Mission Possible
Xitang is rightly-known as one of Shanghai's most famous water towns, not the least of which is because Tom Cruise beat up bad guys there in the film Mission: Impossible III. It's as quaint as you imagine, with stone-paved sidewalks edging windy little canals. On August 2, SISU Cycling is putting together a delightful weekend trip which takes in the charms of Xitang's canals, plus gets you out on a bike, cruising the trails in Sheshan.

Arrive in Xitang in the afternoon and check into a decent guesthouse, furnished with air conditioning and shower, situated right on a canal. Then dive into the local culture the best way possible: through food. You'll learn how to roll dumplings by hand, make a bunch of your own, then have them cooked to perfection in a local restaurant. Afterwards, go out and explore the warren of alleys and canals as the evening falls, especially the unmissable Shipi Lane. At 70 meters long, it's only a meter wide at its widest. That night, end up at a local bar to compare notes over beers.

The next day enjoy a leisurely morning before packing up the bikes and helmets and heading to Sheshan, the only national park within Shanghai proper. There you'll blaze trails and crash through the underbrush on the forest-topped hills, eventually making your way to the peak where you'll find the famed cathedral built over a century ago. Don't miss the still-active nunnery below the cathedral, and see if you can talk your way in for a visit.

Dive into the local culture the best way possible: through food

DETAILS

What: Xitang and Sheshan Mountain Weekend
When: Aug. 2-3
Cost: ¥980 per person
Web: http://www.sisucycling.com
Tel: 139-1804-0050