The sights and sounds of my trip to China are forever embedded into my memory. It’s been months since I stepped off the plane in Beijing, rushing through the airport to catch my connecting flight into Shanghai, and yet it seems like a part of that experience still lingers. We began our two-week journey in one of the most modern cities in the world, but not without exploring its heritage. Old Shanghai houses beautiful ponds and gardens, architecture of an often forgotten time, and a regard for tradition unsurpassed from the oldest tea house in China to some of the most highly coveted street food in the city.

History aside, it’s in Old Shanghai where I first learned to bargain in Chinese…and quite a learning experience that was! My practice run there though was a great and useful learning tool for the rest of the trip. Just be wary of pick-pockets and never follow someone who claims they can take you to a store that has great deals. Common sense advice for any traveler, I know, but it’s always worth repeating.