Tour operator
Huangpu River Cruise from Shiliupu
Sightseeing boats from Shiliupu that sail north past the Bund and Lujiazui to Yangpu Bridge and back, by day or after dark when both banks are…
Small-group evening food tours of Shanghai's neighbourhood eateries, with 15 or more tastings at seated stops and drinks included, run by UnTour since 2010.
Good to know
UnTour Food Tours has been leading food walks in China since 2010 and runs tours in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. Its best-known Shanghai outing is the Night Eats tour, a three-hour evening crawl through local eateries led by a bilingual guide.
The Night Eats tour starts at 6pm near Jiangsu Road metro station, with the exact meeting point sent by email after booking. Over the evening the group makes four or five seated stops and works through more than 15 tastings. The food covers Shanghai and Jiangnan cooking as well as dishes from other regions, including the spicy flavours of Sichuan. Chinese beer, a taste of baijiu, soft drinks and bottled water are included, along with a welcome packet. Groups are capped at ten guests with one guide.
UnTour also runs a Street Eats Breakfast tour in Shanghai and arranges private and group tours, including a vegetarian-only private tour on request. That matters because the standard tour is built around local dishes: vegetarians and pescatarians are welcome but will skip some dishes, options for vegans are limited, and gluten-free diners should be cautious, as soy sauce, Zhenjiang vinegar and oyster sauce are used widely. Guests with shellfish or nut allergies should bring their medication, as cross-contact cannot be ruled out.
The tour suits first-time visitors, solo travellers who want company for dinner and anyone curious about everyday Shanghai food beyond the famous dumpling houses. Come hungry. Public bookings cancelled at least 24 hours before the tour are fully refunded.
Its Street Eats Breakfast tour is a chance to meet the city's traditional morning foods. Shanghai's breakfast staples, known locally as the four heavenly kings, are dabing flatbread, youtiao fried dough sticks, cifantuan glutinous rice rolls and soy milk, served sweet or savoury, and the city's food guide notes they are best eaten before 9am, while the youtiao is still hot.
Book through the company's website, ask about other dates by email, or contact the team through its published email or the WeChat ID UnTour. The office answers enquiries from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, so allow time for a reply if you are arranging a private tour.
About three hours, starting at 6pm.
Near Jiangsu Road metro station. The exact meeting point is emailed after booking.
More than 15 tastings across four or five seated stops.
Yes. Chinese beer, a taste of baijiu, soft drinks and water are included.
A maximum of ten guests with one guide.
Yes, but some dishes will be skipped. A private vegetarian tour can be arranged on request.
Public tour bookings cancelled 24 hours or more ahead are fully refundable.
By email at [email protected] or on WeChat (ID UnTour).
Thing to do
A self-guided walk from People's Square along East Nanjing Road's 1.2-kilometre pedestrian street to the Bund, finishing with the short ferry ride across to Lujiazui.
Hotel
The Art Deco former Cathay Hotel at the corner of the Bund and Nanjing Road, built by Sir Victor Sassoon in 1929 and home to the…
Restaurant
A Shanghainese restaurant trading since 1862 and holding a Michelin star, known for yellow croaker in wine lees sauce and stir-fried river shrimp.
Bar
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