The Suzhou Creek is one of the main rivers in Shanghai and is considered the "mother river" of the city. Recently redeveloped, the banks of this river have become one of the most pleasant places for a historic walk. Follow our Beyond Cities Convener Clarisse and listen to the mesmerizing stories on both sides of the river. You will discover the Sihang Warehouse, site of a Sino-Japanese battle in 1937, the Zhejiang Road Bridge, once known as the "garbage bridge", the former General Chamber of Commerce of Shanghai, the General Post Office building and the story of a bullet hole on its window. Meandering along the river would situate you in a perfect place to cast a global view of Shanghai's history. In this walk, Clarisse will take you back to history revealing the origin of the civilization in the area, the life of the Ming Dynasty, the past two centuries with their light and shadow, and how it transformed into the bustling city it is now. This route looks especially beautiful at night with the lights illuminated.

About the speaker and tour leader:

Clarisse Le Guernic arrived in Shanghai in 2015 as an exchange student to study Chinese Studies at Fudan University, and graduated from Ningbo University with a master degree in Tourism Management. Since 2017, she has been leading historic walks in Shanghai in English, Chinese and French. She found her own company Arcade Experiences in April 2020. Clarisse is passionate about history and architecture, unearthing secrets from the local Shanghainese when she can. She loves reading archives and maps and chronicling oral narratives to document her walks. She was selected by the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau to be the Shanghai International Tourism Ambassador.