2,500 international tourists cruise into Shanghai for neighborhood charm and food

The Mein Schiff 5 cruise ship, with 2,500 international tourists onboard, docked at the Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Shanghai for a 2-day visit. The tourists hopped onto waiting buses, ready for 16 varied tours with the city’s mix of historical charm and modern vibe, including the iconic landscape of Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple as well as local neighborhoods and markets. Walking along the Bund was a major highlight. The tour included a food adventure at the Yu Garden, where visitors enjoyed local favorites like pan-fried buns and soup dumplings. At the Shanggang Trade Market, tourists were intrigued by the fresh produce and seafood, with much lower and negotiable prices, which surprised Moritz from Austria. The tour ended with a visit to a tea shop where many tourists bought Chinese tea as souvenirs. The shop owner, Mr. Lin, was happy about the increase in foreign visitors and had even learned some English to communicate with overseas customers. As the cruise industry bounces back and with the new 15-day visa exemption for cruise passengers, Shanghai is seeing a surge in international visitors. From January to March this year, Shanghai welcomed 10 cruise ships, bringing in a total of 22,379 passengers.