Shanghai, the NanNan Way
lane house in shanghai
A city of surprises, seen through local eyes.
What happens when a day in Shanghai starts with the stories behind its old streets, takes an unexpected turn into the world of humanoid robots, leads to a game of mahjong, and ends with rooftop drinks, regional Chinese food, and a little karaoke?
Well, that’s Shanghai. And that’s a day with NanNan.
Not your usual sightseeing day. Not a checklist of famous landmarks. And definitely not a day spent rushing from one photo spot to the next.
It’s about discovering a city that never quite fits into one picture.
From old lanes to robots
Shanghai is a city of contrasts. Its history lives alongside its future, sometimes just around the corner from each other.
One moment, you’re discovering the stories behind old buildings and neighbourhood streets. The next, you’re watching a humanoid robot demonstrate just how quickly China is moving.
And somewhere in between, there’s always time for a good coffee, a conversation, or something you didn’t expect to find.
Because the most interesting part of Shanghai isn’t always what you came to see. Sometimes, it’s what you stumble upon along the way.
The mahjong moment nobody planned
One of my favourite things about designing experiences is leaving room for the unexpected.
A new place can be interesting. A new experience can be fun. But when you find yourself learning mahjong, laughing over the rules, and getting completely caught up in the game, something changes.
You’re no longer simply observing local life. You’re part of it.
After the day, my guests told me that mahjong had been one of their highlights. It was a lovely reminder that the moments people remember most aren’t always the ones you can put on a schedule.
Sometimes, the best part of a day is the part you never planned.
A little more Shanghai, a little less ordinary
As the day unfolds, the city keeps revealing different sides of itself: local streets, food from China's diverse regions, the energy of modern Shanghai, and a skyline best enjoyed with a drink in hand.
And then comes karaoke.
Because why end a day of discovering China early when you can experience another very real part of Chinese social life?
The point isn’t to squeeze everything into one day. It’s to let different parts of Shanghai come together naturally — with enough structure to make the day flow, and enough freedom for curiosity to take over.
Not just a tour. A different way to experience China.
Afterwards, my guests sent me a message that stayed with me:
“It made our Shanghai trip feel much more special and gave us experiences we would never have found on our own.”
They told me how memorable the day had been, how much they had enjoyed the mahjong, and how much they hoped to return to China.
That is what I want people to take away from an experience with me.
Not simply a collection of places they visited, but a better feeling for the city — its people, its culture, its contradictions, and the everyday details that make it what it is.
I’ve spent years living, working, exploring, and building connections in Shanghai. I bring that experience into the days I design, combining local knowledge with an understanding of what makes a place meaningful to someone seeing it with fresh eyes.
Every guest is different. Every day has its own rhythm.
The plan provides the structure. Curiosity does the rest.
Shanghai is Shanghai. But there’s only one NanNan.
Shanghai is Shanghai. Its streets, its skyline, its history and its endless surprises are here for everyone to discover.
But the way I experience it? That’s personal.
My story. My city. My food. My coffee. My friends.
The little places I return to, the people I know, the food I love, the conversations that turn into unexpected discoveries — these are the things that make Shanghai my Shanghai.
It’s the café where I like to sit a little longer. The neighbourhood that still surprises me after all these years. The restaurant I want my friends to try. The people who have become part of my life here. The stories behind places you might otherwise walk straight past.
These aren’t things you can simply copy from a travel list. They come from living in a city, being curious about it, and allowing it to become part of your own story.
And when I share them with you, I’m not simply showing you around Shanghai. I’m inviting you into my world, one experience at a time.
Because you can visit Shanghai on your own. You can see the landmarks, follow the recommendations, and take all the photographs you like.
But to discover the city through someone who lives it, loves it, questions it, and is still finding new things in it — that’s something different.
drinks at corner of shanghai
Come experience Shanghai with me.
Perhaps you’re curious about local culture. Perhaps you want to explore China's technology scene, discover the city's food and neighbourhoods, or simply see what everyday life here is really like.
We’ll start with what interests you and see where the city takes us.
No templates. No mass tourism. No need to follow someone else’s checklist.
Just real places, good stories, unexpected discoveries, and a little more of the Shanghai you might never have found on your own.
Shanghai is Shanghai. But there’s only one NanNan.
And I’d love to show you my side of it.
Learn Mandarin. Experience China.
— NanNan.
