From Shanghai’s Buzz to Lijiang’s Ancient Charm: Our 7-Day China Adventure

Day 1-3: Shanghai’s Historic Streets and Modern Marvels We began our journey in Shanghai, weaving through the elegant French Concession and bustling 南京步行街 (Nanjing Pedestrian Street). At 淮海中路 (Huaihai Middle Road), we browsed boutique shops and indulged in local eats. From there, we wandered through the 思南路-思南公馆 area, admired the 外滩 (Bund) and crossed the 外白渡桥 (Waibaidu Bridge) for iconic views of the Huangpu River. A highlight? Ascending the 东方明珠 (Oriental Pearl Tower) to see Shanghai’s skyline in all its glittering glory! Day 4: Into Lijiang’s Wild Heart We flew from Shanghai to Lijiang (SGD 268.40 for two, checked baggage included) and dove straight into Yunnan’s natural beauty at 拉市海 (Lashi Lake). For CNY 298 per person, we joined a local horse caravan along the 茶马古道 (Ancient Tea Horse Road), where mountain mists and ancient trails made us feel like time travelers. Day 5: Legends and Peaks That night, the spectacular 千古情 (Lijiang Eternal Love Show) (CNY 260 per ticket) dazzled us with vibrant performances. The next day, we braved the cold/hot at 玉龙雪山冰川公园 (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park) for CNY 160 per person. Day 6: Dali’s Ancient Charms We continued to 大理 (Dali), where 喜洲古镇 (Xizhou Ancient Town) charmed us with Bai architecture and local stories (CNY 80 electric cart tour). Later, we explored 金梭岛 (Jinsuo Island) on 洱海 (Erhai Lake) (CNY 98), drifting along calm waters that mirrored the sky. A Remarkable Guide Who Made It All Possible One of the trip’s true highlights was meeting a remarkable local driver and guide. He helped us arrange hotels and provided flexible, warmhearted service beyond what we expected—no packaged tours, just pay-as-you-go for each site. 💬 Want his contact? Message me on WeChat at Evanne_Lin! Day 7: High-Speed Rails & Kunming Strolls We boarded a high-speed train from Lijiang to Kunming (about SGD 30+ per person)—a comfortable and quick journey through Yunnan’s landscapes. In Kunming, we spent a relaxing day around 南屏步行街 (Nanping Pedestrian Street) before heading back to Singapore. Budget Snapshot 💰 ✈️ Singapore – Shanghai – Kunming – Singapore flights: SGD 396.40 (2 pax) ✈️ Shanghai – Lijiang flight: SGD 268.40 (2 pax) 🚄 Lijiang – Kunming high-speed train: ~SGD 30+ per pax 🏞️ Activities (per person): Lashi Lake + Tea Horse Road: CNY 298 Lijiang Eternal Love Show: CNY 260 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Park: CNY 240 Spruce Meadow Cable Car: CNY 160 Xizhou Ancient Town electric cart: CNY 80 Jinsuo Island on Erhai Lake: CNY 98 Final Reflections: Budget-Friendly Wanderlust From Shanghai’s neon glow to Yunnan’s timeless scenery, our trip was a kaleidoscope of contrasts. Best of all, it was amazingly budget-friendly with careful planning and a bit of flexibility. 💬 I’m pretty good at budgeting trips, so if you’d like tips or help planning your own adventure, feel free to message me on WeChat at Evanne_Lin! You can also drop me a wechat message if you need help recharging your Alipay! Happy travels and may your journeys be as colorful as ours!