Shanghai, People's Republic of China - October 2025

I flew from Hong Kong on Cathay and was first to passport control. The same thing happened as last year which was they needed some extra checks which they couldn't explain but it was sorted quickly. I went to the e-hailing area and called a DiDi. But it turns out I was on the wrong level which was a bit confusing. I eventually found my car and headed to the hotel.

Checked into the Shangri-la Qiantan which is close to the office and where I stayed last year. The hotel is new and very modern and the room is a good size. This was my view...

It was late now so I went to the gym for a sauna then went to bed.

Worked in the office on Thursday and had a team lunch and presentation. That night I had drinks with one of the partners Nick, here...

Then met the other partners at a restaurant nearby where we had a private room. The food was great. This is abalone...

The specialty of the house if fried rice and this guy came in to cook it in front of us...

This is the day time view from my room...

Friday I went to the office again. Someone brought me a coffee which was good. I saw this brand many times in Shanghai and Hangzhou...

I went to Wagas for lunch. This was good...

 

After work I met a mate for dinner at my favourite restaurant, Lost Heaven on the Bund...

Grilled pork...

Prawns which were a bit heavy...

After dinner, we went for a walk along the Bund to the Peninsula and went to one of my favourite bars, Sir Elly's at The Peninsula...

Saturday morning and it's my birthday! I treated myself to some matcha cake...

I had breakfast in the hotel and on checkout, the hotel gave me a birthday gift! It's a fridge magnet of the New Bund, where I'm staying.

I then caught the train to Hangzhou which is a city I have never been to (see separate post). 

I returned to Shanghai on Sunday afternoon and checked into my favourite hotel in the world, The Langham Xintiandi. I then went out for a beer across the road as it's a lovely Sunday afternoon.

Going for a walk in Xintiandi...

Monday morning I went for breakfast to a dim sum place I know...

Food is great...

Then headed to the airport for my flight to Singapore. I caught a DiDi to the Maglev station and then caught the Maglev to the airport. Very fast and only RMB40!

Got through passport control quickly and headed to the lounge. There's no Singapore Airlines lounge so I used the China Eastern one.