Explore & Live a Shanghai Neighborhood with a Local Redisent

About Shanghai's Neighborhood

Shanghai is often seen as a polished, modern, and elite China city. But behind that shining skyline lies another side of Shanghai: ordinary people living ordinary lives.

What’s life really like here? How do locals find balance in a city that never seems to stop?

In this experience, you’ll be matched with a local resident — they might be an university student, a tech employee balancing work and life in the city’s rhythm, or a retired grandma who once taught English and now knows every neighbor by name.

You’ll be invited to spend a couple of hours inside their everyday world — their living community, their favorite market, their workplace neighborhood. Together, you might grab lunch at a local canteen, wander through a wet market as they buy vegetables, or stop by the small shop they love most.

There’s no performance, no curated story — just real Shanghai, seen through the people who call it home.

The Routes

We usually suggest starting the experience around 7:30 PM — that’s when most locals finish work and are ready to unwind. But this is not a fixed schedule. Before the meetup, you’ll exchange contact info with your local friend, and you’re welcome to discuss a different time or even a daytime hangout, depending on both of your schedules.

Where you go and what you do will vary depending on your host's idea. A university student might take you around their campus, chatting over milk tea. A tech employee may showing you their “996” rhythm. A local grandma might introducing you to her friends for square dance.

This isn’t a tour with a fixed route — it’s a casual, spontaneous experience, shaped by local rhythm and personality.

During your time together, you might naturally want to buy a drink, a snack, or share a simple meal. These purchases aren’t included in the experience fee and are usually small. It’s generally understood that travelers cover these shared costs, and if you feel your local friend brought joy to your night, feel free to tip them as a thank-you.