Small Group Shanghai Flavors and Culture Tour with 10 tastings

5.0 (26 reviews) 3 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

26 reviews

5.0

Chinese Morning Drink- Soybean Milk — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

I love Dumplings!!! — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Ready to taste the real Shanghai? Join our Shanghai Classic Food &Culture Walking Tour and dive into the vibrant buzz of everyday life!

This tour is a full-sensory immersion into the past and present of China's most dynamic city. We'll feast like kings on a culinary crawl through the city's best-kept secrets, and also walk in the People's Park to meet the locals, dive into the vibrant local life of Zhejiang Road Food Street, where sizzling woks and halal butchers embody Shanghai’s everyday energy.

Follow your guide as you sample dishes from long-established local breakfast favourites, along with Michelin Guide–recommended hawkers and heritage pastries and Chinese tea tasting. Learn how these culinary gems earned their reputation and hear the stories of the passionate individuals who keep Shanghai’s food heritage alive.

Skip the queues, skip the research, and dive straight into Shanghai’s best local eats — curated, explained, and enjoyed with a local expert by your side.

Half-day Tours Cultural Tours Walking Tours Culinary Tours Street Food Tours Small Group Excellent Quality Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 3 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 12 people
People per booking: 1–5
Guide: Chinese, English
Operated by: Monster Day Tours Shanghai

Ages: Adults (7–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Guided Shanghai Food & Cultural Tour covering local food streets and hideen alleys
Included: 9 to 10 Local Shanghai Food & Drinks 9 to 10 Local Food & Drinks from authentic local restaurants
Included: Passionate local guide sharing Shanghai's stories, history, and hidden gems

Not included

Not included: Personal Expenses
Not included: Guide tips and gratuities
Not included: Transport
Not included: Optional food & drinks

Itinerary

Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road)

30 min Admission included

On the east part of Nanjing Road, we will dive deep into the vibrant buzz of everyday life by tasting the authentic Shanghai Breakfast and Cantonese Changfen to power the day like a local.
Shanghai

10 min

After powering up with the city's dream-chasing breakfast. We will switch gears and step into the engine room that keeps Shanghai running day-to-day — its neighborhood wet market where Shanghai's real flavor is made. It will be a Full-Sensory Shopping Experience for you!
Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road)

15 min

welcome to Nanjing Road — famously called China's No. 1 Commercial Street, a street that tells the story of modern Chinese commerce.

A century ago, it was defined by its 'Four Great Department Stores'.They created the very idea of the modern shopping experience in China.

Walk here today, and you witness its evolution. You'll find global giants like Apple and Huawei. The world's largest Pop Mart represents a new chapter.These have shown how Nanjing Road constantly adapts, from grand department stores to experiential retail.
Stop 4

20 min Admission included

As the Headquarter of a true Shanghai culinary legend, Da Hu Chun has been making shengjianbao for over 90 years.

It’s not just any old shop. For years in a row, it has been recommended by the prestigious Michelin Guide, earning the “Bib Gourmand” title for offering exceptional quality at a very friendly price. This makes it an authentic piece of Shanghai's food culture, enjoyed by both locals and famous visitors (like Apple's Tim Cook), right in the heart of the old city.
Stop 5

20 min

Completed in 1869,the Holy Trinity Church is the oldest and most famous Anglican church in Shanghai.

For over a century, it was the spiritual and social heart of the British community in the International Settlement. Its distinct look, with the sharp spire and colourful stained glass, made it a major landmark.

Unlike many buildings on the Bund, it wasn't a bank or trading house—it was a place of peace and community amidst the busy commercial district. After being restored, it stands today as a quiet reminder of old Shanghai's diverse religious life.
Shanghai

20 min

Shanghai is where China’s modern media was born.The "Press and Publishing Street" (Hankou Road)has been China’s headline for over 150 years. In the early 1900s, this was the hidden engine of ideas — where newspapers, magazines, and revolutionary pamphlets were born.
Stop 7

15 min Admission included

Welcome to Shanghai's "Snack Power Walk" zone. Here, we grab, we munch, and we keep moving — just like the locals. Up next, a trio of classics that define street-eating.

Here,you will also see rows of rows of lamb carcasses, the gleaming hooks… doesn't it feel like we've teleported straight into the heart of a Moroccan souk or Istanbul's Grand Bazaar? This stretch of road is famous for its Halal meat shops, a testament to Shanghai's diverse culinary tapestry.
Stop 8

30 min Admission included

De Xing Guan (Est. 1883) is a cornerstone of authentic Shanghai (Benbang) cuisine. For nearly 150 years, its takeaway counters have been the city's go-to for classic dishes like red-braised pork, drunken chicken, and expertly crafted soup dumplings. It represents the timeless, savory-sweet heart of Shanghainese food culture.
Stop 9

30 min Admission included

Xinghualou, one of Shanghai's most legendary culinary institutions. Founded in 1851 by Guangdong natives, it brought authentic Cantonese dim sum to Shanghai. Over generations, it has evolved by blending those techniques with local Shanghainese tastes, creating a unique ‘East-meets-West, South-meets-North’ style that we now call ‘Haipai’ (Shanghai-style) Cantonese cuisine.It’s not just a restaurant; it’s a living museum of how Shanghai absorbs and adapts cultures.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

We will meet by Metro 1/2/8 People‘s Square Station Exit 5/6/7/19 in front of the Sculpture( No.1 Nanjing Rd West Close to Middle Xizang Rd)

End point

Founded in 1851 by Guangdong natives, Xinghualou brought authentic Cantonese dim sum to Shanghai. Over generations, it has evolved by blending those techniques with local Shanghainese tastes, creating a unique style that we now call ‘Haipai’ (Shanghai-style) Cantonese cuisine.