Jimmy’s Local Favorites: Shanghai!

We’re kicking off a series of interviews designed to give you an insider’s perspective on the cities you love! Jimmy from Team Shanghai starts us off with some of his local favorites!

You grew up in central China, what is your favorite part about living in Shanghai?
Shanghai is a very international and dynamic city. It’s very easy to meet people from all over the world and make friends with them, and a lot of world level games, competition, concerts, and shows will also choose Shanghai as their first stop in China. And you can never get bored in Shanghai, there are so many thing going on every day!

You’re an avid hiker, what are some of your favorite trails or areas to go hiking?
The best area for me is in Shen Nong Jia, Hubei Province. It’s considered an original forest and it’s quite distant and remote from the city, that’s also whey it’s less visited by people and you can really get a intimate contact with nature. During the hiking in Shen Nong Jia, you can observe the animals that only appear there, cross the dense aged forest, and hike through the areas that require both your physical agility and skill to respond instantly.

What’s your favorite Chinese holiday or special occasion?
For me, I would say the Chinese New Year, which usually happens in February. It’s the time that we can have a long vacation and we will go back home to get together with family and friends.

If someone comes to visit you from abroad, what is the one non-touristy place you’d take them in the city?
First, I would take them to the Shanghai Archive Museum, where they can get to know the history and development of Shanghai and to thoroughly understand the city, the people, and its culture.

Secondly, I will take them to Hengshan Road which is famous for it’s concentrated bars, pubs and restaurants.

What’s your favorite vacation spot in China, other than Shanghai?
For me, I think it would be Tibet. Though it’s part of China, it’s geography and culture is quite different from the mainland China; the beauty of it is breathtaking and the the culture is inspiring.

What are some of your current favorite Shanghai restaurants?
I am a huge fun of spicy food, and my most frequent visited restaurant is called South Memory, which has a lot of stores in Shanghai and it has great spicy frogs and fish head. Yes, in China we eat the frogs and fish head!