What happens when a 12-year-old girl celebrates her birthday in Shanghai while traveling across China on crutches? Add two Spanish families, four enthusiastic children, handmade soup dumplings, a birthday crown, and a song sung in Spanish, and you have a celebration none of us will ever forget.

Some travel memories don't end when the trip is over.

A year after joining our Shanghai soup dumpling class—and later returning for a second workshop during the same trip—one guest came back to Shanghai once again. This time, we created a completely new experience combining a local market visit, Chinese home cooking, and another round of her favorite soup dumplings, with a few extra surprises along the way.

Looking for unique things to do in Shanghai beyond sightseeing? Discover authentic Chinese cultural experiences including cooking classes, calligraphy, tea ceremony, traditional crafts, and local lifestyle activities with Yin Studio.