Plan your visit
SHANGHAI, THROUGH ITS PEOPLE
An architect who paints. An educator who loves a good question. A creative who knows where to look next.
Meet the people who make Shanghai personal. Different lives, shared curiosity—and a genuine desire to welcome you in.
BEYOND ARRIVAL · YOUR FIRST LOCAL CONNECTION
THE PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Our community brings together people from art, education, business and everyday Shanghai. Some grew up here. Others found their way here. What connects them is a willingness to share the city as they know it—and discover what matters to you.
A FEW FACES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Meet a selection from our wider Host community.
Share your interests and travel plans—we’ll introduce three personally matched Hosts, including people not featured here.
12 featured Hosts
Meet Fan ↗Architecture & history
An architect with nearly twenty years of experience in Shanghai, Fan brings together buildings, painting and the stories that make a place feel alive.
Mandarin (native) · English (professional)
Meet Ari ↗Food & local life
With event-delivery experience and a background spanning Toronto, Macau and Paris, Ari brings an international outlook and lively conversation to Shanghai.
Mandarin · Cantonese · English
Meet July ↗Art & design
Twenty years at a Sino-French fashion college have shaped July’s feel for creativity, cultural exchange and the details others pass by.
Mandarin · English · French (basic)
Meet Scarlett ↗Food & local life
With overseas study and hospitality experience in New Zealand, Scarlett brings a thoughtful welcome and a love of food culture to exploring Shanghai.
Mandarin · English (fluent)
Meet Lily ↗Architecture & history
Lily brings an international outlook and a thoughtful eye for photography, architecture and the small details that make Shanghai distinctive.
Mandarin · English
Meet Daisy ↗Academic connections
A university teacher with a background in international education, Daisy brings curiosity, patience and a feel for cross-cultural conversation.
Mandarin · Shanghainese · English
Meet Sierra ↗Food & local life
A thoughtful listener with a love of local food and green spaces, Sierra shares the everyday pleasures of Shanghai, especially in autumn.
Mandarin · English
Meet Xin ↗Architecture & history
A freelance translator who loves photography and sketching, Xin notices both the skyline and the quieter details beneath it.
Mandarin · English (C1) · Spanish (A2)
Meet Skylar ↗Family time
Raised in Shanghai and shaped by more than four years studying in Ireland, Skylar loves finding something unexpected in a familiar city.
Mandarin · Shanghainese · English
Meet Naomi ↗Art & design
With gallery experience and a master’s degree from the University of Liverpool, Naomi connects contemporary art with the everyday character of Shanghai.
Mandarin · English
Meet Erin ↗Academic connections
Erin brings experience teaching Chinese in Istanbul and supporting international university programmes in Shanghai.
Mandarin · English
Meet Ralph ↗Architecture & history
With over twenty years in hospitality, Ralph brings patience, warmth and attentive service to discovering Shanghai’s history, local food and modern sights.
Mandarin · English
These are some of the people you could meet. Tell us your interests, language preferences and pace; we’ll look across our wider community for the right fit.
Help me find my Host ↗A CONNECTION, NOT JUST AN INTRODUCTION
Architecture, a favourite dish, a creative practice or a question about life here. A small point of connection can open up a much bigger conversation.
Different Hosts notice different things. Their work, travels and everyday routines bring texture to the places you explore together.
Time to linger, ask another question or change direction. Tell us the pace and kind of company that would make you feel most at ease.
THOUGHTFULLY MATCHED
For our Signature City Experiences, we introduce three personally matched Hosts for you to choose from, based on your interests, preferences and availability.
Have someone in mind? Let us know. A profile is an introduction; your Host and arrangements are confirmed personally.
Find my Host ↗Your dates, interests, language preferences and who you’re travelling with.
We consider the person as well as the plan, then share your matched Host introductions.
Choose your Host and shape the experience with our team.
THERE’S A WHOLE CITY TO SHARE
Live here and love sharing it? Join our Host community →
