[TRAVEL] 5 Things To Do at Cheng Huang Miao Market, Shanghai

If you're following me on my Instagram, you should've known that I went to China last year from end of October to early November 2016 for a good week. Since it was a gift from my office, I've been arranged to follow a tour from a travel company, named Golden Rama (check out their company profile and their amazing tour packages here). I'll try my best to write about the pros and cons of traveling with or without travel company.


 At the first day of my visit to China, we went to Shanghai first. We're greeted by the chill air when we touchdown to Pudong International Airport. Since this is my first time abroad (and obviously this is my first time went to 4-season-country), I can really feel the cold creep up inside the thick jacket I borrow from a friend. It was 14 Celsius degree which is not bad because I used to live with 16 Celsius degree air conditioner at my room (haha!).

Country bumpkin I am (read: dasar katrok), I looked at the airport with awe, and smell the different air from the country I'm raise. I'm so grateful. Camera (full battery) checked, smartphone (full battery) checked, makeup on fleek checked, monopod checked, CNY (China Yuan) withdrawn checked, and I'm ready to explore Shanghai.



We went to Cheng Huang Miao Market first. They say, you're not coming to Shanghai if you didn't get to visit this market. Cheng Huang Miao or The City God Temple or Temple of the City Gods originally used as a temple dedicated to one or more immortal or god as the spirit(s) or protector(s) of the city. But during the cultural revolution the temple was closed down and used for other purposes, and for many years, the main hall was used as a jewellery shop. Today, they sell pretty much everything, from jewellery to snacks, gadgets, decorations, antiques, and many more. Here's 5 things to do at Cheng Huang Miao Market, Shanghai :





1. TASTE THE FAMOUS XIAO LONG BAO

This should be the highlight. Xiao long bao is a must try when you visit Shanghai, since it's one of their best delicacy. But too bad when I visit there, the queue was like 2 hours long and we have only 1 hour or so to take a walk around Cheng Huang Miao. So I had to skip and pray I can make another visit next time to try their Xiao Long Bao. But with that long queue, I can surely say that it must be good and worth to try.

The queue to buy Xiao Long Bao

2. BUY CHEAP DRONE

Drone is happening right now. Whether it's include camera in the package or not, the drone era has come to the youngsters. Anyway, you can buy drone without camera with a very low deals; 80 Yuan. The price range is between 80 - 300 Yuan. The amazing thing is, even it was slammed or stepped on, it still works perfectly. Hands up for China's product quality (LOL). I didn't buy it because I don't really like play drone but if you do, get the drone here since they can give you nice price.







3. VARIETY SNACKS GIFT

I bought roasted chestnut as a gift for my boss because he love chestnut. But I'm not surprised we found lot of stores sells snacks with cheap price (at some stores you might bargain too). Everyone loves snacks right?

Non Halal

4. SNAP PHOTO WITH THE TAOIST TEMPLE BUILDING STYLE

The best souvenir as a proof that you went to Shanghai, is of course to bring picture of the temple-like building back home with you in it. The Cheng Huang Miao Market offer you the amazing real background photo of the Taoist Temple Building Style (even though it is operated at some stores or restaurants). Welcome to Shanghai!!







 



 



5. SOUVENIRS SHOP  
  
As a tourist, we usually wonders where we could get some souvenirs as a gift or as a keeper for our own collection. Count me in; I now has a new hobby which is collecting fridge magnet for each country I've been. But of course I have to consider about the price when buying some souvenirs because if I chose wrong place to shop, then I'll be regret for my entire trips because it could be over (I mean really over) price. But turns out in Cheng Huang Miao Market, we can find souvenirs that I find later in my trip to China, is at the same price (cheap). So thanks to my brain that whisper me to buy the Shanghai antique watches for my friends at Cheng Huang Miao Market.







So, that's it for my suggestion for you to check out those stores at Cheng Huang Miao Market, Shanghai. I'm beyond blessed to be given a chance to go to my motherland, and I wish I could visit again soon together with my mom and dad.

I hope this post could help, and I would love to hear your experiences when traveling to China, since China offers a lot of beautiful landscape.. 

Decided to upload a photo of a friend instead, since the photo she took of me was blurry >.<