Shanghai welcomes a rising wave of Southeast Asian travelers who are skipping the usual tourist hot spots to dive deeper into the city's hidden pockets. From neighborhood eateries to underground art studios, here's how these young global citizens are making Shanghai their own.
1. Street Food Journeys Beyond the Guidebook
Forget the crowded lanes of Nanjing Road. Nearly 45% of Southeast Asian visitors surveyed said they seek out lesser-known street markets in the Changning and Hongkou districts, guided by local food blogs and social media shoutouts. Standouts include a Vietnamese banh mi stall tucked behind old shikumen alleys and a Malaysian-inspired charcoal-grilled skewers pop-up in Jing'an.
2. Outsider Art and Independent Galleries
Art enthusiasts—accounting for 30% of this travel cohort—head straight to M50 Art District's offbeat studios and hidden warehouse exhibitions. Some stumbled upon young Chinese artists' collectives through Instagram stories, while others joined WeChat groups where creatives share pop-up invite links.
3. Tech-Driven Discovery
From Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) to TikTok, 60% of travelers say they rely on digital platforms to uncover secret spots. QR-code doorways leading to speakeasy cafes and invitation-only tea tastings have become must-visit experiences that spark real-world connection.
4. Community-Powered Tips
Language exchange meetups, local university clubs, and expat forums are also hotspots for insider tips. Thai visitor Nicha Chan shares, 'I found a hidden jazz bar near Laoximen thanks to a friend-of-a-friend in a Bangkok travel chat. It felt like discovering a secret side of Shanghai.'
As this Chinese mainland metropolis continues to evolve, Southeast Asian visitors are rewriting the travel playbook—seeking authenticity, forging cultural ties, and uncovering corners of Shanghai few outsiders know. What hidden gem will you explore next?
Reference(s):
Off the beaten path: How Southeast Asian visitors explore Shanghai
cgtn.com
