[Shanghai Family Weekend] My Daughter Says I'm the Best Guide

Author: Kim Jae-hoon / An ordinary office-worker dad from Busan

Hello, I'm Kim Jae-hoon, an ordinary working dad from Busan.

Lately, my Instagram and my friends' social media feeds have been completely taken over by Shanghai! For some reason, everyone around me—friends, junior colleagues—suddenly seems to be traveling to Shanghai. Every day, I see photos of the Bund's night view and all sorts of delicious food. My wife would show me her phone and say, "Look, this is so beautiful!" and my nine-year-old daughter's eyes would sparkle as she pointed to a picture of the Disney castle.

As a man from Busan, I'm all about taking action! I immediately puffed out my chest and said, "Alright! Let's go this weekend!"

I said it confidently, but honestly, I was a little worried inside. In a city where I don't speak the language and everything is unfamiliar, what if I get lost with the two most precious women in my life? What if we run into some kind of trouble?

Fortunately, my wife found a very reliable custom travel service. We handed over our "wish list": Disneyland, the Bund, and great restaurants.

Before we left, we received a travel guide created just for our family, and only then did I finally feel at ease. For example, I almost packed my regular charger from home. Thanks to a picture in the guide, I learned that the power outlets in China are different from those in Korea and even got a recommendation for which adapter to buy. If it weren't for that reminder, all our family's phones would have become useless bricks upon arriving in Shanghai. The thought alone is terrifying!

While mobile payments are convenient in Korea, the scene in Shanghai was truly amazing. From the Disney souvenir shops to the street-side drink stalls, you could pay directly with a QR code everywhere! Luckily, the travel planner had helped set up my phone in advance, so I could use it seamlessly with a familiar method. Every time a payment went through with a "beep," my daughter found it fascinating, and I felt so proud, as if I were a local myself!

It wasn't until we arrived in Shanghai that I realized how complex the city's subway system is, like a spider's web. But thanks to the detailed guide, it was clearly marked which exit to take for each tourist spot. At every transfer, I confidently led the way like a local, guiding my wife and daughter in the right direction. My daughter looked at me with sparkling eyes and whispered to her mom, "Wow, Dad is amazing!" Haha, in that moment, I felt like Superman!

We had a blast at Disneyland all day long; my daughter's laughter never stopped. At night, when the spectacular fireworks burst over the castle, seeing the happy smiles on my daughter's and wife's faces, I knew this trip was absolutely the right decision.

And the night view of the Bund... ah... truly, you can't imagine how moving it is until you see it in person. On one side, there are historic, story-filled buildings, and on the other, futuristic skyscrapers. We stood by the river, feeling the breeze, and it felt like watching a magnificent movie.

Because all the troublesome details were prepared in advance, I didn't have to worry about trivial things like finding my way or making payments. I could fully focus on my family and enjoy the true pleasure of traveling.

If you're a dad who wants to travel with your family but worries about handling everything on your own, trust me. With a little help from experts, you too can become an all-powerful "super guide" in your daughter's eyes!

Shanghai is truly a city full of surprises. Our whole family fell in love with it.