digest your feast. Experience the lively People's Park, where the weekend marriage market brings parents together to arrange matches for their children. Also check out the tallest skyscraper in Shanghai over half a century and step inside the most luxurious cinema in the Far East in the early 19th century
Stop 5
Shengjian is one of the most iconic breakfast items in Shanghai, offering a perfectly crispy skin that crunches with every bite. It pairs nicely with a comforting bowl of glass noodle soup. Hear the rivalry stories of two styles of pan fried buns, just like the debate between NY style pizza and Chicago deep dish!
Stop 6
(Only breakfast tour)Scallion pancakes, freshly made to order, are prepared by frying green onions in oil to infuse their aroma into the dough. The pancake has a layered texture that is crisp, fragrant, and deeply satisfying!
Stop 7
(Only breakfast tour) Stewed milk dessert, this 19th-century southern Chinese treat, is now a national favorite, popular for its rich, creamy aroma and unique texture. For fruit lovers, there is a mango-themed dessert to choose from!
Stop 8
(Only dinner tour)Savor tender pork belly, its lean and fatty layers melting in your mouth. Paired with Shanghai-style rice steamed with ham and vegetables, a local favorite. This comforting combo captures the essence of Shanghai cooking - the magical use of soy sauce and sugar
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions (except for the extreme ones), please dress appropriately
- Please wear comfortable shoes as there will be approx. 3-4 km of walking
- Infants (age under 3) are welcome to join free of charge; however, please note that we do not provide infant seats in taxi
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- This tour can be enjoyed either in the morning as a breakfast tour or in the evening as a dinner tour. There will be difference in food selection between the two, while the itinerary remains the same. The sequence of stops will be adjusted to fit the morning or evening schedule
- Not recommended for gluten-free guests due to the common use of soy sauce in local cuisine
- The options for vegetarian guests may be limited, although we will do our best to accommodate