Shanghai travel tips for Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill’s move to Shanghai Shenhua arguably caused the biggest buzz in Australia on transfer deadline day. But what can the Australia talisman expect when he arrives in one of China’s most popular cities?

Australia ace Tim Cahill is moving to Shanghai soon.

A quick scan of Lonely Planet’s guide to the east coast metropolis reveals that few other global cities “capture so much history, indulgence, glamour, mystique and exotic promise in just a name”.

Even back in the 1930s, the silver screen had cottoned on, releasing movies such as Shanghai Express, starring Marlene Dietrich. Of course Madonna and Sean Penn got on board with Shanghai Surprise in the 1980s, and Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson even got a sequel out of Shanghai Noon with Shanghai Knights.

So what will Cahill get out of the city that is home to almost 15 million people? After all, he’ll have a lot of time on his hands with western social media banned everywhere but the city’s Free Trade Zone.

Here are a few ideas for the Socceroos great.

Karaoke

The Chinese love karaoke, or KTV as it’s sometimes known. If you’re invited to a KTV party, it’s a sign of respect and a host’s desire to treat you to something special. So, should Tim be invited to a KTV night, he’d be wise to attend.

Tai Chi on The Bund

Shanghai’s popular waterfront, The Bund, is a hive of many activities, particularly the ancient martial art of tai chi. It’s a great way to wind down from the excitement of a match in China’s Super League, and should suit Tim perfectly, given his noted athletic ability.

Acrobatic shows

Shanghai’s famous acrobatic shows are legendary, and give any Cirque variant a serious run for its money.

The tension of Chinese chess

Like everywhere else in China, Xiangqi, or Chinese chess, is wildly popular in Shanghai. The tension some games creates will get Tim’s adrenalin pumping like nothing else.

Food mecca

Shanghai soup dumplings have been known to cause endless queues in Sydney and other parts of the country. They’re delicious, and everybody knows it. Tim will be in the heartland of the dumpling, and can just get them any time he likes on the streets. Yum.

Amazing views and selfies

The Bund, mentioned earlier, is a fantastic place for photos. The view is great, and what better place to snap a selfie with your mates when they come to visit.

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