SH: What inspires you to travel?
CM: The need for a change of scenery, to bring out the parts of me that can't flourish wherever I'm working.

SH: What are some of your favourite destinations?
CM: Now that I'm an actor, I usually work in cities, so my favourite places to visit are where Mother Nature is in charge. I grew up in England, so I like hot places! Kenya and Thailand are heaven, and for work Hong Kong is perfect because you can stay on a quiet rainforest beach like Silvermine Bay and commute to Central Hong Kong.

SH: Most valued travel tips?
CM: Noise-cancelling headphones. I've only been flying long-haul for the past five years or so, and I'm so impressed by the movie selections on Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. And with these headphones, flying is my favorite thing. I never sleep on planes anymore!

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
CM: The smiles of old people. There's a couple in their 70s in the lane I live in who have an apartment that is the size of their bed, with a kettle on a stool by the door. They collect and sell the recycleable waste for the lane. They're the happiest couple I ever saw.

SH: What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
CM: Being judged by one's nationality in Immigration and customs. The US border protection people don't seem to like ANYONE! I was told off for hugging in the queue!

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
CM: Living in China and eating the full range of available food means one has a pretty strong constitution, so eating local food isn't a problem abroad either. I thought street seafood in Thailand would be a problem, but it wasn’t at all. I like practising yoga on the beach early in the morning. You see the locals getting up and going about their business. It's a beautiful time. The trick is to find a hard, dry bit of sand, or you end up yoga-ing in a wet hole!

SH: What can’t you leave home without?
CM: Something to write in. Something to record my inner monologue so I can remember how places feel, not just how they look.

SH: What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
CM: My army medals. But I wouldn't want to go back to any of those places. Some of the most beautiful places around the world have been warzones. Nothing ruins the mood of paradise like landmines.

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
CM: On my own, driving a hire car into the USA from Canada for four days. Solitude is pacifying. It helps you let off steam.

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, bar that you have visited while traveling?
CM: The Watergate Bay Café in Cornwall. I stayed there in a tent for a week, washing in the sea with my dog, taking long walks on the beach and writing all day in the café with a bottle of wine. The best way to mend a broken heart!

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
CM: The Caribbean, India and Brazil. One for chill, one for adventure, and one for madness. My honeymoon is coming up in six months. I wonder which it will be...

SH: Who is your favourite traveling companion?
CM: My fiancée. She’s tough but beautiful, organised and relaxed. Never stressed, always sexy. The opposite of me! I'm in safe hands.

SH: What is your ideal holiday?
CM: Lying on the sofa in our lovely old apartment in Shanghai for a week, watching DVDs. I've never done it, and probably never will; actors don't retire.

SH: What inspires you to travel?
DL: I have a tremendous sense of adventure. I get bored really easily with the environment I’m in, so I always want to be discovering new things – new foods, new cultures, new people. I have a constant thirst for discovery. Also, the more I travel, the more places I see… and the more I’ve understood the similarities in people and not the differences.

SH: What are some of your favorite destinations?
DL: Definitely Thailand. Koh Samui because it’s one of the first places I ever visited. I absolutely love it. It’s always been there for me when I’ve needed to clear my head. I love Paris too – it’s just such an awesome, beautiful city, especially when you have learned to avoid the tourist traps when it comes to eating and you’re able to find the hidden gems. Also southern Europe in general is a place I could spend a lot of time in. Borneo too as it’s still so untouched and beautiful. You know you’re in one of the last great jungles on the planet. To be honest, there’s not any place I don't like to travel to…

SH: Most valued travel tips for yourself and/or others?
DL: To always travel with an open mind and a sense of self-balance. If you’re in a bad mood or if people are getting to you, you just won’t enjoy the experience as much. You always need to be tolerant and open, especially when you travel to less developed areas. It makes the trip more enjoyable… you can connect with people. To summarize, go with the right attitude.

Also if you’re on limited time, make sure to pre-plan and have your hit list ready of what you want to see. Of course, make sure you have cash on hand for emergency situations!

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
DL: I don't miss the rain, that’s for sure! But I do miss the fact that it currently feels like home. I miss my friends and family of course. If I’m not traveling with my family, I miss them more than anything else really. But I don't miss places per se, because I’m always in the moment, wherever I am. I always look forward, never back…helps to make me a great traveler!

SH: Which aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
DL: If I’m somewhere that’s absolutely perfect…it’s leaving. That’s always really hard to do. Also long waits between destinations – delayed flights, bus trips, etc. On long trips, I don't look forward to waiting. Also, I don't like getting up really, really early to catch a flight! Apart from that, I have a natural sense of adventure so I don't really feel negative about anything. Oh, and if there is no internet connection, that sucks!

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
DL: If you’re away on business, eating and drinking is a natural part of the trip. So it’s about finding balance and finding the time to squeeze in workouts. Try to eat healthily. It’s challenging though – if you have early morning meetings, you can’t get to the gym. But on personal holidays, when I’m in a great destination with beautiful weather, good food (like Thailand or Greece), I naturally just want to hike and swim and eat well. Cut back on alcohol. It’s just a natural thing that happens.

SH: What can’t you leave home without?
DL: I would have to say my iPhone, iPad or computer so I can stay connected anywhere and anytime, so long as there is an internet connection. That’s all I need. Everything else I can do without. If I’m stuck anywhere, then it serves as entertainment. But really it’s about staying connected, no matter where I am.

SH: What is your most treasured possession you have picked up while traveling?
DL: Memories and my tattoos.

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
DL: There have been los of great ttrips in my life. But I guess there are two that really are tied for ‘best trip’. The first was backpacking through Europe for three months when I was younger, which ended with my 21st birthday in Israel on the Dead Sea. I traveled through 15 countries during that trip and it was super-memorable. Rivaling that is the one month I took in Koh Samui about five years ago. I took off my shoes and basically became a hippie for a month. And I added to my tattoo collection. So it’s a toss up between the two.

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, bar that you have visited while traveling?
DL: There are different ones for different reasons. From a gourmet standpoint, honestly there are just so many. But if I had to narrow it down, these are the three I would mention. Tetsuya’s - a Japanese restaurant in Sydney. He’s one of the finest chefs on the planet. I went there with great friends and enjoyed one of the best culinary experiences in the world. Then there are the beach side eateries in Samui where you get to put your feet in the sand, pick a fresh fish, have a BBQ, a bowl of steamed rice, prik nam pla – I’m in heaven. Many of the beach side joints offer this, but if I had to name one, it would be the Friendly Bungalow Restaurant on Samui.

Finally, theres a little tavern on the Greek island of Zakynthos where I stopped off while riding my rented motorbike. I indulged in fried calamari, Greek salad, olives, and a bunch of awesome little Greek snacks. This really stands out as one of the clearest pictures in my head. An incredibly cool meal.

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
DL: India is up there. I’ve always wanted to go to Goa. Then there’s Mexico, Brazil, Cuba… plus about 120 more!

SH: Who is your favorite traveling companion?
DL: My wife and daughter. Or alone – I love the freedom that comes with traveling by myself. I can go 100% with the flow.

SH: What is your ideal holiday?
DL: Being somewhere that allows me to enjoy great, simple food. Having a beach nearby, and somewhere I can go hiking in the mountains, so I have a combination of being physical, doing nothing and eating really well.

SH: What inspires you to travel?
CW: For me it’s all about visiting friends, or travelling with good mates to new places.

SH: What are some of your favourite destinations?
CW: Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I also love Europe for its culture, especially Italy, Spain, Great Britain and the South of France. Paris is one of my favorite cities.

SH: Most valued travel tips for yourself and/or others?
CW: After packing your bag, take half out. When you arrive, shop in food markets for a picnic lunch. Follow the locals for good places to eat. Spend your money on experiences rather than buying things to carry home.

SH: What do you miss about Shanghai while you are away?
CW: Riding my bicycle through the city streets.

SH: What aspect of traveling do you find the most difficult to do?
CW: Mostly the planning, and finding unusual places to stay.

SH: How do you maintain health and fitness when you are away?
CW: I take early morning runs, swim laps in the hotel pool, and try to remember not to eat too much!

SH: What has been your most memorable holiday?
CW: My first big trip. I spent six months in Europe, and had so many eye-opening experiences. It was a big deal for a country boy from Australia.

SH: What is the best restaurant, café, or bar that you have visited while traveling?
CW: I love all of the tapas bars in San Sebastian, and the Benoit bistro in Paris.

SH: What are the top holiday destinations that you are yet to visit?
CW: On my list are Turkey, Greece, Russia and Eastern Europe, as well as Outback Australia and the Kakadu National Park.

SH: What is your ideal holiday?
CW: Anywhere with new places to explore, and time to rest.

1. Rosa Gallica

This attractive florist shop in the Ferguson Lane complex sells fresh blooms as well as house plants and floral paraphernalia.

Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Lu, near Tai'an Lu

2. Caojiadu Flower Market

Tucked away between high rises, this sprawling flower market stocks every imaginable flower, bouquet and receptacle.

1148 Changshou Lu, near Wanhangdu Lu

3. Au Nom de la Rose

This French Concession flower shop is a go-to for scented blooms.

122 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Shanxi Nan Lu

4. Hongqiao Bird and Flower Market

If you live out west, get your flowers on the cheap at this market. Get a bird too, if it takes your fancy.

718 Hongjing Lu, near Hongsong Lu

5. The Graces Floral

Posh blooms abound at this west French Concession florist, along with wreaths and bouquets.

Room 101, Building 5, Lane 288 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Panyu Lu

6. Annie's Florist

This flower store near Xintiandi is run by Annie Wang, an experienced florist who gets her goods from New Zealand and Yunnan.

264 Madang Lu, near Zizhong Lu

7. Secret Garden

Pudong residents should head to Jinqiao Carrefour to stock up on flowers.

1/F, Jinqiao Carrefour, 185 Fangdian Lu, near Yanggao

8. Wan Qun

If you want something that lasts a bit longer, head to Wan Qun for fake flowers.

406-1 Shaanxi Nan Lu, near Fuxing Lu

9. Carpe Diem

Another French Concession gem, Carpe Diem has a great selection of blooms.

Lane 120, Tai'an Lu, near Xingguo Lu

10. Boutique de la Fleur

Posh Sinan Mansions has its very own flower shop in the shape of Boutique de la Fleur.

Sinan Mansions, 531 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Sinan Lu

1. Dinner at La Finca

Head to Xintiandi for a six-course Spanish dinner at La Finca for Chinese Valentine's day. Live music and Spanish Champagne when you arrive, all for 588 RMB per couple.

2. Lavender Dinner at Maison Pourcel

La Table at Maison Pourcel is going purple for Qixi, with a special four-course meal prepared by executive chef Christophe Lerouy. Champagne and dessert included, for 718 RMB per person.

3. Dinner at Käfer

Test out the newly opened Käfer with a four-course set menu for Chinese Valentine's. There's foie gras terrine, white tomato soup and steak for mains, followed by Aphrodite chocolate cake, all for 1,298 RMB (plus 10 percent surcharge) per couple.

4. Tsai Chin Concert

Romance is in the air. Taiwanese singer Tsai Chin is performing on Chinese Valentine's evening at the Shanghai Grand Stage, singing old favorites from her 30-year career. Tickets cost 280 - 1,280 RMB.

5. Valentine's Day Treasure Hunt

Embrace your inner child with a treasure hunt around the city organized by YANA Adventures, starting at 2pm. 299 RMB per person.

1. See Shanghai in Miniature @ Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

If you still haven’t made it to this museum, set aside your next rainy day for a trip. It’s located inside the weird white up-ended spaceship in People’s Park, and is most famous for its amazing scale model of Shanghai that you can walk around on a series of raised platforms. The archive photos of Shanghai through the ages are also worth a look, and we particularly enjoyed steering a ship up the Huangpu on the special simulator.

Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, 100 Renmin Da Dao, near Xizang Lu

2. Indoor Climbing @ Hongkou Stadium

What better way to spend a rainy day than hanging by your fingertips from a rocky outcrop? Ok, so it’s Hongkou Stadium and not the Grand Canyon, but things can get pretty vertiginous up in there. Open since 1998, Hengyi is Shanghai’s longest established indoor climbing facility. It has 500 square meters of climbing space and a variety of routes up the walls.

Hengyi Indoors Rock Climbing Gym, 3/F, Gate 21, Hongkou Football Stadium, 444 Dongjiangwan Lu, near Huayuan Lu

3. See Mao’s Ashtray @ Shanghai Tobacco Museum

This quirky museum in Yangpu offers plenty of “WTF?” moments, including displays of smoking paraphernalia belonging to nicotine-addicted dignitaries like Deng Xiaoping and the Helmsman himself. For history buffs, it provides a nice round-up of China’s tobacco industry, and for everyone else it’s another notch on your ‘bizarre Shanghai experiences’ bedpost.

728 Changyang Lu, near Tongbei Road

4. Go-Karting @ Disc Kart Indoor Karting

If you’re anything like us, the last time you went go-karting was for your cousin’s 10th birthday. Relive those heady childhood days of hard knocks and grazed knees at Disc Kart. With 4,500 square meters of indoor track and a well-stocked bar, it’s either the best or the worst idea you’ve ever had.

809 Zaoyang Lu, near Jinshajiang Lu metro station

5. Get Your Skates on @ Champion Skating Rink

Ice-skating is more commonly associated with winter, but Champion Skating Rink is open all year round. If it’s raining outside, an afternoon on the ice is a good way to escape the humidity.

Champion Skating Rink, 8 Songhu Lu, Youyicheng Shopping Center, near Handan Lu

6. See Some Art @ M50

Everyone knows about M50, the contemporary art complex on Moganshan Lu, but for most of us it’s one of those “do it on a rainy day” things. So now the rainy season is here, it’s time to head over to the creek. As well as plenty of urban grit (graffiti, buildings marked for demolition, etc.) there are galleries, cafés, shops and studios.

M50, 50 Moganshan Lu, near Changhua Lu

1. The Sonnet Song Cycle

Hate weddings but like love? Try this literary and musical meld at Twocities Gallery. Washington DC-based pianist and composer Burnett Thompson comes back to Shanghai with an evening of Shakespeare’s sonnets set to music. It is part of the Silent Shakespeare project that’s hosted events at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Goethe Institute, the Shakespeare Theatre, and the National Arts Club in New York. Shanghai jazz singer Coco Zhao will also be appearing. Free entry. Doors close at 7:30 pm.

2. TECHNOW - 2011 Launch

Forget the Wedding March. Austro-German techno-heads MUSHIDO are playing at MAO Livehouse this Friday, and it’s going to be big. Tickets 100 RMB on the door, including two drinks. Presale 80 RMB including a limited edition Technow gift bag and two drinks 2x free drinks.

3. Shanghai Vice @ Bar Rouge

Nothing says summer quite like the annual re-opening of Bar Rouge’s terrace. As ever, they are holding a party to celebrate. Typically, the theme is “Vice”. Dress code for guys is “fresh dandy”, and for girls “sleek demoiselle”. Okay… Tickets 100 RMB on the door. Starts 10pm.

4. Never Mind The Royal Wedding, Here's Some Bollocks

Doyen of the city’s bars (and rival publications), Ned Kelly is throwing an anti-monarchy party down at Cotton’s on Xinhua Lu from 6pm. Free entry. 

5. Ming’s Pretty Heroes

There’s usually something good on at Yuyintang on Fridays, and this week is no different. Come hear some music from the Netherlands from 9pm. Tickets 40 RMB on the door.
 

1. Chung Hwa Pencils: Every kid who has sat the gaokao knows about these pencils. Green and sleek, with a 2B lead for best performance, they are a snip at 1 RMB each. The pencils are made by the China First Pencil Company Ltd., which was indeed China’s first pencil company when it was started by Wu Gengmei in 1935.

2. Peh Chao Lin: This old-school cosmetics brand has branched out and modernized since it was established in 1931, but its classic rose-scented cold cream is still available in the original blue tins decorated with birds.

3. Feiyue: Almost a cliché but not quite, Feiyue sneakers are the footwear of choice for martial arts enthusiasts and hip laowai all over the city. The brand was launched in Shanghai in the 1920s, and taken over in 2006 by an enterprising French guy who has added a range of colors and designs. We reckon the classic blue and red logo on plain white shoes is still the best.

4. Warrior: Beloved of the lofty Yao Ming himself, Warrior (Huili) training shoes are built with basketball in mind. They were first made in Shanghai in 1927 and can be purchased today for under 100 RMB. Bargain.

5. Forever Bicycles: Although Forever has recently launched a new updated model with funky white-trimmed wheels, its retro postman’s bikes are still the most iconic. Launched in Shanghai in 1940, the Forever brand is still a common sight on the streets.

Good news for fans of the legendary Moleskine notebook. The world's first standalone Moleskine shop has opened up in Xintiandi's new Style mall. Ok, so it's more of a stall than an actual shop, but it's still pretty cool. It has a much wider range of books that the stalls in the foreign language bookshops, and stock cool accessories like iPad and iPhone cases (with a notebook included). Also in evidence are the Snoopy and Little Prince special ranges, as well as the Passions journals. So if you don't mind spending as much on a notebook as on dinner for two, get yourself down there.

Find it: Xintiandi Style Mall, Unit 147, 245 Madang Lu near near Zizhong Lu (马当路245号1楼147室, 近自忠路)

1. Yao Chen 

Find out what happens in the daily life of a Chinese actress. Yao Chen might not be the most famous, but Weibo loves her. She was the first user to top 1 million followers in February 2010.

2. Wang Jiayun 

This college student from Shenzhen garnered fame with her endless photo posts. She attracted the attention of Korean Weibo users thanks to her uncanny likeness to a blow-up doll. Seriously.

3. 小S 

One of Taiwan’s best-loved presenters, 小S doesn’t pull her punches when she takes to her Weibo. Her sister 大S is also a prolific Weibo user.

4. Cai Kangyong 

If you follow 小S you might as well follow Cai Kangyong too, as they’re BFFs along with 大S. Banter.

5. Zhao Wei 

Hot on Yao Chen’s heels is fellow actress Zhao Wei, who was the second Weibo user with more than 1 million fans. Zhao tells it like it is.

6. Angry Editor 

Bilingual snark from the perennially piqued proofreader and PR person.

7. Li Kaifu 

Li caused a stir when he publically resigned as president of Google China in September 2009.
He Weibs about the development of his new company, and sometimes his kids.

8. Tom Cruise 

The crazy isn’t restricted to Twitter. Get your dose of Cruise without a VPN.

9. Bill Gates 

Smart move, Bill. The Microsoft mogul reaches out to the Chinese market with his Weibo.

10. Huang Jianxiang 

Well-known sports commentator Weibs and reposts a lot. So much so that he lost a lot of followers, but he’s slowly earning them back.

P.S. We’re on Weibo too. Follow us for updates in Chinese about what’s happening on the site and around Shanghai.