Shanghai 2026

VCT CHAMPIONS SHANG­HAI FOOD & CITY GUIDE

24 Sep – 18 Oct · Jing’an & Mercedes-Benz Arena

We’ve spent the past seven weeks putting this edition of MAKAN2ASIA together, going back through notes from our own trips and asking friends, casters, players, and people we know for their recommendations.

A lot of this guide comes from our own time in Shanghai and the little things we wish we knew before our first visit. Hopefully it helps you eat well, explore a little more, and enjoy the city as much as we have. 准备好了吗?

Food

Shanghai is one of China’s great food cities, so come hungry!

Popular Food Spots

We picked out some popular restaurants we’ve tried, plus a few recommendations from casters, players, friends, and locals.

Food for Less-Adventurous Eaters

Sometimes you just want something simple and familiar, or a chain that’s easy to find almost anywhere. Here are a few easy options to look out for.

Essential Shanghai Dishes

These are some of the dishes Shanghai is best known for, and a good place to start.

Travel

You’re in Shanghai, one of the world’s great cities. Go see more of it.

Popular Places & Neighbourhoods

The obvious sights, cool neighborhoods, shopping areas, and a few places worth wandering around when you’ve got time to kill.

Essentials

Traveling in China can be a little different from what you’re used to, so here are a few things worth knowing before you go.

Essential Apps

A few apps that’ll make getting around China much easier, from maps and trains to food and payments.

Connectivity

Staying connected in China works a little differently, so here’s what you’ll want to sort out before your trip.

Payments

Cash is not king here. Most payments in China happen by phone, so get set up before you arrive.

Quick Answers

A few common questions that are handy to know before and during your trip.

WHAT IS MAKAN2ASIA

makan (MA-kan) /ˈmɑkɑn/ verb: to eat

Back home across much of Southeast Asia, “sudah makan?” (“have you eaten?”) is something you hear all the time. Sometimes it’s about food. Sometimes it’s just another way of saying, “How are you?” and showing that you care.

VALO2ASIA is an independent VALORANT esports media outlet covering VCT Pacific, VCT CN, and the wider Asia-Pacific scene.

MAKAN2ASIA is a little passion project of ours on the side, made from the places we’ve visited, food we’ve tried, and things we’ve learned while traveling for events.

If you enjoy this, you can find plenty more from us through our tournament coverage, interviews, podcasts, videos, and more across VALO2ASIA.