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Shanghai’s South Bund Fabric Market

Shanghai’s South Bund Fabric Market

South Bund Fabric Market 南外滩轻纺面料市场 The South Bund Fabric Market is quite famous amongst visitors and locals alike for its plethora of tailors and seamstresses. If you have any desire for custom made clothing then this is the place. Just about any kind of wearable items can be made to order and all you need to do is come prepared with an idea of what you want. Even better, bring a photo or sample for them to copy. You’ll need…

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Zhouzhuang – China’s Most Popular Water Town

Zhouzhuang – China’s Most Popular Water Town

Zhouzhuang Water Town (周庄) is said to be the oldest water town in China [1] situated in Kunshang City just south of Suzhou and about 90-min bus ride from Shanghai. The old town is famous for its canals and traditional style buildings dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) of which about 60% remain in excellent condition. Often described as the “Venice of the East”, Zhouzhuang is flooded with tourist who come to experience the historical beauty, shops, and…

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Best Shanghai Tea City

Best Shanghai Tea City

If you are into tea or just curious, Shanghai has it all. There are thousands of tea shops ranging from simple street stands to huge labyrinthine “tea cities”.  For brevity, this article focuses on two of the largest tea markets, Tianshan Tea City and DaNing International Tea City. Both are very similar in scale and products although Tianshan is more well known. Tianshan Tea City Tianshan (天山茶城) is a huge complex with at least 150 shops selling tea and tea…

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Qibao Old Street: A Shanghai Food Street

Qibao Old Street: A Shanghai Food Street

Qibao (七宝) is an old water town located about 20 kilometers from downtown Shanghai which has a very popular food street.  Most days, and especially when the weather is good, people flock there to enjoy a stroll and eat traditional snacks. Qibao means, “Seven Treasures” in Chinese and the legend is there were seven of them around the area such as a Gold Lotus Scripture, a magic tree, and a golden chicken to name a few. The old town is…

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Stroll Around Tianzi Fang

Stroll Around Tianzi Fang

The Tianzi Fang (田子坊) neighborhood is a labyrinth of ally ways and old Shikumen style architecture which has been preserved and converted to shops. Although a bit touristy, the area is a fine example of old Shanghai and a lot of fun to walk around in. The area around Tianzi Fang also has much to do and explore such as shops, restaurants, charming neighborhoods and beautiful tree-lined streets. Tianzi Fang is a great place to wander about looking at shops…

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Dragons in Bangkok

Dragons in Bangkok

Our visit in Bangkok was rather short but fun enough. One thing that struck me about the city is the traffic. It does not look so bad but it really takes a long time to get anywhere by car. You are often better off to use the sky train (metro) and/or walk. There are plenty of tuk-tuks which is a fun way to get around if not too expensive. Of course the food in Bangkok is delicious and just about…

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Good Eats in Seoul

Good Eats in Seoul

There is so much to see and do in Seoul, South Korea however this post is pretty much about the food. I love the food scene in Seoul and everything I tried was delicious.

Nanxiang Old Street, Birthplace of Xiaolongbao

Nanxiang Old Street, Birthplace of Xiaolongbao

Nanxiang Old Street 南翔老街 is a well preserved old town about 35 minutes metro ride from central Shanghai. The town was a major business center long ago and claims a history of over 1500 years. You can enjoy scenic walks along cobble stone streets and enjoy shopping, eating and sightseeing. In the center part are two large, stone pagoda and an ancient water well. Nanxiang is the birthplace of the famous dumpling known as Xiaolongbao. There are several restaurants and…

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Amazingly Beautiful Hong Kong

Amazingly Beautiful Hong Kong

Although I have always heard how beautiful and “amazing” Hong Kong is, I didn’t really get it until my first visit. Hong Kong is a city that must be experienced first-hand. Upon arrival I immediately sensed the vibrancy and energy of the city. Then I was struck by the peaceful beauty of nature, the sea and the food. Wow, the food scene in Hong Kong is truly a big deal. It’s such an interesting juxtaposition of Western and Chinese culture, not to mention…

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Suzhou Day Trip to Pingjiang Road

Suzhou Day Trip to Pingjiang Road

Although a large city, Suzhou has a few enclaves where you can go to experience its ancient heritage and lifestyle. Beware of the fact, however, that this also attracts many other tourists like you. Suzhou has many beautiful gardens, parks and historical sights, and seeing all of them in one day would be daunting. Instead we did a quick day trip, spending about five hours strolling along Pingjiang Road and ending at The Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan 拙政园). Getting…

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