That's Shanghai

06/08/2025

🇪🇸 A Weekend Escape to Andalusia… in Pudong 🌊🍷

Skip the flight to Spain and head to Albero at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai for a weekend brunch that feels like a Mediterranean holiday.

Here’s what awaits:
Two Plump Oysters – like they just waved goodbye to the sea 🦪
Halibut in Tomato-Rich Fish Stew – delicate, flaky perfection 🐟
Tender Lamb Chops – with cumin beans, lamb jus, and bright salsa verde
Chicken & Chorizo Paella – a full pan of smoky, seafood-studded goodness 🥘
King Prawn Pasta – sweet, saucy, and satisfying 🍤
Hot Pizzas on Parade – fresh from the oven, slice after slice 🍕
Decadent Desserts – blueberry tart, mini lemon meringues, and Black Forest nostalgia 🍒

All this, plus a relaxed Mediterranean vibe, for RMB268 per person.

📅 Sat & Sun, 12–3pm
📍 Albero, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai, Lujiazui

Bountiful, balanced, and blissfully slow. Brunch goals: unlocked.

A sun-drenched escape to the Med

04/08/2025

Shanghai Rolls Out Driverless Robotaxis

Shanghai has officially launched its first fleet of fully autonomous taxis, marking a major step toward a driverless future.

Eight companies—including Pony.ai, Baidu’s Apollo Go, SAIC Motor, and Qiangsheng Taxi—have received pilot licenses to operate cars with no safety driver in the front seat.

Pony.ai has already hit the streets, teaming up with Jinjiang Taxi to operate in Pudong’s Jinqiao and Huamu areas.

Here’s what to know:
Service runs Mon–Fri, 7.30am–9.30pm
Base fare: RMB14 for the first 3 km—same as a regular taxi
Hail rides via Pony.ai app, WeChat, or Alipay mini-programs
Passengers sit in the back only, with a partition for safety

City officials plan to expand driverless zones citywide, starting with full coverage in Pudong before moving into districts like Fengxian and Minhang.

Would you take a ride in a car with no driver?
https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/post/39400/shanghai-launches-1st-fleet-of-driverless-taxis

The future is here, now!

29/07/2025

⛩️ Shaolin Scandal Breaks Wide Open ⛩️

The legendary Shaolin Temple is making headlines—for all the wrong reasons.

Shi Yongxin, the temple’s controversial abbot once known as the ‘CEO Monk’, is officially under investigation for embezzlement and serious misconduct, including illicit affairs and fathering illegitimate children.

🔹 Buddhist Association has revoked his monastic certificate

🔹 Temple confirms multiple government departments are involved

🔹 Shi has made no public comment

From martial arts schools to global branding, Shi built an empire—now it’s all under scrutiny.

Full story in bio!

23/07/2025

Didi Drivers, Daily Poems & Digital Art – Meet Dom Armstrong, China’s Funniest Poet-in-Transit

What started as a hilariously relatable poem about Didi drivers has turned into a viral sensation—shared across WeChat and beyond.

We tracked down the man behind the words: Dom Armstrong, a British teacher-turned-poet based in Ningbo. From crafting verse about angry taxi horns to writing 100 poems in 100 days, Dom's take on daily life in China is sharp, heartfelt, and delightfully absurd.

🚗 From malfunctioning printers to dying houseplants as jilted lovers
🧠 From surrealist roots to digital art and voiceover poetry
🖋️ A proud member of Inkwell, Asia’s largest creative writing collective
📚 Plans in the works for a full poetry collection on China’s quirks

What drives him to write daily? “Sometimes it’s poetic Sudoku. Sometimes it’s just a malfunctioning AC repair guy.”

Read the full interview and ride along on a journey of humor, heart, and literary chaos.

👇 Who else has experienced Didi Driver Stockholm Syndrome? Sound off in the comments.
https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/post/39299/we-caught-up-with-didi-driver-stockholm-syndrome-poe Explore China

The comic verse of Dom Armstrong

22/07/2025

A forgotten kingdom rises again—China’s Xixia Imperial Tombs in Ningxia have officially joined the UNESCO World Heritage list, becoming the nation’s 60th site to receive the honor.

Spanning 40 square kilometers at the foot of the Helan Mountains, this necropolis reveals a lost Tangut civilization that ruled parts of northwest China for nearly 200 years.

🏛️ What makes it special?

• Nine imperial tombs and 271 satellite tombs filled with cultural hybridity—Han, Tibetan, and nomadic influences all in one.
• Fusion architecture blending Tang-Song symmetry with earth pagodas and stele pavilions.
• Rich Silk Road finds: coins, Central Asian beads, Song-era silk, and more.
• Standout relics: Glazed roof guardians, a 188kg gilt bronze bull, and a rare bilingual warrior carving.
Want to see it up close? A special exhibition is now showing in Shanghai (through September 14), with over 120 artifacts and immersive VR tomb experiences.

👉 The story of Xixia is a story of cultural fusion—long before globalization.

📲 Follow That’s for more on China’s newest World Heritage site.

21/07/2025

Bar S-OTTO – The Underground Cocktail Playground You Need to Know About

Tucked beneath Atelier No. 3 on Fumin Lu, Bar S-OTTO is shaking up Shanghai’s cocktail scene—literally and metaphorically.

Founded by Italian mixology maverick Filippo Sanchi, whose resume spans world-class bars in Melbourne, Bangkok, and Singapore, this sleek basement speakeasy is already pulling a loyal crowd with zero advertising.

🌀 The name? A play on ‘otto’ (eight in Italian and lucky in China) and ‘sotto’ (underground).
🍸 The vibe? Minimalist, magnetic, and made for conversation.
🍹 The menu? Eight signature cocktails + eight classics—clean, sharp, and cultural.
🏆 Top seller: Cocktail No. 2 – gin, lychee water, jasmine tea.
🔥 Signature style: Forget trends. Think balance, heart, and magic.

Bar S-OTTO isn’t just a bar—it’s a philosophy. A story beneath the stairs where hospitality reigns, and every drink feels personal.

📍 Find it at: Atelier No. 3, 291 Fumin Lu, by Changle Lu
🕖 Hours: Tue–Sun, 7pm–1am

Read the full story to discover why this might be Shanghai’s most compelling new drinking den.
https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/post/39329/underground-italian-of-stylish-new-speakeasy-bar-s-otto

18/07/2025

🎤 Kanye in Shanghai. Ye or Nay?

70,000 fans. 🎟️ RMB2,680 tickets. ⏱️ 40 mins late. 💦 Rain pouring. 😶 No apology. 😷 Mask on.

And yes—fans say he lip-synced. “Worst concert ever,” one posted. 😤

Would you still go to a Kanye show in the future? 👀

Link in bio for the full story.

17/07/2025

🔥 Frogs, Fire & Wild Flavors – Papuwa Chengdu Pops Up in Shanghai!

Until July 19, the backroom at SIHE is the spot for cocktail lovers.

Chengdu’s boldest bar, Papuwa, brings 16 mind-blowing drinks to Jing’an—served with jungle beats, flaming mugs, and sugar-painting surprises.

🥃 Must-tries:

✨ The Silk Road – smoked plum, Turkish coffee, Iranian lime, served flaming

🌶 Shy Pepper – Bloody Mary twist with fermented chili & salted egg

🎭 Tsing Yi – floral & citrusy, inspired by Chinese opera

🍭 Sugar Painting – candy-infused Jameson with hand-spun edible art

⚡ Angelica Fizz – baijiu + cream candy topped with pink herbal foam

🌿 Grass Trees Stones & Sea – Seedlip, cocoa & sage with a light show

🍄 Porcini Surprise – plus aloe, jackfruit & more daring experiments

Each sip is a sensory trip—don’t miss this Chengdu-style cocktail playground before it hops away!

Link to review in bio.

📍 SIHE, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, until July 19, 7pm–close

15/07/2025

🚄 Shanghai to Beijing in Just 2.5 Hours?

China’s newest maglev marvel is turning science fiction into your next commute.

Unveiled at Modern Railways 2025 in Beijing, the new superconducting maglev train can reach 600 km/h, slashing travel time between Shanghai and Beijing to as little as 2.5 hours.

Sleek, silent, and sustainable, this next-gen train glides on magnetic levitation—no wheels at top speed—and blends AI, 5G, and carbon fiber design for maximum comfort and efficiency.

Think faster than a plane, smoother than a bullet train, and greener than both.

The future of travel? It might already be on track.

Link in bio for the full article.

10/07/2025

🍿 July in China = Big Screen Legends Are Back!

🦖 Jurassic World: Rebirth – Dino DNA may hold the cure to humanity

🦸 Superman – A reboot with heart, soul, and sky-high action

🌟 Le Petit Prince – 10 years later, it’s still a dream on screen

🔵 The Smurfs Movie – Rihanna + magic mushrooms = ✨

🏴‍☠ Captain Sabertooth – Nordic pirates, cursed treasure, & epic laughs

🧬 Fantastic Four: First Steps – The MCU gets a retro reboot

🎩 The Gold Rush – Charlie Chaplin’s 1925 classic returns in stunning 4K

🎟 Movie plans this July? Don’t miss our cinema booking tips, check out the link in the bio

02/07/2025

☀ Shanghai’s sizzling! So where to splash, swim, and stay cool?

💦 Whether you’re after:

🏝 A beach-style pool

🎉 A DJ rooftop party

👶 A kid-friendly slide fest

🧘 Or just a calm swim & tan moment...

Our Ultimate 2025 Shanghai Pool Guide is the list to keep on hand.

We’ve rounded up the coolest dips around town—with estimated opening dates, phone contacts, and all the vibes.

📲 Full guide in bio

01/07/2025

🎤 From Jilin Farm Girl to Shanghai Comedy Queen 👑

Meet Li Ying, founder of Herlarious, China’s first female-forward comedy club.

Raised on a farm in Jilin. Discovered stand-up in Kuala Lumpur. Moved to Shanghai.

Mic in one hand, baby in the other—Li’s rewriting what comedy in China looks like.

💥 Calling out sexism with punchlines

💥 Running Herlarious shows while parenting

💥 Touring with a baby who’s already hit Shanghai, Ningbo & Shenzhen

Catch the city’s most unfiltered and fierce female voices every Saturday night at 9pm at Soda Comedy Club.

💫 Laugh loud. Laugh real. Laugh Herlariously.

Link in bio for our interview with her!

📍 7/F, Block A, 830 Nanjing D**g Lu, Huangpu District, Shanghai 上海南京东路830号A馆7楼, 近西藏中路