I’ve been to Macau (2009), Hong Kong (2009), and Taiwan (2018) before, but this year marked my first step into mainland China. Between conferences and meetings, I caught a glimpse of Shanghai, where tradition blends with modern vibes.
The Bund
They say a trip to Shanghai is not complete without a stroll along The Bund. Standing by the Huangpu River, I watched the city come alive at night, with the colorful lights of the Oriental Pearl Tower and other glittering skyscrapers of the Pudong district. On the other side, I faced the row of grand European-style buildings glowing in a warm golden tone. The waterfront and the historical facades reminded me of Liverpool in England. Despite a light drizzle, the promenade was crowded with tourists, mostly locals.
Just a short walk away, Nanjing Road offered a completely different energy. Neon signs lit up the bustling pedestrian street, lined with shops selling everything from cute souvenirs and sparkling jewelries to local snacks. Among the vibrant stores stood the historic Peace Hotel Fairmont, a Shanghai landmark since the 1900s, which was still showing timeless elegance and luxury. While I was enjoying the view across the river, a young Chinese woman approached me, asking me to take her picture with her camera. I was about to help when my Chinese colleague ushered me away, warning me about scams involving photo requests. I doubted it, but I followed him anyway.
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
Another highlight of the trip was visiting Zhujiajiao, a 1,700-year-old water town in Qingpu district, on the outskirts of Shanghai. Often called the “Venice of Shanghai,” it is famous for its network of canals, arched stone bridges, and traditional architecture. The town was lined with historic merchant houses along narrow lanes, where vendors sold tea, local crafts, and street food. I stopped often to take photos of red lanterns and intricately carved houses. We sampled traditional snacks and picked up souvenirs (like magnets, paper fans, and children’s toys), while my colleague even had his portrait drawn. There are also temples, though you need to pay to enter. In one of them, I read the Shio horoscope for the year. Mine said it would be a tough year for me, but light would come toward the end. I kind of agreed, and quietly hoped it would turn out to be true.
Huawei’s Lianqiu Lake R&D Center
I went to Zhujiajiao on the way back from visiting the newly opened Huawei’s 160-hectare modern Lianqiu Lake Research & Development Center, built in just 3 years. It is Huawei’s largest R&D hub so far, designed as a self-contained “innovation city,” with its own lakes, bridges, internal trains, labs, offices, production support facilities, as well as over 100 cafés, clinics, gardens, libraries, leisure spaces for staff, and even an opera house! There are no residential houses on site, but Huawei provides daily transport to nearby apartment complexes and train stations to Shanghai, so the campus is not completely isolated. The atmosphere was so peaceful and serene. I could easily imagine myself working in such an environment. The campus is expected to host more than 30,000 researchers working on semiconductors, smart devices, automotive, and digital energy, making it a strategic hub for China’s push toward global competitiveness in emerging technologies.
The trip was arranged as part of the 18th SNEC 2025: International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition, held in Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center. Walking around the SNEC Conference and Huawei campus, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much China has advanced over the past 15 years. What once seemed like a country catching up is now setting the pace, with massive investments in research, digital infrastructure, and industrial innovation. From high-speed rail and smart cities to cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence and green energy, China’s ability to turn ambitious visions into reality is astonishing.
Panlong Tiandi
We had lunch one day at a Chinese restaurant in Panlong Tiandi, a commercial complex designed around traditional-style houses and winding waterways. The narrow streets were lined with trees, flowers, and red lanterns, creating a charming atmosphere. Inspired by the centuries-old Jiangnan water-town heritage, the area blends preserved canals, stone bridges, and historic architecture with modern urban design. Today, it serves as a vibrant community hub, offering dining, retail, art, and leisure spaces. While Zhujiajiao remains a genuine ancient town with residents still living there, Panlong Tiandi has been purposefully developed as both a leisure destination and an urban renewal project. In some ways, it reminded me of Insadong in South Korea, minus the waterways.
Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen
The Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen in Shanghai is a well-preserved two-story European-style house, where Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the “Father of Modern China,” lived with one of wives, Soong Ching-ling (who was also a Chinese political figure herself), from 1918 to 1925 until his death. It served not only as their home but also as a base for revolutionary activities, hosting key meetings and international visitors. Dr. Sun Yat-sen founded the Republic of China (Taiwan), and was the first President. Today, the house has turned into a museum displaying Sun’s personal belongings, manuscripts, photographs, and historical documents that trace his leadership in the 1911 Revolution, which ended China’s last imperial dynasty (Qing dynasty). Surrounded by a tranquil garden, the residence offers visitors both a glimpse into his personal life and an important chapter of modern China.
There is more to explore, and I hope I will have other opportunities to come back to Shanghai in the future.