Day 2 (Tuesday)

We landed in Shanghai around 2:30 PM. Immigration and baggage claim went surprisingly smoothly, and our driver was already waiting for us inside the terminal. Finding his car, however, turned out to be a bit of an adventure. Due to ongoing construction at the airport, direct access to the parking area was tricky, and after a few wrong turns, we finally made it to the right exit and found the car.

Drive to the City

The drive into the city took about an hour, giving us a chance to soak in our first impressions of Shanghai. Our hotel was perfectly located with a direct view of the Bund, facing Pudong. We had intentionally chosen the historic side of the river so we could enjoy the stunning skyline across the water, with its iconic tower and skyscrapers.

Shanghai on the Bund

After a rather lengthy check-in process, we headed out on foot to explore the promenade. It was packed with people—apparently, sunset and evening hours are especially popular here, and it’s easy to see why. The view is absolutely breathtaking.

We stumbled upon a cozy little restaurant for dinner before making our way back to the hotel. To wrap up the evening, we visited the rooftop bar for a cocktail and one last look over the glittering cityscape. By then, the long flight, jet lag, and time difference had caught up with us, so we called it a night and headed straight to bed.