Russian tourist Ulyana, a student from Vladivostok, has advised travelers against visiting Shanghai after experiencing severe flight disruptions and finding her booked hotel closed.
Sharing her experience on the Russian blogging platform Dzen via travel portal Tonkosti Turizma, she awarded the Chinese city a rating of minus infinity and urged others never to return.
Before departing on the trip, Ulyana and her female companion had reserved their hotel room and planned their travel route in meticulous detail. However, three days before departure, they received a message notifying them that their flight had been cancelled without any explanation provided.
The sudden cancellation forced the two women to search for replacement tickets at an additional cost. After a long overnight layover, they finally arrived in Shanghai completely exhausted, with red eyes and wanting only to sleep.
Upon reaching their accommodation, the travelers discovered that the hotel was shut for five days of renovation work. When they contacted the owner about their confirmed reservation, he responded by asking how they had managed to get into that situation.
Ulyana noted that the owner offered no apology, suggesting instead that the guests should have guessed the building was undergoing work. The owner then cancelled their booking and promised a refund, forcing the pair to spend hours searching for lodging on the other side of Shanghai and paying extra for a taxi to reach it.
Reflecting on the experience, the Russian tourist strongly advised against using the airline or hotel involved. She warned potential travelers that choosing those service providers could result in thousands in financial losses and a nervous breakdown.
Travel hub and Russian tourism context
Shanghai, situated on the eastern coast of China, is the country's most populous city and a major global financial center. Vladivostok is a major Russian port city located in the Far East near the Chinese border, making travel to Chinese cities a common destination for local residents.
The traveler published her review through Tonkosti Turizma, a Russian website dedicated to travel guides and reader reviews, which distributed the post across Dzen, a prominent Russian content platform.
Her warning follows previous reports from another Russian travel blogger who visited Shanghai and highlighted how foreign tourists in the metropolis frequently become objects of heightened interest among local residents.
