First Impressions of SHANGHAI, CHINA! Travel Vlog
Doug Barnard
Travel Creator
Places (4)
- Jen Bing (restaurant)
- French Concession area (attraction)
- Yu Garden (attraction)
- the Bund (attraction)
Trip Timeline
Follow the journey through Shanghai
Jen Bing
煎饼
1:24 → 3:24
Jen Bing（煎饼）
restaurantA popular Chinese street food stall selling savory crepes (Jianbing) prepared on a hot griddle with egg, vegetables, a crispy fried cracker, and various sauces.
Doug Barnard's take
"The creator described Jianbing as a Chinese crepe and found it very tasty, light, and flavorful, especially appreciating the cilantro and the kick from the chili sauce. He called it the 'perfect breakfast in Shanghai'."
French Concession area
法租界
4:43 → 6:21
French Concession area（法租界）
attractionA historic and trendy neighborhood in Shanghai, characterized by its unique Art Deco architecture and tree-lined streets. Once a French colony, it is now known for its vibrant atmosphere, popularity among Chinese influencers, and foreigner-friendly businesses.
Doug Barnard's take
"The creator notes it's one of Shanghai's most popular and trendy areas, feeling very foreigner-friendly with a lot of English used in business names. He mentions it's where Chinese influencers often start."
Yu Garden
豫园
7:11 → 8:23
Yu Garden（豫园）
attractionA classical Chinese garden and temple complex in the Old City of Shanghai, surrounded by a bustling market area. It features traditional architecture, festive decorations, and numerous food stalls, especially vibrant during Chinese New Year.
Doug Barnard's take
"The creator found the area 'absolutely packed' with mostly Chinese people, noting the 'good vibes' and amazing decorations, stating it looked like 'what you would expect China to look like from a Western perspective'."
the Bund
外滩
13:41 → 14:04
the Bund（外滩）
attractionA famous waterfront promenade in Shanghai, offering spectacular views of historic European-style buildings along one bank and the modern Pudong skyline, including the Shanghai Tower, on the opposite side of the Huangpu River. It is a popular spot, especially at night when the buildings are illuminated.
Doug Barnard's take
"The creator describes The Bund as 'really cool' and highlights it as 'one of the best views in the city', strongly recommending visitors to come at least once."
Practical tips from this vlog
Useful advice and recommendations
Mobile Payments with Alipay/WeChat Pay
The creator demonstrates using Alipay to scan a QR code for a street food purchase, highlighting the ease and commonality of these payment methods. He mentions the option to use either merchant's QR or your own barcode, and the ability for foreigners to link international cards.
Shanghai
Embrace Spontaneous Exploration in China
The lack of reliable data on Western mapping apps means that restaurants and other POIs might not be listed or correctly placed. This situation encourages travelers to be more adventurous and rely on direct street exploration rather than pre-planned itineraries.
Shanghai
Explore on the map
Click any marker to see location details