TKHUNT picks what to see and where to eat on a budget in Shanghai. Shanghai breakfasts, day trips and the best of the art scene on 20RMB a day.

Breakfast: 4RMB

Congyoubing

Chomp on a Congyoubing(葱油饼) – a scallion pancake that many locals have for breakfast. It’s tasty, oily, satisfying, and of course, cheap. Most places sell it for between 2-3RMB, but if you’re looking for something a little more ‘special’, head on over to one of Shanghai’s most famous scallion pancake vendors – A Da.

Located in a narrow alleyway on Maoming Lu, the hole-in-the-wall stall sells its pancakes for 4RMB a piece. The queue can get ridiculously long as early as 9am, and that’s because the balding maestro – who wakes up at 5am every morning to prepare – takes pride in ensuring each pancake is grilled to a perfect crisp. Go early because the closing times depend on the ferocity of the sales. They’re usually sold out by 1pm.

Add: Lane 159, back door of No. 2 Maoming Road

Take in some art: Free

the Rockbund Art Museum

Some of Shanghai’s biggest and best art museums offer free entry every month, though you’ll have to pick your day. Both the Pudong and West Bund Long Museums open their doors for free on the first Tuesday of the month, allowing you to see their vast collections of historical and contemporary Chinese art without having to stump up the normal 50RMB entrance fee.

Similarly, the Rockbund Art Museum also holds regular open days where the price of admission is waived. Keep an eye on their website for more details.

Lunch: 12RMB

Yang's Fry Dumplings

You can’t go wrong with the classic Shanghai chain Yang’s Fry Dumplings(小杨生煎). Branches across town serve some of the city’s best shengjian (fried pork and soup dumplings) from just 8RMB.

Add: 60 Wujiang Road, Jing’an District

Wander Qibao Old Street(七宝老街): Free

Qibao Old Street

Qibao Old Street makes for a great place to spend some time taking photos just before dinner. A water town that is a 30 to 40-minute (and 3-4RMB) metro ride from the centre of the city, you’ll find charming old buildings, attractions and performances you can view. Entry is free, but be warned that it gets really crowded on weekends.

Add: Fuqiang Road, Minhang District

Dinner: 10RMB

tangyuan

Despite the paltry budget you have left for dinner, it’s nonetheless possible to stuff your face silly. All along Qibao Old Street, bowls of small glutinous rice balls, or tangyuan(汤圆), filled with pork or sesame cost only 10RMB – the latter will make for a nice dessert. Rice cakes cost just as little, and rice steamed in a bamboo tube(竹筒饭) usually sells for around 7RMB. Or of course you can try the ubiquitous stinky tofu(臭豆腐) (6RMB).

stinky tofu

Add: 29 Fuqiang Road, Minhang District

Comments are closed.