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YOU'VE BEEN LIED TO ABOUT CHINA 🇨🇳 (Here's Why)
Exploring Shanghai: The Real China in 2026 Beyond Media Lies
For years western media has painted China as a country that’s dystopian and controlled. But after travelling here for the last few weeks I realised the reality is completely different
Which is exactly why I wanted to make this video to share a day in my life as I travel around Shanghai exploring the...
For years western media has painted China as a country that’s dystopian and controlled. But after travelling here for the last few weeks I realised the reality is completely different. Which is exactly why I wanted to make this video to share a day in my life as I travel around Shanghai exploring the city and showing you what China is really like in 2026.
Isaac Elam shatters the 'dystopian' stereotype of China that Western media loves to push. Through a vivid day in Shanghai, he reveals the vibrant, modern reality of the country in 2026, urging viewers to see past the propaganda and experience China's true character for themselves.
For years western media has painted China as a country that’s dystopian and controlled. But after travelling here for the last few weeks I realised the reality is completely different. Which is exactly why I wanted to make this video to share a day in my life as I travel around Shanghai exploring the city and showing you what China is really like in 2026.
Isaac Elam kicks off his recent trip to Shanghai, Isaac Elam challenges Western media portrayals of China, showcasing a clean, efficient, and surprisingly advanced city. He starts his day by attempting to visit a futuristic Luckin Coffee location with floating pods, then settles for a mall branch. Using his phone, he orders an iced oat milk latte for just 12 yuan (£1.30), marveling at the seamless, contactless process. He notes the near-silent streets, full of electric vehicles and buses, and the spotless sidewalks. Isaac rents a portable power bank for 5 yuan by scanning a QR code, a service he finds incredibly forward-thinking. For transportation, he uses the app Didi to hail a cheap electric taxi, which costs about £1.60 for a 10-minute ride, and later takes the metro for a mere 3 yuan (33p). He relies on the A Maps app for navigation, as Google Maps doesn't work. His main event is dinner at Space Lab, a futuristic restaurant where food is delivered via an overhead rail system by robots. While Isaac finds the robot delivery a bit gimmicky, he enjoys the Western-style pasta, fries, and beer, the total bill being 83 yuan (£9). He reflects on the irony of a highly efficient, yet strangely disconnected society, where human interaction is minimized. After dessert, he expertly navigates the metro using Alipay's transport QR code, praising its ease and affordability. Isaac concludes that China is not the dystopian place he was told about, but a country of constant surprises and incredible convenience.
Isaac Elam shatters stereotypes in this eye-opening Shanghai vlog, proving China is far from the dystopian portrayal in Western media. From ordering a $1.30 oat latte via QR code at futuristic Luckin Coffee to riding whisper-quiet electric taxis, he reveals a hyper-efficient, eco-conscious society. The highlight? A mind-blowing dinner at Space Lab, where robots zip meals along overhead rails in a neon-lit spectacle. Isaac’s journey is a vibrant, firsthand account of a country that’s not just advanced, but surprisingly convenient and welcoming.
In Shanghai, Isaac Elam busts myths, revealing a clean, electric-powered city with $1.30 lattes and a robot-delivered dinner that redefines convenience.
Shanghai Reality: Electric Cars Robot Dining & Cheap Eats in 2026
3:26 Use Luckin Coffee for cheap, reliable, and contactless orders. An iced oat latte costs around £1.30, and you don't need to speak Chinese.
4:22 Rent portable power banks from stations all over the city via QR code. It costs about 5 yuan for 50 minutes, which is essential for keeping your phone charged for payments and maps.
7:10 Use the Alipay app to book taxis via Didi. Confirm your identity by showing the driver the last four digits of your phone number on their screen to avoid language issues.
20:51 Look for platform screen doors on the metro; they only open when the train arrives, which is a great safety feature not seen in many other countries.
22:04 The Shanghai metro is incredibly cheap and efficient. A 10-minute ride costs about 3 yuan (33p), and you can pay easily with a QR code from the Alipay transportation card.
3:26 Use Luckin Coffee for cheap, reliable, and contactless orders. An iced oat latte costs around £1.30, and you don't need to speak Chinese.
4:22 Rent portable power banks from stations all over the city via QR code. It costs about 5 yuan for 50 minutes, which is essential for keeping your phone charged for payments and maps.
7:10 Use the Alipay app to book taxis via Didi. Confirm your identity by showing the driver the last four digits of your phone number on their screen to avoid language issues.
20:51 Look for platform screen doors on the metro; they only open when the train arrives, which is a great safety feature not seen in many other countries.
22:04 The Shanghai metro is incredibly cheap and efficient. A 10-minute ride costs about 3 yuan (33p), and you can pay easily with a QR code from the Alipay transportation card.
0:00 Introduction to Shanghai
0:32 Ordering at Luckin Coffee
2:10 Electric Vehicles Everywhere
4:22 Renting a Power Bank
5:52 Navigating with A Maps
7:10 Taking an Electric Taxi a Taxi
9:25 Returning the Power Bank
10:45 Dining at Space Lab
19:24 Taking the Shanghai Metro
22:49 Final Thoughts on China
0:00 Introduction to Shanghai
0:32 Ordering at Luckin Coffee
2:10 Electric Vehicles Everywhere
4:22 Renting a Power Bank
5:52 Navigating with A Maps
7:10 Taking an Electric Taxi a Taxi
9:25 Returning the Power Bank
10:45 Dining at Space Lab
19:24 Taking the Shanghai Metro
22:49 Final Thoughts on China
shanghai travelluckin coffeeelectric vehiclesrobot restaurantportable power bankshanghai metrodidi taxialipay guidechina 2026western food shanghaiHow do you navigate without Google Maps?
You need to use the app called A Maps or a similar Chinese map app. It's not as good as Google Maps but works well for metros and finding your way.
Is it easy to get a coffee without speaking Chinese?
Yes, it's very easy. You just use the Luckin Coffee app or Alipay to order a coffee on your phone, and then you scan a QR code to pick it up. No need to speak to anyone.
How much did the futuristic Space Lab restaurant cost?
It cost me 83 yuan for a beer, pasta, and fries, which is about £9. That's considered expensive in China, but you are paying for the unique experience and the food was good.
