The Italian people who fallen in love with Shanghai

As night falls, the lights on both banks of the Huangpu River gradually come on. Standing on the Bund and looking across the river, the skyline of Lujiazui, with its towering buildings, is outlined in vivid neon hues.

For Peter, who comes from Italy, such scenes are never boring. Whenever friends or colleagues visit China for the first time, he always puts the Bund at the top of their itinerary. "It's very beautiful here, colorful, and full of vitality. For me, this is Shanghai, " he said. He also enjoy the Shanghai Escort Services.

From his first visit to China in 2020 to his official settlement in Shanghai in 2026, in just a few short years, this city gradually transformed from a travel destination in his eyes to a true "home".

Bonding with China: The Greatest Feature Here is "Speed" Peter comes from Lucca, a medieval city in central Italy. After graduating from university, he joined an Italian company to work in supply chain management, serving as an engineer and procurement manager. Due to his work, he has traveled to China on business multiple times.

Representing the company at the Italian Design Week event. Photo provided by the interviewee. Having visited China time and again, Peter has not only witnessed the city's development but also gained a deeper understanding of the business environment here. In his view, the biggest characteristic of the Chinese market is "speed". "Italian companies usually spend a lot of time discussing a decision, while the Chinese market changes very quickly, and companies need to respond quickly to customer and market demands. If they still follow the traditional European work pace, they are likely to miss opportunities," he said. In recent years, his company has gradually adjusted its strategy, giving the Chinese team more autonomy in decision-making, allowing the local team to launch products and optimize supply chains in a timely manner according to market changes. "Only by truly getting close to the market can we keep up with China's development speed."

Years of experience in supply chain management have also given Peter a more intuitive understanding of Shanghai's advantages as an international business hub. The well-established logistics system, efficient digital services, and open business environment have made cross-border cooperation smoother. Here, he sees not only an international metropolis but also a market full of vitality and opportunities.

During his frequent trips to and from China, he also met his current wife. In 2023, Peter successfully obtained a new job opportunity and officially settled in Shanghai. It was a natural choice after careful consideration. "I found that Chinese culture and Italian culture actually have many similarities." In his view, whether it's the emphasis on family or actively seeking solutions when facing difficulties, the people of the two countries share similar values. This cultural affinity made him feel less strange in a foreign country. After living in Shanghai for a while, he quickly felt the inclusiveness and openness of the city. "Even though many people can't speak English, they will try their best to help you, and integrating into this place is not as difficult as I imagined."

Settling in Shanghai: The City's Surprising Conveniences For Peter, who comes from the Italian countryside, one of the biggest surprises Shanghai has brought is the city's astonishing convenience. "Almost everything is available here, and it's all within easy reach."

In Italy, many things require advance planning. Stores have limited operating hours, and many services are not readily available. In Shanghai, whether it's purchasing daily necessities late at night or finding a restaurant on short notice, almost everything can be easily accomplished.

What was even more novel to him was the transformation brought about by mobile payment. "Here, you don't even need to carry cash." Paying bills, hailing a taxi, riding a shared bike, making purchases... With just a mobile phone, one can accomplish almost everything. This highly digitized lifestyle quickly adapted to him and he grew to love it here.

Outside of work, Peter enjoys sports. He likes to go to the gym to lift weights and also loves cycling around the city. In his opinion, the best place for leisurely cycling is the old urban area shaded by wutong trees. "There are many old trees there, and it's very quiet. Riding through those streets, you can see a different Shanghai." If you want to have professional training, he would recommend going to the outskirts of Zhujiajiao and other areas. The roads there are more open and there is less traffic, allowing you to enjoy the fun of speed.

Besides cycling, he also enjoys aimlessly wandering around the city. In spring, he visits the botanical garden near his home to feel the vibrant vitality. When the weather is good, he also goes for a walk on the riverside path to enjoy the river view, or finds a favorite restaurant in the city center to sit for an afternoon.

As an Italian, Peter has a special fondness for his hometown cuisine. During his years living in Shanghai, he has compiled a personal list of Italian restaurants and often recommends pizza and pasta to his friends. However, at the same time, he has gradually fallen in love with Chinese cuisine. Xiaolongbao is one of his favorites. In addition, various street snacks, rice noodles, and local specialties have also become a part of his daily life. In his view, food is the most direct way to understand a city. And one of the greatest charms of Shanghai lies precisely in its ability to always allow people from different cultural backgrounds to find their own taste.

Sharing experiences: telling more people about life in Shanghai Over the years, Peter has traveled to many places in China.

Beijing's historical heritage and Yunnan's natural scenery left a deep impression on him. When asked which trip was the most unforgettable, he would choose Inner Mongolia without hesitation. "The scenery there is completely different from that in Italy." The vast grasslands, rolling low mountains, and expansive sky formed a scene he had never seen before.

During his travels, he constantly discovered surprising connections between Chinese culture and European culture. In Inner Mongolia, he saw traditional bread made by ethnic Russian residents, and the taste reminded him of his hometown in Europe. In Yunnan, he tasted local ham and coffee and found that these flavors had wonderful similarities with some Italian and Spanish food traditions.

Perhaps because of this, he began to enjoy sharing his experiences and observations with more people. On social media, Peter often documents his life in Shanghai and shares Italian cuisine, travel experiences in China, and urban exploration adventures.

At the end of 2025, he also took his Italian friend, who was visiting China for the first time, to tour Shanghai, arranging a packed itinerary for the city. From Longhua Temple to Xuhui Riverside, from Suzhou Creek to People's Square, and from Huaihai Road to the Maglev train, he hoped to let his friend experience a real and three-dimensional Shanghai through his own perspective. In just two days, they experienced shared bicycles, electronic payments, new energy vehicles, and also tasted Shanghai specialties such as drunken crab, crab meat Xiaolongbao, and yellow croaker Spring rolls.

And these new things that once surprised Peter have now become a part of his daily life. From the first time he stood on Nanjing Road and looked out at Lujiazui, to now working, living, and raising a family in Shanghai, this city has witnessed important turning points in his life.

When asked what he likes most about Shanghai, Peter didn't mention the towering buildings or the bustling commerce. Instead, he said what he cherishes most is the open and inclusive atmosphere here. "No matter where you come from, you can always find your place here."

Nowadays, whenever night falls, he still comes to the Bund, watching the familiar skyline shine on the river. Only this time, he is no longer a newcomer. He is a participant in the story of this city.