Highlights
- Step into a real Shanghai family home.
- Cook with a warm local grandma who treats you like family.
- Share stories and connect with locals over a homemade meal.
- Explore a lively wet market – a surprising cultural adventure.
- Take home grandma's secret recipe and cook Shanghai flavors again
Description
Ready to look beyond the tourist view and truly live like a local? This is more than just a cooking class; it is a four-step immersion into the authentic rhythm of Shanghai life. From the bustling energy of a wet market to the warmth of a family dining table, and finally to the cheerful clatter of Mahjong tiles, you will experience the city's unique charm from the inside out.
This experience begins with a 'treasure hunt' full of the sights and sounds of daily life. All options include a short, guided walk through a nearby authentic wet market – the very source of Shanghai's food culture. You will experience the joy of 'shopping like a local.'
Next, you will head into the cozy home of a local Shanghai grandmother for a private session of 'cooking like a local.' This is not a standardized cooking studio, but a real family kitchen. Depending on the option you choose, you will learn to unlock the secrets of Shanghai's classics – from juicy dumplings to melt‑in‑your‑mouth braised pork belly. Under the patient, hands-on guidance of the grandma, you will master the techniques that make these dishes so beloved.
When the aroma of cooking fills the room, the most heartwarming part – 'eating like a local' – begins. Please take your seat, gather around the table with your new family, and taste the fruits of your labor. Besides the dishes you prepared, the grandma will also serve a few of her signature homemade side dishes for you to enjoy. This meal is about more than just flavor; it is about human connection. Amidst the cheerful conversation, you will experience the highest form of Chinese hospitality.
If you have selected Option 3. After clearing the table together, you will learn Mahjong – the most down‑to‑earth local pastime. The grandma will teach you how to recognize tiles and play in the simplest way possible. Amidst the rhythmic shuffling of tiles, you will take home a truly unique memory of Shanghai.
Choose Your Experience
Option 1 – Dumpling Making & Home Meal
Includes: Quick market tour + dumpling making + home meal
Learn to fold juicy dumplings, then enjoy a cozy home-cooked lunch with simple family dishes. Perfect for those short on time or who prefer a lighter experience.
Duration: approx. 3 – 3.5 hours
Option 2 – Dumpling & Braised Pork Belly Cooking & Home Meal
Includes: Quick market tour + dumpling making + braised pork belly cooking + home meal
Master two iconic dishes: dumplings and melt‑in‑your‑mouth braised pork belly. Feast together like family. Ideal for food lovers who want to learn deeper cooking skills.
Duration: approx. 3.5 – 4 hours
Option 3 – Dumpling, Braised Pork Belly, Mahjong & Home Meal
Includes: Quick market tour + dumpling making + braised pork belly cooking + home meal + mahjong lesson
Cook both dishes, enjoy a homemade feast, then learn beginner‑friendly mahjong – Shanghai's favorite pastime. The ultimate local immersion for those with more time.
Duration: approx. 6.5 – 7 hours
Includes
A short guided walk through a real local wet market
Hands-on dumpling making lesson with a local grandma
A homemade lunch featuring your freshly cooked dishes
Grandma's signature home-style side dishes
All cooking ingredients, utensils, and aprons
Complimentary water and soft drinks
Excludes
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses
Gratuities (optional, but appreciated)
Important Information
- Please contact us directly after your reservation to advise of any allergies, vegan diets, or specific dietary requirements so we can prepare accordingly.
No cooking experience is required.
Recipes are simple and practical.
Ingredients can be found anywhere in the world.
Class is suitable for families, couples, and friends of all ages
The activity involves preparing and consuming pork and gluten-containing dishes.
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
