Solo In Shanghai | Is China Safe for Solo Female Travelers? 中文字幕🇨🇳

Life in China Episode 20
Recently I have had some free time between jobs which has meant I have had more time to explore the beautiful city of Shanghai by myself. In this episode I share some of the things I like to do if I have some solo time. Shanghai is the safest city I have ever visited and I have never felt afraid of being alone or being a solo female walking around at night. That being said, the biggest obstacle I face while travelling the city alone is the language barrier. By taking myself to cafes and restaurants, especially those outside the city centre, I am able to push myself out of my comfort zone and practice my Chinese. Although I love my friends and Miu, sometimes some time to myself is much needed.
As always, comment, like, and subscribe to show your support!
Thank you for watching! ❤️
🇨🇳
最近我在工作之间有一些空闲时间，这意味着我有更多的时间独自探索美丽的上海这座城市。在这一集中，我会分享一些我喜欢做的事情，如果我有一些单独的时间。上海是我去过的最安全的城市，我从不害怕独自一人或独自一人在晚上走来走去。话虽如此，我一个人在城市旅行时面临的最大障碍是语言障碍。通过把自己带到咖啡馆和餐馆，尤其是那些在市中心以外的地方，我能够让自己走出舒适区，练习我的中文。虽然我爱我的朋友和 Miu，但有时我很需要一些独处的时间。
最后！别忘了一键三连喔！！！
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Music Used In This Video:
Tomh - No More
is under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) license
Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: bit.ly/b-no-more
Prod. by Lukrembo
Link : • (no copyright music) c...
My Valentine- Acoustic Folk
Music composed and recorded by Oak Studios.
Link: • [No Copyright Music] M... | Creative Commons - Attribution ND 4.0
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❤️ ABOUT ME ❤️
Hi, I'm Natt! I'm a travel and food enthusiast currently living in Shanghai, China with my boyfriend, Miu. Subscribe and follow along for more mishaps and adventures in The Middle Kingdom!
❤️ WHERE YOU CAN FIND ME ❤️
Instagram: / expatnatt
Business Instagram: / nattpaints
Support me on Etsy: www.etsy.com/u...
#solofemaletraveler #solotravel #travelsolo #travelvlog #expatinchina #lifeinchina #shanghai #teachingabroad #teachinginchina #china #lifeinshanghai #interracialrelationship #backpacker #travel #shanghailockdown #covid #shanghai

[@RO_ran76]

That was a pretty chill relaxing way to spend the weekend 👍

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you! There are so many parks around Shanghai that are fun to explore alone! :)

[@rastef1440]

Creeping slowly towards the 1000 subs milestone! I hope your channel reaches this mark and grows exponentially thereafter!

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you so much! I can't believe we have made it this far! ❤

[@debralynn0121]

Absolutely love viewing your adventures in China...may you continue to be happy and healthy, my dear...miss you...💗

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you! 💕

[@AmelieZh]

When I'm in Shanghai, I always intentionally get lost there. So much fun.

[@mrchow489]

China is the safest place on earth. No need to worry about safety

[@ExpatNatt]

Honestly I’ve never felt safer in a city than I do in Shanghai. Road safety not included 😂😂

[@currentlyhannah5181]

OMG, I have been to that shopping mall in Pudong! Glad to see it is reopened, though I don't think I will be able to live in China again after having just exiting my assets and liquidating businesses after the end of lock down

[@ExpatNatt]

It's definitely a tough time to live in China and Shanghai with the Zero-COVID policy, lockdowns, closed borders, and uncertainty. Hopefully you'll be able to visit again one day, even if not to live ❤

[@dekamaster100]

Shanghai looks very beautiful. There, like most places in Asia, seem to be the safest places. I admire that you're totally cool with hanging out and exploring by yourself! Though hope to see content of you with your boyfriend too

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you! He is very camera shy so it takes lots of persuading for him to join in videos, keep commenting and maybe we can persuade him ;)

[@yuetcheung1804]

Marvellous video. That shopping mall is beautiful. Enjoy your time in Shanghai ❤️

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you! ❤️

[@icebaby6714]

It looks so beautiful, I have never been there before, thanks for the great video!😄

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@lengreenhill3625]

Hi Natt such loverly places you can go and the thing I like is that you feel safe especially a young lady on there own and not get pestered by the yobs like here . Nice to hear you are starting a new job is it one your looking for or just one to earn some money to live and nice to see your keeping up with your artistic drawings etc . What a fantastic shopping mall looks like you can do most things just by walking about just a loverly place . Best Wishes for your new job and hope Moi is keeping well . Love lots to you both Len xx🥰

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you! Yes it definitely feels very safe compared to the UK! I start my new job today, just one to earn money but I’m looking forward to it! Lots of love to you too ❤️❤️

[@Lifang0003]

I love this place.. Hope i will go to shanghai beautiful city

[@ExpatNatt]

It’s very beautiful! ❤️

[@munangiwaC]

Great vlog, glad to see that Shanghai is back to life

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you, I’m very happy to see it back open too 😂

[@munangiwaC]

@@ExpatNatt we have been locked for too long 😁😁. Just waiting for schools to reopen

[@ExpatNatt]

@@munangiwaC I work at a school and we reopened on Monday so things are slowly getting back to normal! 🤞

[@royatran4247]

Do you check out any of the books by Chinese authors. Have you read the Three Bodies Problem?, probably the most well known contemporary Chinese series. Apparently there's a Netflix series coming

[@ExpatNatt]

I can’t read Chinese (at least not yet!) and I always struggle to find English translations of books here, but I’m always open to book and series recommendations as long as there are English translations/subtitles!

[@TravelEndleslie]

Looks calm and amazing!

[@ExpatNatt]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@southernmandarin9651]

beautiful sky

[@ExpatNatt]

It was a beautiful day 🥰

[@mikeliu-te3vk]

May Day holiday is coming. I wish you a happy holiday in China.

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you ❤️

[@fenglin8834]

I have been to Shanghai, Shanghai is a big, very nice city, enjoy life in Shanghai

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you! ☺️

[@user_uif_ghg_wer_das]

The color of your video is very vibrant and vivid.

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you ☺️

[@josuetkiu9322]

I like your background music. nice work.

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you!

[@omni3670]

Beautiful and tranquil park! What an idyllic place. Safe? Don't see anything misplaced hehehe😂😂😂. As usual soft, unhurried narration. TQ!

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you for watching! I definitely need to go back and explore more of the park, there was so much more that I didn't have time to see! 😊🥰

[@dashapogathan991]

Another Great video! Thank you for sharing.

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@dasresz6357]

Hello, i am your 1000th subscriber? :)

[@ExpatNatt]

Thank you for subscribing! ❤️

[@shijiemiao723]

looks amazing

[@ExpatNatt]

Always have fun when you aren't there to annoy me 😉

[@reesewitty3341]

Can you show us when you finish the sketch of the lake?

[@ExpatNatt]

I didn't realise anyone would be interested in this, I will post some pages of my sketch books on my community Tab and maybe do a little sketchbook tour in a future video! :)

[@ivancheung8251]

You like sketching and visiting cafés... same here in UK 😀👍

[@ExpatNatt]

Yes I find it very relaxing, I used to do it quite often in the U.K. too! ☺️❤️

[@ivancheung8251]

@@ExpatNatt not to mention, working with headphones on lo-fi music.. perfect for focus 😀👍

[@ExpatNatt]

@@ivancheung8251 100%!!

[@92wsnqyf]

公园很棒

[@ExpatNatt]

我同意。它又大又漂亮。

[@icebaby6714]

The large portion of Shanghai (especially the Bund, Nanjing Road, People's Park or Square [used to be Shanghai's Racecouse]) were built by British settlers who arrived in Shanghai as early as 1840s. Shanghai used to be a small town with villages, rivers, swamps and muddy roads until British businessmen came and built roads, bridges, tram tracks, underground drainage system, churches, western buildings, trading offices, post offices, hospitals and schools. There were a dozen of western countries established international settlement after British and American settlements were merged. French concession was on its own separated from the rest. That was the paradise for all the newcomers from Europe and the US, it was a free port, people didn't have to pay taxes to anyone. The good old days had lasted a hundred years until end of WW2 in 1945. When I was young in 1980s I could still see many British styled buildings that were built in 19th century, now all were demolished and replaced with skyscrapers.

[@Anonymous------]

No, most of the old original Shanghai western style buildings and places we see today were built by Russians! Russia was the biggest foreign contributor to modernize China. Russian Comintern (Communists International) was the only foreigners provided massive scale modernization to China at the time, all free!

[@icebaby6714]

@@Anonymous------ What are you talking about? You are wrong , Russian influence is nowhere near what British and French influence, I grew up in the part of Shanghai where international settlement used to be, I used to take tram (British built tram tracks) down Nanjing West Rd along People’s Park with my grandma when I was a kid in the early 1970s, and I saw all the buildings with 18xx some years written on top. Britain, the U.S. and France started international settlement since 1842, and it was British businessmen raised fund to have constructed the Bund, Nanjing Road, Henan Road, Fujian Road and Shanghai’s racecourse (where People’s Square and Park are today) and underground drainage system when they expanded the international concession during 100 year settlement. There used to have Indian Sikh policemen patrolling international concession together with the U.S. marine, Italian navy and German soldiers. In French concession there used to have Vietnamese policemen. Shanghai was like Hong Kong, it was called “Paris of the East”, it was more complex than Hong Kong due to foreign settlements from a dozen countries, they had own governments and trade offices, Qing government had no control of international settlement, all the Chinese lived in Shanghai old town (where Yu Garden is today). Unfortunately all these historical buildings were demolished by the CCP over past 30 years….the the memory has been wiped out. I don’t fancy all the skyscrapers that look no different from that in other cities but I like all the old buildings in Shanghai, mostly vanished by now., very sad!

[@Anonymous------]

@@icebaby6714 Soviet era Russia was the only foreign country helped China with modernization and development in China's history! Russia not only helped develope Shanghai, it provided assistance to the entire country. All the other countries USA, England, Germany, France, etc, were there as illegal occupying colonists, they built for themsevles what they needed in China, not to help China; they were there to take wealth and resources from China, not to give. Even during Czar Russia period the Russians were there to illegal occupy and take from China. Those countries you mentioned were illegally occupying China, they started taking over Shanghai after Qing China got invaded by British as a result of China's banning of a narcotic called opium, which the British produced in India and smuggled into China. After China lost the first opium war 1940s, many countries rushed in and grabbed wherever they wanted in Shanghai. Qing China's government ordered them leave China but they ignored it because at the Qing government was too weak to chase them out. After Qing Dynasty replaced by Republic of China, the new nationalist government of China asked those foreign countries that were occupying Shanghai to assist with China's development and modernization but none was willing to help, the only country willing to help was Russia which itself had became a communist Soviet. The Russian Communist International people were the only foreign people provided China with money and expertise in development and modernization. Many of the old western style buildings seen in Shanghai today were built by Russians. It was because of Russian communists help in China, the Chinese people set up their own communist party and eventually build China into what it is today. Soviet Russia was actually the turning point in modern China's history! One more reminder: after Soviet Russia defeated Nazi Germany in Europe and ended WW2 there, it then went to defeat the Japanese in Manchuria and Mongolia, wiped out and captured 1 million Japanese troops, the biggest lost for Japan in WW2, that practically crippled Japan's invasion in China, and that ended Japan's WW2 in Asia.

[@icebaby6714]

@@Anonymous------ You must be joking! Russian Comintern established in 1917 and International settlement in Shanghai started in 1843 under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking after the Qing lost the Opium War, which forced the Qing Dynasty to make punitive territorial and economic concessions. The international settlements in Shanghai were foreign enclaves not colonies. Although the treaty was unequal and British and other western settlers built & developed the international concessions for themselves it did open up Shanghai to the world and transformed the small rural town to a free port and an international city. Before 1843 Shanghai was like a small village town with muddy road, grassland and swamps, there was no road, no piped gas, no underground sewage system and western styled buildings let alone churches, hospitals, loyal office and banks. It was British settlers that built underground sewage system, laid the first asphalt roads and constructed churches, hospitals, schools and the Custom House & other buildings in Shanghai. They also laid tracks for trams, built racecourse (now People’s Square and Park) and the Bund. International settlement facilitated international trade, not only exported Chinese goods like tea, silk and plants to overseas but also imported products from Europe and the U.S.. After years of development International settlement allowed more Chinese to move in especially during the period when Small Swords Society took over Shanghai from 1850 to 1864, the total number of Chinese exceeded 500,000. There was no Russian settlement in Shanghai despite there were thousands of Russian refugees arriving Shanghai from Harbin or Russia after Russian Revolution. Russia did have strong influence in Northeast China especially in Harbin but not in Shanghai. What buildings were built by Russians? Not many, there are 3 Russian Orthodox churches and the grand building of Shanghai Exhibition Centre (used to be called Sino-Soviet Friendship building) that was designed by Soviet architect and built by China in 1955 standing on the site of the home of early 20th century magnate of Jewish descent, Silas Aaron Hardoon, Aili Garden, but more commonly known as "Hardoon Garden". Soviet Union did help China a lot in terms of providing weapons, military advisors and money to both Chinese National Party aka KMT and Chinese Communist Party to fund the revolution between 1920s to early 1950s, however that didn’t contribute to city development and modernisation of Shanghai at all. You don’t sound like a local in Shanghai, if you are a native Shanghainese you would never have said Soviet Union has strong influence and contributed a lot to Shanghai’s modernisation as Shanghainese are mostly westernised and enjoy western life style rather than communism. I don’t know why you like Russia so much, maybe you are from Northern China especially Dongbei. Do you know Russians took advantage of Chinese weakness and the strength of the other European powers to annex 910,000 km2 of Chinese territory, which is nearly 30 times the size of Taiwan? The Russian Empire annexed this territory through a series of unequal treaties forced upon Qing China, most notably the Treaty of Aigun in 1858 and the Treaty of Peking in 1860. It is a part of the larger region of Manchuria, with the term "Outer Manchuria". Russia is an evil country, it killed 200,000 Chinese residents in Vladivostok when it annexed outer Manchuria, until today it has no intention to return the land it stole from China despite Putin has close relationship with Xi yet you still feel so grateful to Russia? Great Britain, France and other western nations returned international settlement to Shanghai after the war in 1945. Britain and Portugal also returned their colonies to China in 1997 and 1999, none of the western powers annexed any territories from China except for Russia.

[@Anonymous------]

@@icebaby6714 Russia was the only country that helped China after it had switched over from Qing Dynasty. ROC China didn't improve under the nationalists KMT, only the Russian Comintern provided funding and technological assistance, no other country helped China to modernize. After the first opium war many foreign countries flooded into China, taking over as they liked, they built for themselves not for the Chinese people. They used Chinese people as slaves. After the first opium war the British and Americans were there to sell opium, a narcotic which is now made into heroin. The British and Americans were the world's biggest drug cartels. England and USA got rich by being drug dealers! It's reported that England went from almost bankrupt to filthy rich because of forcing China to accept its opium narcotic. USA also got rich too this way. They weren't in Shanghai to develope China, they were there to help themselves with China's wealth! Before the British started smuggling opium into China, the country was was very rich by exporting tea, silk and chinaware. After the British invaded and robbed China, the country became broken and poor. 2000 years ago Guangzhou City was already very advance, with sewer systems and paved streets, perhaps it was the most advanced city in the whole world at the time. For over 2000 years Guangzhou City was where Central Asians and Europeans travelled by land to buy Chinese products, they didn't go to Shanghai because it's further to the east and located in the north, besides being very cold in the winter, so Shanghai wasn't the ideal place for commerce, that was why it wasn't developed, but Guangzhou City on the other hand was well developed because of its busy commerce being a main wholesale center in China.

[@curreysur4910]

#AMWF 💕

[@ExpatNatt]

💕💕

[@charleneji6759]

Beaaautiful Century Park. It looks huuuge. What's the temperature? 🤣

[@ExpatNatt]

This day I think was 42 Celsius but the feel factor was like 49 or 50? Far too hot for me hahaha

[@efronlinneas7131]

Will you do a trip by bicycle around the city or other parts of China. There is an American KZbinr, Katherine Olsen who does very good vlogs of bike trips around the China regions (actually tbh this is just shameless self promotion on my part on your channel 😋)

[@ExpatNatt]

I'm embarrassed to admit, I'm like a 2 year old on a bike. I have done some long bike rides around Shanghai thanks to the amazing bike routes but haven't filmed any of it. My dream is to one day cycle the entire length of South Korea so it's definitely in the back of my mind to do some cycling here at some point, especially in other parts of China where the scenery is more relaxing than the big city! I am subscribed to quite a few youtubers who cycle around China and absolutely love this type of content!

[@tokyopanpanwasi6238]

The weather this year is abnormal. It's too hot in Shanghai

[@ExpatNatt]

It’s my first time experiencing these temperatures. I have no idea how people here wear jeans in this heat 😭😂 I am looking forward to seeing cooler temperatures one day hahah

[@stellades123]

Is Natt short for Natalie Natasha or something else?

[@ExpatNatt]

Yes, it’s short for Natalie! But I only get called Natalie by my mum if I’m in trouble 😂

[@pauladonaldson9867]

But you are never in trouble now that you've moved so far away from me!

[@ExpatNatt]

@@pauladonaldson9867 Me? Trouble? Never!

[@清德賴-v7q]

Actually. throughout China. . You can go out and play alone for a year. . Nor will any security incidents occur. . When I was 14, I took the train to 8 cities by myself. Directly caused my 14 years of savings to zero. declare bankruptcy~~😂 you know. Every Chinese child has his own savings~~~ We have lucky money

[@ExpatNatt]

Wow that’s incredible at 14! I love train journeys and I would spend my childhood savings doing the same thing if the U.K. was as beautiful as some of China’s landscapes hhh ~~

[@yihgz]

真惬意啊

[@ExpatNatt]

谢谢

[@curreisland5115]

Do you ever worry about the use of used (and re use) of cooking oils in Chinese retail foods.? I saw a video about this recently which was quite worrying

[@ExpatNatt]

Oh this is my first time hearing of this, I will have to have a little research into it. Is it just retail foods or foods in restaurants etc as well? I have to admit some of the food places I have eaten at would be immediately closed down in the UK for sanitation reasons but unfortunately it is something you just get used to here.

[@dasresz6357]

There is a vernacular for it referred to as sewer oil, which is what commonly comes up in KZbin and Google results.

[@ExpatNatt]

@@dasresz6357 Thank you, I'll definitely look into it!

[@luohao2321]

i think those are either old videos or sinophobic videos as this issue is less commonplace, although i know some western media like to keep talking about it till this day, hust like how they like to keep talking about air pollution in 2022 although the polution problem was only prevalent in 2013 era and not currently.

[@luohao2321]

@@robustashorea4586 exactly. My Guess is they watched Serpentza or Laowhy 86 videos lol

[@canberight2125]

Are you posting videos in bilibili? Because I saw 一键三连 in your profile.

[@ExpatNatt]

Yes I will be, hopefully starting this week, I just need to sort some of the bits out and subtitles since the app is all in Chinese and my Chinese is very limited 😂 Once I have videos posted I’ll make a post on my community tab to let people know! Feel free to follow on Bilibili in the meantime, but I definitely will be uploading there in future!

[@user-yi3qp6ps9h]

@@ExpatNatt 你要发，告诉你一个秘密，如果你在B站有频道，我观看了你的影片，但是我在YT还没有订阅你的频道，有的时候也会跳出你的影片推荐。

[@currentsed2664]

You have uncanny resemblance to British actress Jenn Murray. Anyone else think so too?

[@ExpatNatt]

I take this as a compliment, thank you! I’ve heard a few actresses before but this is the first one for Jenn Murray (yes I had to google her because I live under a rock hahah) ❤️

[@theocles2451]

🙋 Also she is like girl in Handmaidens tale

[@anslanquinndi2716]

The lunch you had was pizza??

[@ExpatNatt]

Hahaha I had pasta and doughballs because I ate pizza the day before and didn't want to eat it again 😂 Someone else said the same things to me 😂

[@franbailey2422]

Hmmm. I watched til the end (like every loyal subscriber should do) and we never really got an answer to the question of whether China is indeed safe for female solo travellers.

[@ExpatNatt]

It definitely is, I have outlined a bit in the description, but I have never felt unsafe in Shanghai, even if I am walking around by myself in the middle of the night. It is the safest I have ever felt, possibly due to cameras being everywhere people don't really commit crimes in the way they do in the UK. I can't say whether everywhere in China is the same but from my experience in Shanghai and Yangzhou it is very solo-friendly! The main problem I face is the language barrier and communication issues but definitely not safety. Not sure I would trust a bungee jump in China though, health and safety is a different matter hahah. Thank you for watching ❤

[@rossnoblett7779]

You should start a watch til the end club like Jake Tran does on his channel. It really helps with the yt algorithm in promoting and recommending yr content

[@ExpatNatt]

@@rossnoblett7779 ooh I’ll have to look into it! I’m still very new to KZbin so learning all the ins and outs and algorithm bits! 🥰

[@lafing1616]

你的女朋友这么漂亮，很像影视剧演员，为什么不在国内的平台做视频？可以在西瓜视频或者bilibili上开频道呀，我想一定会有很多人看的，说不定还能赚钱呢。。。你看看那些十万，几十万，甚至上百万的博主，视频的质量有些还没你的好呢，，，现在很兴晒外国媳妇呀，赶紧开户吧，我看好你！

[@ExpatNatt]

谢谢！我们计划很快开立一个bilibili账户。当这种情况发生时，我会在KZbin上的社区页面上发布更新！☺️

[@lafing1616]

@@ExpatNatt 今日头条的西瓜视频比bilibili收益更好！

[@tashs949]

Why are you wearing a mask outside I can’t

[@ExpatNatt]

This was during COVID and it was compulsory to wear masks in public places, including outside in parks.

[@shelleywoo7956]

Aha, before I subscribed to you, your subscription number was 1000. Unfortunately, I have to break this number. Am I bad?

[@ExpatNatt]

Hahaha next goal is 2000 so you will help me to get there ;) Thank you for subscribing! ❤️

[@georwoogle]