Shanghai's Moller Villa: The Real Story (and maybe a ghost or two?)
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It's smack in the middle of the city center. Expecting a sprawling manor? What were you thinking?
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Oh, so when you say 'checking it out,' you just mean snapping a quick photo while passing by? If that's the case, it's probably not worth a special trip. If you get the chance, you can dine or stay inside. They usually have a Christmas market with reasonable prices. Do a bit of research beforehand, and staff will give guided tours.
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Thanks for the tip, got it!
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If you ask me, Moller Villa is actually more attractive than the Wukang Mansion, especially in spring and summer when the flowers are blooming. What's the big deal about Wukang Mansion? So many people flock there for photos – that's something I find even harder to understand. I've always just seen it as an old building.
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I think the architecture is fantastic.
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It's not just by the roadside; there's a residential complex right next to it! My family actually lives in one of those buildings.
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Awesome.
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That's just clickbait. So dramatic! If you want to see classical gardens, go to Suzhou. It's a rare feat for Shanghai to preserve such a place in the city center, and it's not a small area either. Why does it need a subway station at its doorstep? Does every attraction require direct subway access? And what about the 'city walk' you mentioned? Can't even walk a kilometer? This place was always intended for quiet business.
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Who even mentioned a 'city walk' to you? I was on a three-day trip and didn't plan for one. My goal was museums, the planetarium, and hitting landmark photo spots. I was with my parents, and I didn't want them to do a 'city walk' either; our time was limited. Besides, a kilometer is nothing – is that really your point? I can easily clock nearly 20,000 steps a day, so how did you twist that into me not being able to walk a single kilometer? If I'm not taking my parents to these 'check-in' spots on a first visit, am I supposed to just have them wander aimlessly? Is it wrong to save 'slow travel' for a second visit? Also, as I mentioned in my post, the villa itself states it's not a tourist 'check-in' destination. And why are you attacking my username? You're being really strange.
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It's not your fault. Following travel advice from platforms like Xiaohongshu often means it's all about 'checking off' one spot after another, with no mention of the actual journey or logistics. Moller Villa isn't really for first-time visitors to Shanghai who are in a rush. If you see a couple of nice photos and insist on going, you'll find the transport inconvenient, and the scenery might not feel worth all the effort, leading to disappointment. It's different if you're a photographer or genuinely interested in old architecture.
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That's exactly my point. There really isn't that much to see. So, rather than warning people off this specific place, I was trying to caution against these overhyped 'must-visit influencer spots.' Perhaps my wording wasn't clear enough, as the comments section is now full of people just looking to argue.
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Moller Villa be like: I literally have 'Villa' in my name, what the heck 'Manor'?!
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When traveling, unless there's a specific spot you're absolutely set on visiting, I'd suggest picking places you have some general knowledge about, and then choosing attractions that are clustered together and easy to get to. If you're short on time, going out of your way for those 'picture-perfect' spots (often just cleverly angled photos you see on social media) will usually lead to disappointment. A more leisurely, roaming style of travel is often better; you'll discover unexpected sights along the way.
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That's great advice, thank you. My family and I were on a three-day trip. We visited two museum wings and the planetarium, and also wanted to see some popular architectural spots for photos with my parents. So yes, it was a bit of a whirlwind tour because time was tight. I agree that a more relaxed, leisurely pace is the ideal way to travel. I'll definitely be back; the people in Shanghai are great!
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Always 'warning' about this and 'warning' about that...
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I've only ever posted this one review about a place... Where am I 'always warning' about things? What you're saying is a bit baffling. And I'm warning against so-called 'overhyped influencer spots,' not 'influencers' themselves, like some other posts do.
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What's there to 'warn' people about? At least here you can have afternoon tea. With the Wukang Mansion, you can only look at it from the outside.
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I clearly stated it was a little heads-up for people like me who specifically come to take nice photos for social media, because I personally didn't find it that impressive – it's really just one photogenic corner. I chose my words carefully. If you're planning to go for a meal or afternoon tea, then my opinion doesn't apply to you. Perhaps read my original statement more carefully before you try to argue.