Walkology
Walkology
4.9
Full view
Similar Experiences
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.9
19 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
tanagotchi
Oakland, CA2 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
We had a very insightful, stimulating and wonderful time on Peter's Walkology tour "North of Suzhou Creek." The experience was like going on the best kind of meandering walk: with a knowledgeable, and insightful new friend. While we stuck to a basic route, there was a bit of improvisation based on our serendipitous encounters, with places and people that we met along the way. Through the walking tour, I felt like I gained new insights into Shanghai and the everyday experience of it's people.
Peter met us amidst the large stores and shoppers in busy East Nanjing Road, giving us insights into how smaller, provincial brands strategically place their stores in the outdoor pedestrian shopping mall to give themselves national exposure--to show visiting tourists from their region that the brand was equal to the likes of Uniqlo and Versace. Yet, after that brief foray into retail strategy and advertising in China, Peter motioned us to the entrance to a narrow alley, and we suddenly found ourselves (no more than 50 meters) in a very different Shanghai. One of winding alleys, barely comprehensible Shanghainese dialect, immigrants making a living in the big city, a grandmother inviting us into her house for tea; a wealth of impressions and scenes somewhat hard to square with the economic engine and global city that we had just left behind in E. Nanjing Road.
TLDR: If you like to explore places on foot and enjoy the serendipitous encounters that result, but feel limited by your lack of knowledge of Chinese, or don't have time in Shanghai to fully explore on your own, this is perfect!
Peter met us amidst the large stores and shoppers in busy East Nanjing Road, giving us insights into how smaller, provincial brands strategically place their stores in the outdoor pedestrian shopping mall to give themselves national exposure--to show visiting tourists from their region that the brand was equal to the likes of Uniqlo and Versace. Yet, after that brief foray into retail strategy and advertising in China, Peter motioned us to the entrance to a narrow alley, and we suddenly found ourselves (no more than 50 meters) in a very different Shanghai. One of winding alleys, barely comprehensible Shanghainese dialect, immigrants making a living in the big city, a grandmother inviting us into her house for tea; a wealth of impressions and scenes somewhat hard to square with the economic engine and global city that we had just left behind in E. Nanjing Road.
TLDR: If you like to explore places on foot and enjoy the serendipitous encounters that result, but feel limited by your lack of knowledge of Chinese, or don't have time in Shanghai to fully explore on your own, this is perfect!
Written July 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oscarq
melbourne83 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
My husband & myself enjoy a great day out with Peter from Walkology. We did the North of Suzhou Creek walk, followed by dinner in the evening at a street full of BBQ seafood. It was great to see a more traditional way of life before it disappears & to stop & chat with the locals who warmly greeted us. We were invited in for a cup of tea & shown tricks by three dogs owned by one of the elderly resident. Peter was able to enter lively discussion on different aspects of Chinese life, as well as entertain with stories from his experiences. Dinner was very tasty consisting of BBQ seafood,lamb,chicken & vegetables, following by dessert from a different street store.
Written June 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JSW223
Rehovot, Israel6 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
I purposely sought out a guide who could offer a Westerner's perspective of life in Shanghai, and China, and very much enjoyed walking through the old Shanghai neighborhoods with Peter. Having lived in the city for over 20 years, Peter speaks and reads Chinese, and was able to offer us a unique look at the city that went far beyond a "names and dates" explanation. Highly recommended.
Written April 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suzanne H
Irvine, CA19 contributions
Apr 2017 • Business
I had the pleasure of taking the Old Town Shanghai walk with Peter, and it was a wonderful, eye-opening, and very enlightening experience. As we walked through narrow residential and market streets, Peter would stop and explain fascinating details about things that would have otherwise escaped me and I suspect most people who do not have his extensive knowledge of Shanghai. This tour was well-paced and provided a contrasting, and more complete, view of modern Shanghai. My words cannot do it justice. Suffice it to say, I loved this experience and would do it again in a heartbeat! When I return to Shanghai, I will be the first to contact Peter to go on another walk.
Written April 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
prime01234
Berlin, Germany166 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
We took the North of Suzhou Creek tour with Peter today, which was very good. He took us down very small alleyways and was very knowledgeable on the neighbourhoods and background. He speaks fluent Chinese, so he can interact with the people and ask them the things we ask which he doesnt know. Will definitely take another tour with him in my time here!
Written July 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pink_n_Fluffy_NOT
London, UK62 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Our tour guide Peter Jacobson has lived in Shanghai for many years has travelled a lot around China and speaks perfect English. He is a superb guide. He took us North of Souzhou Creek into some very poor areas which opened our eyes quite a bit, I hope not in a way that was too voyeuristic. Peter had a lot of very interesting observations and gave us an account - which seemed seemed pretty balanced - of the lot and lives of ordinary Chinese people, including the kinds of backgrounds of his ex language students. He explained to us us the rituals surrounding the Chinese festival of Ancestors' Day. Sadly this particular tour might not continue as the authorities are re-housing people from these slums but I would recommend any of Peter's Walkology tours.
Written April 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brett r
New York City, NY154 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
HIGHLY recommended for anyone who wants a unique and authentic experience in Shanghai. Peter is an excellent guide, and a very interesting person. We did a morning walk, mostly in the area just north of Suzhou River. This is not a place that many tourists visit. Its a perfectly safe place to be, but there are no particular "tourist" sites there so it is a very interesting place to walk around and explore, and interact with the locals and the shops, etc....we could never do this with out the guidance of Peter, who speaks fluent Chinese and is very comfortable navigating the back alley's and streets, and striking up conversations with curious locals who always seemed surprised that we were passing through! Peter is originally from Copenhagen, but has been living in China for the last 20+ years. He's a very intelligent man, and was great at explaining the history of the neighborhoods, and had first hand knowledge and experience with how things have changed so rapidly in Shanghai over the past 20-30 years. It felt like walking around Shanghai with an old college professor! We entered people's homes, and spoke to them, and we walked through some pretty old, and rundown neighborhoods, where many of the residents were preparing to be relocated bay the Chinese gov't to new homes and much better living conditions. Thanks Peter for a very unique experience.
Written January 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Audreychooi
Singapore, Singapore2 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
It was a last minute decision when I contacted Peter as I had a few hours to kill before my flight out from Shanghai. We did the Old Town walk and went round to all the old houses. Peter's knowledge about the area is really impressive and some of the people living the neighbourhood even knows him!
Written May 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel L
1 contribution
Apr 2017 • Solo
I did the Suzhou Creek walk with Peter and it was amazing. It was a walk back in time to see something of what life might have been like for the common folk in the 1980s or 90's before all the new building really started. And the chance to see this part of Shanghai is fast disappearing - these old alleys and neighborhoods are being developed. Peter is very knowledgeable about China and very friendly - we stopped to chat with a lot of people in the neighborhood - even had a cup of tea with a group of retirees who talked about the changes in the neighborhood.
Written April 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kate n
Epping, Australia157 contributions
Feb 2017
We only found out about this by chance - a fellow staying at our hotel told us it was very good and it was! A three hour, easy, level walk through Shanghai Old Town with Peter, a Dane who has lived in Shanghai for 20 years. He is very knowledgeable but also does not mind admitting when he does not know something or has passed on the wrong information! We visited so many little, narrow streets, went into small alleyways and upstairs to communal kitchens and bathrooms. A really wonderful insight into how so many of the older Chinese and young people from the country (who are looking for work) live in this modern city. Definitely a must!
Written March 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! The main Walkology website seems to be down? My mom and I will be traveling to Shanghai next wee and we are interested in your walking tours. Are they still on? Thanks! Stephanie
Written June 24, 2018
Peter Jacobson is a one man company I think. He did say that he was planning to change the tour we did with him (North of Suzhou Creek) as the authorities are rehousing a lot of the population and developing the land. Try Mobile: +86 1860 175 0204
Hope this helps!
Written June 25, 2018
Hi Am wanting to know more about what 3 tours you offer and time and cost?
thanks
Sue
Written September 25, 2016
Hello Sue,
Thanks for your enquiry. In general, the walks stay away from traditional tourist sights and instead focus on the traditional neighborhoods and lifestyles of the Shanghainese. You will experience hidden, narrow alleys and areas that are rarely visited by outsiders.
If you go to our main website you can find much more information about the walks. There is a link on the main page.
Walks generally cost CNY 250/person and take 2-3 hours.
Thanks,
Peter
Walkology
Written September 26, 2016
Showing results 1-2 of 2
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.