Shanghai

Bruce was very welcoming and helpful. He provided clear explanations for each step, and guided me to complete my work easily.

We joined the incense tablet experience as a group of 7 people, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip! From the moment we walked in, the space felt calm and beautifully designed with a strong traditional Chinese aesthetic. The instructor patiently guided us through the history and cultural meaning behind incense, then helped us craft our own personalized incense tablets step by step. It was such a special hands-on experience — mixing the natural fragrances, shaping the incense, and finally holding a piece we made ourselves felt incredibly satisfying. The whole process was relaxing, meaningful, and perfect for friends traveling together. If you’re visiting and looking for something unique, cultural, and memorable, I highly recommend this experience. Strongly recommend — absolutely worth it!

I was worried about the seating, but the standard seats had a great view! I couldn't understand the language, but I enjoyed the dancing and performances. The food was all delicious and hot. Even in the standard seats, I got something like a strawberry candy, but it was tomato and muscat. The costumes had fewer variations than I expected, and even though I researched and decided on an image beforehand, I couldn't find a costume with the same vibe, which was frustrating. It came with makeup and hair, but I had read in reviews that the makeup was light, so I went with heavy makeup, and they added rhinestones to my face. The staff are in a big hurry, so I think it's smoother if you do your makeup beforehand. They quickly add decorations to the hair that match the costume, so they don't ask for your opinion. You have to muster up the courage to say something yourself, but basically, they don't understand the language, and they don't speak English, so a translation app is essential. The finished look was a little different from what I had imagined, but there are photo spots, and you can take lots of pictures while eating, so I was satisfied. I recommend taking pictures indoors in a relaxed setting. I also saw people having Hanfu experiences outdoors in places like Yu Garden, but they looked very cold.

The operator was incredibly attentive and always responded super fast! They were so helpful—when we got a bit lost at the drop-off point, they kept updating us and made sure we were okay. Their English is excellent, which is a huge help in China, and they even gave us great tips for the best views on deck. We loved our cruise experience so much that we upgraded to the VIP view deck for an extra 100 RMB and it was absolutely worth it! It came with free tea and biscuits, plus exclusive seating and an amazing view. Thank you so much for making our Huangpu cruise so memorable!

Love this dining experience at Gong Yan! You get to watch the performance while enjoy a 6 course Chinese Omakase!

This day trip to Wuzhen, although short, allowed me to experience the unique atmosphere of Jiangnan's water towns from morning till night as I walked through Dongzha and Xizha. During the day, it's a misty, rainy town, and at night, it's a world of lights. The same river and the same rooftops present completely different scenery at different times. I started with Dongzha in the morning. Dongzha retains a more original sense of life. In the old streets and narrow alleys, you'll find residents' homes with clothes drying and couplets hanging. Underneath your feet are stone slabs polished by time. Strolling along the river, you see houses with white walls and dark tiles on one side, and the slowly flowing river on the other. Lanterns occasionally hanging under the eaves bring the scene to life like old photos. Entering various small museums, such as the Blue Calico Fabric Museum and the Distillery Workshop, you can see the tools and processes of traditional handicrafts, and you can better understand that "ancient towns" are not just backdrops for taking pictures, but a way of life that actually existed. In the afternoon, I moved on to Xizha, where the atmosphere was noticeably different. The streets of Xizha are wider, and the planning is more complete. B&Bs, coffee shops, and cultural and creative shops line the streets one after another. Compared to the sense of life in Dongzha, Xizha has more of a resort town feel. I took a special trip on a gondola, slowly moving towards the end of Xizha along the waterway. Sitting on the boat and looking at both sides, you can see the riverside inns, wooden windows, and stone bridges slowly passing by, as if you have become part of this ink painting. Compared to walking, taking a boat allows you to truly feel the meaning of the words "water town." On the way back along the water, you can see many riverside inns with wooden windows that open to river views. I made a special effort to wait in line to buy the locally famous shredded radish cake. A long queue formed in front of the small shop, and the aroma of fried dough and radish filled the air. When it was my turn, I took the freshly baked radish cake, still warm to the touch, and took a bite. The outer skin was crispy, and the inside was savory, fragrant, and juicy. Standing on the stone slab road of the ancient town, enjoying the evening breeze while eating the hot snack, that moment was more satisfying than any formal meal, and it became one of my most "human" memories of Wuzhen. After dusk, the night view of Xizha was the highlight of the trip. The sky slowly darkened, and the lanterns by the river and the outline lights of the buildings lit up one by one, reflecting on the water and illuminating the entire river. There were more tourists, but in some of the quieter corners, you could still find an alley with only yourself and the sound of water. This day trip to Dongzha and Xizha, although the itinerary was a bit tight and I could only get a superficial view of many places, was still rewarding. Dongzha allowed me to see more "authentic" traces of life, allowing me to imagine the daily life of residents washing, drying, and chatting here in the past. Xizha, on the other hand, is like a stage prepared for modern travelers, making the ancient town more comfortable, more photogenic, and more suitable for a slow stay. The combination of the two styles gave me a more three-dimensional impression of "ancient water towns." On the way back, as I recalled the stone slab road during the day and the lights reflected on the river at night, I felt that the value of travel may not lie in "how many attractions you visited," but in whether you really slowed down for a moment and focused on looking at the scenery around you. Wuzhen gave me such an opportunity to temporarily pause the fast-forward button of life.

We had an excellent experience on this tour, made even more special by our tour guide, Linda. She was incredibly attentive and made sure everyone in the group was well taken care of throughout the day. Linda was very organized, patient, and always checked on us to ensure we were comfortable and enjoying each stop. Her English is excellent, clear, and easy to understand, which made the explanations and stories about each place very engaging and informative. She also handled the itinerary smoothly and made the whole experience stress-free and enjoyable. Highly recommended tour, and highly recommended guide—thank you, Linda, for such a memorable day! 🌟

The staff at all the stops were extremely helpful and made sure that we got on the correct bus! There are several tour bus operators to choose from, and I am happy that I selected Shanghai City Sightseeing Bus!

The Shanghai Shenggong Banquet offers a truly unique and memorable immersive experience that brings the grandeur of the Qin Dynasty to life. From the moment you enter, you are transported back in time through detailed set design, period costumes, and carefully curated rituals that reflect ancient Chinese court culture. The performances are a highlight of the experience, recreating historical ceremonies, music, and storytelling that deepen the sense of immersion. The banquet-style dining is visually impressive and thoughtfully presented, with dishes inspired by traditional Chinese cuisine. Overall, the Shanghai Shenggong Banquet is a captivating journey into the Qin era and a standout immersive cultural experience that is well worth attending.