Bike Through the Iconic Shanghai Alleys

What To Expect

In this 2-hour exploration, you will take a bike at the city's favorite bike shop nestled within the embrace of Shanghai’s iconic residential alleys, or longtang (弄堂), and explore these historic areas under the guidance of the owner of the shop. You will seek out hidden markets, observe the everyday lives of local people, and let these lanes and corners becomes a part of your own story. YOUR CAPTAIN: Danny Dai Danny, once an engineer at Volkswagen, started designing and assembling bicycles in 2015. Turning a hobby into a career is no easy feat. To keep the shop afloat, he had to sell coffee, beer, and rice noodles back in the beginning. Today, having garnered over 9,000 customers, he is the owner of a growing business with the full support from this alley neighborhood. “I wasn't raised here," says Danny, "but I've found my heart here." LANGUAGES: Danny speaks both English and Chinese. GROUP SIZE: 4-8 guests PLACE TYPE: Public Streets AGE RESTRICTION: Chinese law prohibits children under 12 from riding bicycles on public streets. EXPLORATION DETAILS You will meet at 2 Wheels on Julu Road. You will find its roadside sign etched upon a stone pillar. This logo was originally designed by a Swedish customer as a gift, after Danny built a Sweden-blue-and-yellow bike for him. While the name "2 Wheels" comes from a Canadian customer, indeed, the shop is inextricably linked to the customers living in this community. Danny’s bicycles bear witness to the simple joys of life for those residing here. The reasons for their custom orders are as varied as life itself—welcoming a new baby, going to college, or even a group of friends each getting a bike to celebrate their bond. As you listen to Danny recount the diverse customers he has encountered, you will select a bike for the upcoming exploration. Danny knows the best cycling routes through the alleys as inside out as he knows the way home. His routes are steeped in the essence of Shanghai alley life. Beyond the beaten paths, he will take you to the local market where residents get their daily groceries, search for a flower shop tucked away in a byway, savor a bowl of freshly cooked, steaming wontons that locals enjoy, visit a community cafeteria where you can eat your fill for less than two dollars, and pass through the old Shikumen houses where clothes are hung out to dry on sunny days - a glimpse of a more genuine and grounded Shanghai brimmed with the warmth of human touch.