The bar scene in Shanghai is a masterclass in mood — sleek rooftops, hidden lounges, and vinyl bars where cocktails meet architecture. Here’s where to drink in style.
Destinations
The Centre d’Art Rodin brings Paris to Pudong — a thoughtful museum where bronze meets daylight and modern Shanghai learns to hold still.
Morning light in the French Concession falls through the sycamores like silk. From the curved windows of my room at Mia Hotel, I watched the street wake up — cyclists balancing paper cups, a man walking his dog in a…
From morning tai chi on the Bund to late-night jazz at the Peace Hotel, this Shanghai travel guide covers the city’s rhythm, food, and quiet glamour.
9 September 2025
Drinking Tea in China’s Oldest Teahouse
There are certain places in Tongli where time folds in on itself, and Nanyuan Teahouse is one of them. Built in 1898 and still pouring tea more than a century later, it sits at the meeting of two canals, shaded…
9 September 2025
Exploring Tuisi Garden in Tongli Ancient Town
I visited Tuisi Garden first thing in the morning, slipping through the gates just after they opened. For nearly an hour, I had it almost entirely to myself. The light was soft, the air cool, and the sound of birdsong…
9 September 2025
Staying at Jianyuan Guesthouse in Tongli
Tucked inside the stone lanes of Tongli’s old town is a guesthouse that feels as if it belongs to the canals themselves — Jianyuan Guesthouse (简园客栈). I booked it last-minute, after discovering many of the more sought-after guesthouses were already…
Tongli is one of the ancient water towns that edge the Yangtze Delta — a tangle of stone lanes worn smooth by centuries, canals arched with graceful bridges, and houses that lean so close to the water you can imagine…
Suzhou’s gardens and canals are famous, but its soul is in the music. From intimate teahouse Pingtan to summer Kunqu performances in the Humble Administrator’s Garden, here’s how to experience these traditions like a local.
1 September 2025
2 Days in Suzhou: A Slow Weekend Itinerary
Plan the perfect 2 days in Suzhou with this slow weekend itinerary — classical gardens, canals, noodles, teahouses, and a Pingtan performance.
