Shanghai in December: From Breweries to Above the Clouds

My trip to Shanghai in mid-December 2018 started with something familiar: craft beer. My friend and I met up at the Stone Brewing taproom, which felt a bit surreal to find so far from home. We sat down for a flight, sampling a few different IPAs and other brews in a space that wouldn't have been out of place back in California. It was a good, relaxed way to start the visit.

That night, we headed out to see the classic Shanghai view from the Bund. The skyline was exactly as impressive as you'd imagine. The Oriental Pearl Tower was lit up in bright pink and purple, with all the surrounding skyscrapers glowing against the dark sky. Everything reflected on the Huangpu River, where boats were constantly moving back and forth. The city felt electric.

Over the next few days, we kept coming back to that skyline, seeing it from different vantage points along the river and from high up inside one of the towers. Each view offered a different perspective on the sheer scale of the city.

The final view was the most memorable. From the top of one of the tallest skyscrapers, we were literally above the clouds. As the sun set, the sky turned pale orange and blue, and the tops of other buildings, including the distant spire of the Oriental Pearl Tower, poked through a thick blanket of fog. From that height, the massive city below was completely silent. It was a perfect, quiet end to the trip.