Warm Homecoming Journey: Selecting New Year’s Goods and Preparing Gifts, Experiencing the Unique Flavor of Old Shanghai’s Spring Festival

### One-Day Journey to Shanghai: A Blend of Nostalgia and Precautions **Duration: 1 day. With whom: [...]

### One-Day Journey to Shanghai: A Blend of Nostalgia and Precautions

**Duration: 1 day. With whom: Alone. Activities: Food, shopping, photography, self-driving, humanities. Published on December 24, 2022, 20:50.**

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**Preface:**

Due to work reasons, I have been busy outside and haven’t been home for a long time. It seems that I am getting farther and farther away from Shanghai, the land that gave birth to me and raised me. With only one month left before the Spring Festival, the longing for home becomes stronger and stronger. I miss the delicious food in my hometown, my mother’s nagging, and the unique flavor of the Spring Festival in old Shanghai. Eager to return home, I can’t afford any delay. Quickly finish my work and set off in the direction of home.

Every time I leave home, my parents will fill our trunk, so that we can go to distant places with the full taste of home. This time, I also want to stock up on a wave of New Year’s goods in advance and fill the trunk with full love and longing to go home.

**Travel Tips in Special Times:**

In this special period, we must be fully prepared when going out. Especially when traveling with children, all aspects of protection and emergency response must be considered, including disinfection and cleaning at any time and anywhere, emergency drugs for dealing with sudden discomfort, etc. All must be brought. For this trip, I brought a Lianhua Qingwen gift pack, which contains disinfectant wipes, popular exploding bead masks, Lianhua Qingwen capsules, etc. A gift pack covers all the items needed from prevention to emergency response, which is very convenient and worry-free.

**Tasting Authentic Delicacies and Recalling Childhood Memories:**

After being away from home for so long, what I miss the most is the steamer of steaming xiaolongbao in my hometown. As a travel blogger, although I have been to so many places and tasted so many delicacies, Shanghai’s xiaolongbao is an irreplaceable existence. It accompanied me throughout my student days and awakened one striving morning after another. So the first stop on my way home is to regain my memories and eat a steamer of the xiaolongbao I have been longing for.

Considering today’s itinerary, the mask naturally needs to be firmly worn on the face at all times. At this time, the mask exploding beads of Lianhua Qingwen can come in handy. Before getting off the car, take out one and crush it at any fold of the mask, and then put on the mask. Immediately, a sense of freshness comes, making people feel very comfortable. Even if worn for a long time, there will be no peculiar smell or stuffiness.

We chose a familiar time-honored brand and are ready to start. However, in special times, the necessary disinfection and prevention steps before eating must not be omitted. Take out the Lianhua gift pack carried with you. There are special wipes for disinfection. Clean your hands, mouth, table and tableware carefully to not give the virus a chance.

The steaming xiaolongbao appears. It’s still that familiar taste. Lift it gently, move it slowly, open a window first, then drink the soup, and then dip it in vinegar or chili. One bite is extremely satisfying!

‘Achoo – cough -‘ A gust of cold wind blew by, and I couldn’t help shivering. Although there are fewer people on the street than before, self-protection still cannot be relaxed. More important than treating diseases is prevention in advance and nipping the evil little flame in the bud. Open my Lianhua Qingwen gift pack and take four Lianhua Qingwen capsules to relieve discomfort and focus on prevention.

**Visiting Yu Garden, Stocking Up on New Year’s Goods, the New Year’s Ritual Sense of Old Shanghai:**

In people’s eyes, Shanghai is always associated with skyscrapers, fashion districts, and heavy traffic. The rapid development of modernization makes this ever-changing magic city full of changeable charm. But for old Shanghainese, no matter how changeable the magic city is, there is always an unchanged sentiment and bond, deeply hidden in those ancient city streets and old alleys and tiled houses.

When it comes to the strongest festive atmosphere in Shanghai, almost every native Shanghai resident would recommend Yu Garden and the City God Temple. Coming here to prepare for the New Year and to enjoy the lantern shows has become a unique ritual for those from old Shanghai.

As soon as I arrived at the City God Temple, I received a video call from my mother, reminding me to take precautions, ‘Don’t touch things indiscriminately, pay attention to disinfection and cleanliness, avoid crowded places…’ The familiar nagging, the heartwarming advice, is probably the meaning of home. No matter where you go, there’s always someone who cares.

Seeing my mother’s concern, I showed her my ‘protective gadget’ – a Lianhua Qingwen gift package, which contains various practical equipment to provide meticulous care. Such a great thing, of course, should be shared with everyone. So this gift package has long been included in my New Year shopping list, and I have prepared a healthy gift for friends and relatives.

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**City God Temple’s Festive Charm**

Adjacent to Yu Garden, the City God Temple has donned its festive attire as the Spring Festival countdown begins, with a strong sense of the New Year enveloping the area. The traditional flavors that have stood the test of time in front of the old brands still have long queues, and these have become a kind of belief in the bones.

**Strolling and Discovering Surprises**

Currently, there are not many people in the City God Temple, allowing us to take our time to stroll and carefully observe, always discovering surprises inadvertently. Many characteristic cultural and creative shops are suitable for buying souvenirs. Looking at these exquisite and cute little things, I can’t help but examine and play with each one.

**Handicrafts and New Year Goods**

Red ropes, safety buckles, tiger-head shoes… Since childhood, I have been fond of these handicrafts when shopping for New Year goods, always begging the elders to buy one. Taking advantage of the New Year’s arrival, I also picked one for friends and relatives, carrying a beautiful blessing to welcome the new year.

**Cakes: A Taste of the Year**

Cakes are traditional food that every household must have during the New Year. The old Shanghai cakes have many varieties and the methods are also very particular. During the New Year, the whole family gathers to share, or gifts friends to send sweet blessings, the small cakes are the taste of the year.

**Yu Garden’s Old Street Charm**

In the afternoon, the sun is just right, there are not many people on the old street of Yu Garden, and the antique buildings are suitable for taking photos and checking in. I don’t remember when I was here last time, every time I come here, there are many new discoveries, taking photos, checking in, recording, and recording every encounter with my heart, freezing it into a beautiful memory.

**Festive Decorations and Gifts**

On one side is Christmas, on the other side is New Year’s Day, and this year’s Spring Festival is also particularly early, with a strong festive atmosphere filling the entire old street. Here, the Christmas decorations you want, New Year’s decorations, and various festival gifts can be obtained in minutes, which is very convenient. This is also the reason why many old Shanghai residents like to come to the old street to stock up on New Year goods during the New Year’s Eve.

**Cute Decorations and Red New Year Goods**

Cute decorations, stirring the girl’s heart, lingering for a long time, reluctant to leave. Red New Year decorations are very suitable for hanging at home to create an atmosphere. Buy some for your mother and decorate the house together before the New Year to have a lively New Year.

**Year of the Rabbit Decorations**

Next year is the Year of the Rabbit, and New Year decorations certainly cannot be without the lovely little rabbits. The brilliant afternoon sun shines lazily, and it is very comfortable to walk and stroll, and the harvest is also quite rich. Such a cute little rabbit, can you guess what it is used for?

**Neptune Star Pharmacy: A Different Kind of New Year Goods**

The last stop we came to is the Neptune Star Pharmacy to stock up on a different kind of New Year goods. On this trip home, accompanied by the Lianhua Qingwen gift package, from protection to symptomatic emergency, it provides comprehensive care and does not give any opportunity for the virus. Such a worry-free and healthy gift, of course, should be shared with friends and relatives. Hurry up and buy a few more copies, go home for the New Year to give to parents and relatives, and give more care and protection.

**A Healthy and United New Year**

Before we knew it, the New Year goods had filled the trunk, and we couldn’t wait to set off on the journey home to celebrate a healthy and united New Year with family. Under the special circumstances, nothing is more important than health. This New Year, stock up on a wave of Lianhua Qingwen gift packs for friends and family, providing all-round care and safeguarding the health for a new year!

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