The next stop on our 5 Healthy Days Tour is Shanghai, the most populous city in China. Travelers are drawn here due to its constant development. Modern and traditional culture and architecture collide in this city, creating a unique and interesting trip.
This city is known for its historical landmarks and its modern and expanding skyline. Not only does this city offer a unique blend of cultures, but it also referred to as a shopping paradise with a colorful nightlife.
So here is how to spend 5 days in Shanghai without compromising your diet and fitness regimen.
Day 1
Breakfast: Start your day at Jing’an Restaurant. Get the hot oatmeal porridge or two eggs for breakfast.
Workout: Keep fit using martial arts in Thai kickboxing workouts at Oz Body Fit gym.
Mind/body balance: Head to the Jade Buddha Temple, which is one of Shanghai’s few active Buddhist monasteries. This temple, which was built between 1918 and 1928, features a Buddha crafted from pure jade.
Lunch: Since you’re already going to the Jade Buddha Temple, nosh at the temple’s vegetarian restaurant.
Must-see attraction: Take a trip over to Old Street. You’ll be able to browse a litany of specialty tourist shops selling puppets, jade jewelry, fabrics, chopsticks and more.
Dinner: Wrap up your day with a fine, yet healthy, dining experience at Fu 1088. Try the crab with egg white dish, which is delicate and brought to the table in an actual eggshell.
Day 2
Breakfast: Get your most important meal of the day at MAYA – we recommend the fruit and yogurt parfait or the house-smoked salmon.
Workout: Kettlebell workouts are all the rage in Shanghai right now and with good reason – it’s an intense workout. Head to the China Kettlebell Club to give this workout a try.
Lunch: Refuel at Spicy Joint, which is known for its spicy Sichuanese fare. Try the boiled fish served with cabbage and chili.
Mind/body balance: The Lónghuá Temple & Pagoda is Shanghai’s oldest and largest monastery.
Must-see attraction: The Yùyuán Gardens and Bazaar is one of the most popular attractions in this city. The gardens feature glittering pools full of fish, pavilions and pines. You’ll find some interesting treasures in the adjacent bazaar.
Dinner: Just when you thought your day couldn’t get any better, you head to Jesse for dinner. We recommend the “congbao youtou,” which means fish with scallions, or the crabmeat and glass noodles dishes. If you want to try the fish dish, you need to give the restaurant 24 hours notice.
Day 3
Breakfast: Fuel up for your busy day of sightseeing with Element Fresh’s smoked salmon.
Workout: Try your hand at some tai chi during your time in Shanghai. Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. Reap the stress-relieving benefits of this practice in a class at Pure Tai Chi Club.
Lunch: Go to Nánxiáng Steamed Bun Restaurant for their famous crabmeat dumplings.
Mind/body balance: The Temple of the Town God dates back to the early 15th century. This temple was badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution and later restored.
Must-see attraction: Visit the Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse, which has had numerous famous guests, including Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth II. This is one of the most famous teahouses in China for that reason.
Dinner: Round out your day at Yi Long Court, a Cantonese restaurant in Shangai’s Peninsula Hotel. Go with the Cantonese-style roasted chicken dish or the sautéed scallops served with kale.
Day 4
Breakfast: Pull up a stool at Kommune to dive into a big bowl of fresh fruit and granola.
Workout: You won’t even realize you’re working out in the classes offered by Zumba Shanghai studio since they’re so much fun. Take one of their well-known Zumba classes or try a barre, combat or Latin dance class.
Lunch: Enjoy a traditional Chinese hot pot for lunch at Dolar Shop – this dish, which is big enough for two to share, features broth, beef meatballs, shrimp, mushrooms and other fixings.
Mind/body balance: De-stress and work on your mind and body wellness in a yoga class. Classes at Pure Yoga Studio will help you improve your overall wellbeing while calming your mind.
Must-see attraction: The Shanghai Museum features ancient Chinese art. It houses an impressive 120,000 collections of precious cultural relics.
Dinner: End your day at Boxing Cat Brewery. Try their Asian style chicken slaw salad or the trio of blackened fish tacos.
Day 5
Breakfast: Since this is your last day, grab something quick and healthy to fit a full day of activities in. Head to Umoo for a fruit and yogurt smoothie – you’ll love the mango and papaya or kiwi-peach smoothies with tangy yogurt made with New Zealand milk.
Workout: Get an intense sweat session in at Capoeira Mandinga Shanghai. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial arts class that combines, dance, gymnastics and fun Brazilian beats.
Lunch: Take a lunch break at Pin Chuan. Try the mapo tofu dish or a bento box that includes cucumbers, stir-fried vegetables, an egg, seasonal fruits and a spoonful of rice.
Mind/body balance: Unwind at Mandara Spa with the relaxation duo service, which includes of combination of stress release treatments that promise to melt away your tension.
Must-see attraction: The Shanghai Art Museum on People’s Square is in an incredible old building that was once the Shanghai Race Club. The museum’s impressive art gallery consists of 12 exhibition halls, sweeping wooden staircases and marble interiors.
Dinner: End your trip with dinner with a view – Kathleen’s 5 is located on the fifth floor of the Shanghai Art Museum, which gives you an incredible view of the city! Indulge in this Western fusion restaurant’s fish with coconut milk and coriander pesto (Y210) or grilled prawns in sea-urchin sauce.
