We start where Shanghai began — the narrow streets of the old walled city, far from the rebuilt tourist bazaar. Your first tasting is breakfast the local way: flaky scallion pancakes and warm soy milk from a stall that's been here longer than I've been alive.

1、We stop at a Local wet market. Live fish, mystery vegetables, hundred-year eggs. I'll explain what everything is, you can taste seasonal fruit, and we'll play a round of “guess that vegetable” . 2、Watch the buns fried in giant cast-iron pans behind the counter, then learn the official three-step technique for eating them without exploding soup on your shirt. This is the dish Shanghainese people line up for at 7 am.

1、One stop on the world's longest metro system. I'll show you how to buy tickets and read the map, so you can navigate it confidently for the rest of your stay. 2、Stone-gate shikumen houses, plane-tree streets and daily lane life. I grew up in a house like these — I'll show you how old and new Shanghai manage to coexist on the same block.

We end sitting down with a proper bowl of scallion oil noodles and wontons at my favorite family-run shop, time for all your China questions, and my personal recommendation list for the rest of your trip.