China calling: Walk the wall and hug the pandas

You take one last look through your hand luggage: phone, money, passport? Check! You've been looking forward to this day for so long, and now you're finally standing at the airport, ready to board the plane to your dream destination: China. Once you're in your seat, you turn up your music, lean back and can hardly sit still with excitement.

The next time you open your eyes, the little screen in front of you shows you that you're already right above Shanghai! You sneak a peek out the window and sure enough, a seemingly endless carpet of buildings spreads out below you.

Now that's a big city! It's up to you whether you head out and start exploring straight away or rest up and wait till tomorrow. But whichever you choose, before you dive into the bustling streets, get into the groove by taking a stroll along the Bund, the famous waterfront promenade. This spot by the Huangpu River not only offers bobbing boats and a mighty skyline, it also showcases buildings from different eras. The Custom House, with its bell tower, is a particular highlight. Just like the other buildings, it lights up in the most beautiful colours every night at 10 pm. So if you've been waiting for the perfect selfie spot, here it is!

Your alarm clock wakes you up with an annoying trill. You've overslept and feel completely disoriented... for about two seconds. Then – BAM – you remember you're in Shanghai! There's no time to lose, so you get up and head straight into adventure. Just one step outside and you're greeted by foreign languages, new smells, mad architecture and people everywhere. This is exactly what you were looking for – different, bigger, wilder! People's Square is the perfect place to start, right in the heart of the city, where skyscrapers stretch as far as the eye can see. Everything looks so futuristic! And just around the corner, Shanghai Museum awaits (entrance fee payable on site). Wander through the halls of this absolute must-see and check out ancient treasures, old script and stylish vases. It's like scrolling through TikToks from the past, only more real and far more meaningful!

Today, you roll out of bed and straight into city life! Your adventure starts at Yu Garden (spoiler: a real Zen moment), and should you arrive at 8 am, you'll have this natural highlight almost all to yourself. Between the pagodas, water lily ponds and fairytale bridges, the photo ops here are non-stop; literally every corner is Insta-ready. No wonder everyone wants to come here! And sure enough, you'll never want to leave. But hey, the day isn't over yet. Next stop: Shanghai Tower! If you think this twisty giant is a visual statement, just wait till you see the view from the top. Once you reach the 121st floor (it's high and costs a bit, but it's so worth it!), you'll be standing on one of the highest viewpoints in the world. And the sight of the city spreading out below like its own universe is absolutely mind-boggling. It’s hard not to fall more in love with this urban madness with every glance and every passing second!