New Views of Good Ole Shanghai

With spring slowly coming out of hiding, we're getting antsy to go out and explore the city again. In the past, we've found that wandering around aimlessly is actually a pretty underrated way to see Shanghai, but if you're looking for a little more structure (and you don't have 10 hours, 14 minutes and 42 seconds to spare), here are some of the quirkier ways you can get out and see the town:

Themed Tours
Themed Tours are a great way to see Shanghai from a different angle. Last year Shanghai Disappearing Corners organized an epic 12-hour Hudec Architecture Tour (follow in their footsteps here), and this year, from April 16-20, the Shanghai Spring Art Salon will be running an RMB 150, 8-hour "Art Journey" tour to take you around the city's most notable galleries and museums. And of course, there's also always Jewish Shanghai, which will give you a look into a completely different side of the city's history.

Audio Tours
Audio Tours, like podcasts, are on the up-and-up. It may not the most social way to see the city, but you'll really be able to explore the city on your own time. Do it all in one day, or stop and start as you wish while still keeping your "expert" guide at hand. Expedia and Tourcaster have pretty good tours, but you can always check in with Louis Vuitton if you're feeling classy.

Shanghai Sideways
If you've got a little extra cash to spare, consider taking this tour, in which guide Thomas Chabrieres takes you out around town in one of those old-school motorcycles with a sidecar stuck on the side. Every tour is customized to the rider, so you'll have full control over what you see and how you see it. Hit all the big attractions or go undercover by staying in the back lanes; you'll be able to get into just about every nook and cranny on a motorbike.

Photo courtesy of Stuck in Customs