China Shanghai

Shanghai, from the beginning

I’m back in Shanghai, a place I called home until I left it behind dreaming of mountains and small town life. I’m surprised at how comfortable I feel here amongst skyscrapers piercing the sky and crisscrossing overpasses hovering over my head. It’s been wonderful to see my Shanghai friends, and (re)discover new and old favorite nooks around the city.


I love my soft, furry earmuffs!

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Extra juicy xiaolongbao with some dark vinegar dipping sauce at Ling Long Fang


An adorable boutique run by the lady behind a Shanghai-based street style blog


At Cha’s, one of our favorite Hong Kong style diners. The meal begins…


I love group meals.

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So many 2012 calendars!


A huge meal at Kagen, a teppanyaki restaurant


Lightly-seared foie gras topped with caviar on buttered toast

Kota’s Kitchen is one of my favorite yakitori bars in town. Their chicken meatball has quail eggs hidden inside. Yum!


After the humongous potato croquette arrived, we proceeded to eat three different types of pork belly dishes.


Top it all off with a bowl of Yokohama ramen!

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” – T. S. Eliot, the Four Quartets.

P.S. The randomly-chosen giveaway winner has been announced!

Thank you so much for participating, and keep your eyes out for the next one. I definitely plan on hosting one again in January.

22 Comments

  • Reply
    Melissa
    December 20, 2011 at 2:38 am

    This makes me really anxious to explore Los Angeles, my hometown, to find new nooks to love. Great post 🙂

  • Reply
    Jane
    December 20, 2011 at 3:02 am

    These pictures are beautiful. Sounds like you had a great time (especially with all that food!).
    It’s been ages since I’ve been to Shanghai, I miss it!

  • Reply
    Eileen
    December 20, 2011 at 3:14 am

    Oh my, the dog is PRICELESS! Thank you so much for sharing your adventures. I hope you continue to have a wonderful holiday cheer and a happy new year. 🙂

  • Reply
    Krys
    December 20, 2011 at 4:13 am

    Looks like an amazing time, so scenic and lots of good food– and rediscovering past haunts sounds like it would be quite interesting. Shanghai is definitely on my list of places that I want to visit! Happy holidays!

  • Reply
    Jacy
    December 20, 2011 at 4:14 am

    cool!! i wanted to go there >.< the food are awesome !

  • Reply
    ねこちゃん
    December 20, 2011 at 4:56 am

    What fantastic pictures!!! Everything looks amazing =) I’m really excited to see more of your stay there.. The food looks too good 🙂

  • Reply
    wl
    December 20, 2011 at 6:26 am

    now you’ve made me miss shanghai even more.

  • Reply
    tasha
    December 20, 2011 at 6:56 am

    these photos are amazing, Sewon! 🙂 i have missed seeing your photos very much. glad you’re safely back home. and all the food looks so delicious! the best dinners are with friends indeed hehe. also, the little dog sleeping in the chair is tremendously adorable, such a great shot! xx

  • Reply
    Kelly
    December 20, 2011 at 7:23 am

    Your photo’s of Shanghai are amazing I especially love the look of that giant potato croquette yummy!! Have a lovely Christmas lovely lady.

  • Reply
    Celsy
    December 20, 2011 at 8:21 am

    SEWON! I’ve missed reading your blog so much just because the last 2 weeks has been so busy for me 🙂 Shanghai looks awesome, a couple of my friends are going there soon as well just for holidays. Ahhh look at that food, yummm. It’s really nice spending christmas when it’s cold, whereas here santa wears short sleeves haha.

  • Reply
    Marlous
    December 20, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Beautiful pictures. I´d love to go to Shanghai!
    And congratulations Lisa!

  • Reply
    emilie
    December 20, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    what a city view…
    the food looks absolutely amazing and delicious !

  • Reply
    Studio Meez
    December 20, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Good food and great friends, What more do you need! All your pictures are looking great!
    Lisa is a lucky girl!

  • Reply
    Koey
    December 20, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Your Shanghai journey looks great and Shanghai is really a great city.
    Sewon, you are making me hungry again!

  • Reply
    Winnie
    December 20, 2011 at 11:41 pm

    Oh I really do love your photos. You have such an eye for them. ADORE this foodie post too- those Shanghai dumplings look delicious. I can almost taste the soup inside of them!

  • Reply
    Julian
    December 21, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    I’ve always loved China, and your fantastic photos are making my desire to return even stronger.

  • Reply
    alma
    December 22, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    Lucky Lisa! You made me want to travel there NOW!

  • Reply
    qin
    December 23, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    i need to explore SOON

  • Reply
    Omar
    December 24, 2011 at 3:04 am

    that eliot quote is one of my favorites.

  • Reply
    jacob
    December 24, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    in re. shanghai being a small town, I known Cairn, the woman who runs Kaileeni, and was on her style blog in 2008 when it started… albeit in stupid clothes.

  • Reply
    Dusanabotswana
    December 25, 2011 at 8:55 am

    So fun to see snippets of Shanghai, I really have no idea what it’s like. That little dog is adorable. Hope you’re having a wonderful holidays : )

  • Reply
    Veronica Fish
    December 26, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    Amazing Photos!! My aunt in from Hong Kong, I hope she shows me around China some day, haha

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