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Google Play’s Indie Games Fund in Latin America returns for its 4th year

Posted by Daniel Trócoli – Google Play Partnerships

We’re thrilled to announce the return of Google Play’s Indie Games Fund (IGF) in Latin America for its fourth consecutive year! This year, we’re once again committing $2 million to empower another 10 indie game studios across the region. With this latest round of funding, our total investment in Latin American indie games will reach an impressive $8 million USD.

Since its inception, the IGF has been a cornerstone of our commitment to fostering growth for developers of all sizes on Google Play. We’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact this support has had, enabling studios to expand their teams, refine their creations, and reach new audiences globally.

What’s in store for the Indie Games Fund in 2025?

Just like in previous years, selected small game studios based in Latin America will receive a share of the $2 million fund, along with support from the Google Play team.

As Vish Game Studio, a previously selected studio, shared: “The IGF was a pivotal moment for our studio, boosting us to the next level and helping us form lasting connections.” We believe in fostering these kinds of pivotal moments for all our selected studios.

The program is open to indie game developers who have already launched a game, whether it’s on Google Play, another mobile platform, PC, or console. Each selected recipient will receive between $150,000 and $200,000 to help them elevate their game and realize their full potential.

Check out all eligibility criteria and apply now! Applications will close at 12:00 PM BRT on July 31, 2025. To give your application the best chance, remember that priority will be given to applications received by 12:00 PM BRT on July 15, 2025.

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01/07/2025
WhatsApp Introduces Ads in Its App

They will appear in only one part of the Meta-owned messaging service, it said. The move is potentially lucrative, while raising questions about user privacy.

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18/06/2025
Apple Unveils Its Next Generation of Software

The first big change is with all of the software naming. Instead of iOS 19, Apple has moved to a year naming system. So it’s iOS 26. That applies to all of the other software versions.

Along with a new name is a significant updated design. Apple is calling it Liquid Glass. The translucent material reflects and refracts surroundings to bring content into better focus. It’s a significant change, but something that Apple seems to have well thought out as it extends to all of the new software.

As you probably expected, Apple has made some big upgrades to Apple Intelligence. Live Translation is built into FaceTime and Messages to help communicate across languages. Visual Intelligence has now been extended to the entire iPhone screen.

Shortcuts have also been powered up with Apple Intelligence. It will also ID and summarize order tracking details sent from merchants. Developers can use a new Foundation Models framework to use Apple Intelligence privately and offline.

The phone part of the iPhone know shows a unified layout with Favorites, Recent, and Voice Mail. Call Screening will ask users questions to see if they want to pick up or ignore the call.

Another popular part of the iPhone, Messages, is also sporting new features. You can screen messages from unknown senders. They will appear in a dedicated folder and remained silenced until accepted.

On the iPad, expect much more of a Mac-like interface. A new window system allows you to resize apps and place them exactly where you want. A menu bar allows you to find a specific feature or tip along with accessing commands.

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10/06/2025
Why Your New Company Needs a Mission Statement Before Its First Transaction
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
A lot goes into building a company before it ever makes a sale — from brainstorming the idea to developing a business plan and crafting a go-to-market strategy. Whether you’re launching a physical storefront or an online business, early-stage planning involves countless moving parts. But there’s one critical step that often gets overlooked: writing a mission statement.

A mission statement defines the purpose of your business in one or two clear, compelling sentences. It acts as a north star for your team, your customers and your stakeholders — guiding decisions, shaping culture and communicating what your company stands for. It should be completed before launch, because it lays the foundation for everything that follows.

In my experience managing 22 companies across 89 countries, I’ve learned this firsthand: the businesses with the clearest missions move faster, scale smarter and stay grounded in their values.

Related: 11 Effective Marketing Strategies to Help Streamline Your Startup

Why a mission statement matters

At its core, a mission statement explains why your company exists. It clarifies your purpose, expresses your values and points to your goals. It’s not just a description — it’s a declaration. A good mission statement is:
- Clear and concise
- Actionable and achievable
- Aligned with your company’s five-year plan
It doesn’t just inspire; it directs. When my team faces a major decision, I often ask: What does our mission statement say? That one lens can resolve uncertainty, align priorities and keep us on course.

For example, one of my companies has a simple mission: To empower individuals by providing clean, effective and science-backed wellness solutions. That clarity filters everything — from product development to marketing to customer service. And it keeps us focused on our longterm goals, not just short-term wins.

How to write a mission statement

Writing a mission statement isn’t about sounding impressive. It’s about being intentional. Here’s a simple formula that works:

“Our mission is to [main goal for the next five years], in order to [the impact you want to make].”

This structure keeps your mission grounded and forward-looking. Save the big, audacious future goals for your vision statement — that’s where longterm aspiration lives. Here are some great examples of clear, focused mission statements:
- Nike: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.
- JPMorgan Chase: To be the most respected financial services firm in the world.
- Ford: To help build a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.
Now compare that to their vision statements, which take a broader, longterm view:
- Nike: To do everything possible to expand human potential.
- Ford: To shorten the distance between where you are and where you want to go.
Mission statements should be memorable. If you can’t say it in a single sentence, it’s not a mission — it’s messaging.

Why it should come before launch

Think of your mission as the blueprint for your business. Just like an architect wouldn’t start building without a plan, you shouldn’t start accepting orders without clarity on why your company exists.

Your mission should guide key decisions before you ever go to market:
- Product development: Does this align with our purpose?
- Hiring: Do these candidates reflect our values?
- Branding and marketing: Are we communicating what we truly stand for?
After launch, your mission continues to guide you, ensuring that growth doesn’t come at the expense of your core purpose. It also helps your business adapt while staying anchored to its identity.

A tool for attracting the right investors and talent

Investors today want more than financial returns. They want to believe in your why. A strong mission statement tells them you’re building something that lasts — not just chasing short-term profit.

The same is true for your team. A well-defined mission increases engagement, attracts values-aligned talent and builds a strong internal culture. People want to do meaningful work — and your mission tells them what that meaning is.

Related: How to Write An Unforgettable Company Mission Statement

Set your direction before you hit “go”

A mission statement does more than clarify your purpose — it drives focus, builds culture, and attracts support. It helps every stakeholder — from employees to investors to customers — understand your business on a deeper level.

By crafting your mission before your company makes its first sale, you create alignment from day one. You establish a guiding principle that shapes every action and decision — now and into the future.

Before you launch, take the time to ask: What’s the purpose behind this business? Your answer might just be the most valuable asset you create.
A lot goes into building a company before it ever makes a sale — from brainstorming the idea to developing a business plan and crafting a go-to-market strategy. Whether you’re launching a physical storefront or an online business, early-stage planning involves countless moving parts. But there’s one critical step that often gets overlooked: writing a mission statement.

A mission statement defines the purpose of your business in one or two clear, compelling sentences. It acts as a north star for your team, your customers and your stakeholders — guiding decisions, shaping culture and communicating what your company stands for. It should be completed before launch, because it lays the foundation for everything that follows.

In my experience managing 22 companies across 89 countries, I’ve learned this firsthand: the businesses with the clearest missions move faster, scale smarter and stay grounded in their values.

The rest of this article is locked.

Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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07/06/2025
Starbucks Is Hiring a Pilot to Captain Its Company Aircraft

Starbucks is hiring a “Captain – Pilot-in-Command” for its company Gulfstream aircraft.

According to the job posting, the role pays between $207,000 and $360,300 a year. (Business Insider notes that the average airline pilot earned around $250,000 in 2024.)

Related: Starbucks’ New CEO Can Make Up to $113 Million in His First Year

“The captain is one of the company’s most visible representatives to the passengers and serves as a Starbucks ambassador both at home and abroad,” the listing reads. “They model Starbucks’ guiding principles and act with tact and decorum, while providing the utmost in service and safety.”

Starbucks reportedly has at least two Gulfstream G550 jets.

While the job description doesn’t specifically say you’ll be helping the CEO get to the office so he can comply with the company’s return-to-office policy standards, it wouldn’t be a far-fetched idea. It’s been widely reported that Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol commutes over 1,000 miles multiple days a week from Newport Beach, California, to Starbucks’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington.

^{A Gulfstream G550 from a private company (not Starbucks) lands at Barcelona airport in Barcelona, Spain, on August 30, 2024. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images}

The pilot role has numerous responsibilities, including managing the flight and crew. Applicants should have a valid Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, a current 1st Class Medical Certificate, an FCC Restricted Radio Operator Certificate, and other FAA-based requirements.

Candidates should also have at least five years of experience operating as a captain with a corporate flight department and at least 5,000 hours of flight time, plus other certificates. See the job listing for the full slate of required items.

Related: ‘We’re Not Effective’: Starbucks CEO Tells Corporate Employees to ‘Own Whether or Not This Place Grows’

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28/05/2025
MEIZU focuses on global expansion with its latest lineup of smartphones

Known for its diverse smartphone offerings, MEIZU today is steadily growing with its converged AI ecosystem that combines hardware and software, multi-device interconnectivity, and full-scenario coverage. MEIZU smartphones, smart glasses, and smart cockpits are full-featured, rich experiences that are popular in emerging markets across Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. In addition, the company’s portfolio includes more, such as smart glasses, smart rings, smart watches, tablets, and even the FlymeAuto car system.

Now, MEIZU is continuing its expansion efforts with its Global Launch Event today, showcasing a variety of new phones, XR products, and more. From phones with giant batteries, excellent cameras, or gaming-friendly displays all powered by MEIZU’s AI-focused FlyMe OS, to affordable smart rings and XR glasses, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what you need to know.

MEIZU Note 22 Pro 5G – Durable, rugged, and smooth

The MEIZU Note 22 Pro is a phone built to last, with its Titanium alloy body designed for shock resistance. Utilizing internal shock-absorbing beams, cushioning structures, and Corning Gorilla glass up front, the Note 22 Pro has undergone more than a thousand reliability tests and is rated to withstand falls from up to 1.8m from all sides and corners.

Add to it an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, with more than 15 sealed components for full-body water resistance, and you know that the Note 22 Pro will be well-protected from any damage or the elements, wherever you are.

A phone made to last years needs the performance to back that up, and MEIZU has that covered. Powered by the Snapdragon 7S processor and 16GB RAM, with up to 12GB of additional virtual RAM, everything is as smooth as you can expect.

The impressive 144Hz refresh rate of the 6.78-inch 1.5 K resolution display adds to the feeling of silky smoothness. Whether playing your favorite games, taking pictures with the excellent 50MP camera, or simply scrolling through TikTok, performance isn’t a concern with the Note 22 Pro.

Finally, the huge 6,200mAh battery keeps everything running for a long time. And if you do run out of juice, 80W fast charging will give you a 50% charge in just 22 minutes.

Available from from $299 to $369 in three striking colorways—Lake Glide, Star Ash, and Cloud White—the MEIZU Note 22 Pro is an excellent option for those who want the complete package.

MEIZU Note 22 – A stunning camera on an affordable phone

The MEIZU Note 22 isn’t just a less-powerful variant of its Pro sibling; it has its own unique selling point—an excellent 108MP primary camera that’ll help you take beautiful photos in any lighting condition.

Combined with an 8MP ultrawide shooter, a 2MP portrait camera, and a 32MP selfie camera, the Note 22 should be your go-to if you’re looking for an affordable smartphone with a flagship-level camera setup.

The Note 22 isn’t a slouch in other areas, of course. The MediaTek Helo G99 processor and 8GB of RAM, which can be doubled virtually, keep everything running smoothly. You also get up to 1TB of storage, so you won’t have to worry about running out of space from all the photos you’ll be taking.

Everything looks great on the gorgeous 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, while the 120Hz screen refresh rate makes it smooth and lag-free. The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with impressive 40W fast charging.

The Note 22 utilizes MEIZU’s Titan Shield Architecture and has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, protecting the phone from damage and keeping it running for a long time. Available in a variety of color options, including Eclipse Black, Graphite Mist, Titanium Lux, and Steel Blue, the Note 22 has something for everyone. Its price will range from $179 to $299.

MEIZU Note 22 5G – Exquisite style and endurance

The MEIZU Note 22 5G isn’t just about speed—it’s engineered for endurance, durability, and everyday usability. With a rugged yet refined design inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, it combines premium aesthetics with real-world toughness. The Titan Shield alloy frame enhances resistance to drops, while the IP65 rating protects against dust and water, making it ready for whatever life throws your way.

Its 50MP AI-powered triple-camera system is ideal for capturing everything from detailed portraits to expansive landscapes, with smart scene optimization ensuring your shots always look their best.

Powering the Note 22 5G is up to 24GB of RAM (with virtual expansion), delivering consistently smooth performance over the long haul—whether you’re multitasking, gaming, or streaming. A massive 6,600mAh battery keeps you going for days, offering up to 48 days of standby time, and 40W fast charging gets you back to full power quickly when needed.

On the front, you’ll find a 6.78-inch Full HD+ LCD display that’s not only sharp and vibrant, but also flicker-free to reduce eye strain. A 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling and animations buttery smooth.

If you want a phone that balances power, style, and durability—with true all-day battery life—the MEIZU Note 22 5G delivers on all fronts. Get it in beautiful Pure Flame, Stonehold Black, or Snow White for $169 to $229.

MEIZU Mblu 22 Pro – Affordability and durability

Another exciting option if you’re in the market for an ultra-affordable smartphone designed to last is the MEIZU Mblu 22 Pro. The first Pro addition to the Mblu series, the Mblu 22 Pro brings plenty of features from its Note siblings to a significantly cheaper package.

That starts with the design. Also using MEIZU’s Titan Shield Architecture, the Mblu 22 Pro is constructed with high-strength materials and rigorously tested for reliability. Despite its price point, you don’t have to worry about shoddy construction or poor build quality with this phone.

It also offers plenty on the performance side. Powered by the MediaTek Helio G81 processor and 8GB of RAM (with an additional 8GB of virtual memory), the phone can easily handle most tasks. The 6.79-inch FHD+ display’s 120Hz screen refresh rate adds to the smoothness.

And with a 5,000mAh battery, the Mblu 22 Pro can comfortably last a full day, if not more, with everyday usage, including taking lots of pictures with the phone’s solid 50MP primary camera. If you’re looking for a phone that gets the essentials right, the MEIZU Mblu 22 Pro (available for $99 to $129) is worth considering.

MEIZU’s other releases at the Global Launch Event

MEIZU Mblu 22

The MEIZU Mblu 22 is as affordable as a smartphone can get while offering impressive features for the price. It has a large display with a 90Hz refresh rate, up to 12GB of extended RAM (4GB + 8GB virtual), and a solid 5,000mAh battery to keep the phone running for a long time.

MEIZU also highlighted a couple of exciting health and XR products at the launch event. While these devices are already available in China, the company is now bringing them to global markets.

StarV Ring2

The StarV Ring2 is all about health management. It offers comprehensive features, including sleep data tracking, stress management, blood oxygen monitoring, body temperature trends, and exercise monitoring. It also sets the industry benchmark in Hyperglycemia Risk Assessment and is one of the few smart rings with this feature.

You also get an impressive 15 days of battery life, and the lightweight, ceramic build feels comfortable on your finger. Its phone interaction capabilities also go beyond what you get with competitors, allowing you to answer calls, take photos, control the music player, and more.

And the best part is that you don’t have to worry about hidden charges or expensive monthly subscriptions to take advantage of all the features available with the StarV Ring2.

StarV View

Finally, there’s the StarV View. These incredibly stylish AR glasses are also designed for comfort, with an elastic hinge and a curved temple design that creates a comfortable, pressure-free fit. They weigh just 74g, and MEIZU has improved the weight distribution. All said and done, you can easily wear the StarV View for a long time without issue.

And you might want to because of the impressive video quality. You get what essentially amounts to an 188-inch screen, offering an unparalleled immersive experience whether you’re watching movies, playing games, or getting some work done.

The 120Hz refresh rate makes gaming a joy, and additional features like the ability to answer calls with a tap and a dual-mic noise reduction system make it a valuable work companion as well. The 700 nits of max brightness with ten adjustment levels makes it suitable for indoor and outdoor use. And you don’t have to worry about sound leaks, with a chamber design customized for privacy and leak-proofing.

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20/05/2025
Boeing Will Sell Its Digital Businesses for $10 Billion

Boeing announced on Tuesday that it would sell a handful of navigation, flight planning and other businesses for more than $10.5 billion as the company works to refocus on manufacturing planes and other aircraft.

The company, which also wants to reduce its large debt, said it would sell four businesses from a digital unit to Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm specializing in software. Those include Jeppesen, which provides navigational charts and information to pilots, and ForeFlight, an app that helps plan flights and monitor weather.

“This transaction is an important component of our strategy to focus on core businesses, supplement the balance sheet and prioritize the investment-grade credit rating,” Kelly Ortberg, Boeing’s chief executive, said in a statement.

The company said it expected to close the all-cash deal by the end of the year. The digital unit that houses those businesses employs about 3,900 people, though some of the unit will remain at Boeing. The company employed about 172,000 people as of the start of the year.

Mr. Ortberg, who joined the company last summer, made streamlining Boeing’s operations a strategic goal as he tries to address concerns about the quality of the company’s planes that were raised after a panel blew off a 737 Max plane during a January 2024 flight near Portland, Ore.

No one was seriously injured in that incident, but it renewed worries about Boeing’s planes several years after two fatal crashes of the 737 Max in 2018 and 2019. Safety and quality issues have stymied Boeing’s commercial plane production in recent years. Then last fall, production of the 737 Max, Boeing’s most popular commercial plane, came to a near standstill during a two-month worker strike.

In January, Mr. Ortberg said the company had resumed production of the Max, and was making more than 20 of those planes per month as well as five of the larger 787 Dreamliners.

That is well below the goal the company had set before last year’s panel incident of delivering 50 of its 737s and 10 of its 787s per month. Boeing has about 5,500 outstanding commercial plane orders, valued at hundreds of billions of dollars.

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23/04/2025
A new OnePlus tablet just cleared the FCC, but it’s not the one we were expecting
Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

The OnePlus Pad 2 with its keyboard cover and stylus
TL;DR

A new OnePlus tablet has been spotted in an FCC listing, labeled as the OnePlus Pad 3R.

The listing doesn’t reveal much about the tablet’s hardware specs.

A new OnePlus Pencil was also filed alongside it, and both products could launch soon.
For the past few weeks, rumors have been swirling about a new high-end OnePlus tablet. Most signs pointed to it being a follow-up to last year’s OnePlus Pad 2 — possibly a “Pad 2 Pro” with flagship-tier specs. But now, a fresh FCC filing suggests OnePlus might be heading in a different direction entirely.

As first reported by Droid Life, a new OnePlus device has appeared in the FCC database under the model number OPD2408. The listing identifies it as a tablet and includes a label that clearly names it the “OnePlus Pad 3R.” Also appearing in the FCC database is a new stylus under model number OPN2405, officially named the “OnePlus Pencil.”

The FCC documents mention support for dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wireless power transfer (WPT) on the tablet, though it’s unclear whether that last bit means we’re getting actual wireless charging. That’s still a rare feature on tablets, so it’s best to stay skeptical for now. The device is described as working in both standalone and keyboard-laptop modes, and the hardware/software builds are listed as OPD2408_11 and OPD2408_15.0.0.61, respectively.

That’s about all the FCC confirms on paper, but it’s what’s missing that makes things interesting. Prior leaks about this device hinted at a powerful tablet, possibly a rebadged version of the OPPO Pad 4 Pro, which was launched in China.

That model features a 13.2-inch 3K+ display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, up to 16GB of RAM, and a massive 12,140mAh battery. OnePlus often mirrors OPPO’s hardware under a different name, so expectations were set for something similar, if not identical.

So, where does the “Pad 3R” name come into play? That’s where things get a bit confusing. In the phone lineup, OnePlus typically reserves the “R” moniker for slightly trimmed-down, mid-range versions of its flagship devices, such as the OnePlus 13R compared to the full-fledged OnePlus 13.

But if this is truly the tablet with all those rumored high-end specs, branding it as “3R” instead of “2 Pro” suggests OnePlus might be rethinking how it positions its tablets.

Still, all we know for sure is that a new tablet, possibly called the OnePlus Pad 3R, is on the way. And with both the tablet and stylus now clearing the FCC, it might not be long before we see an official announcement.

Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com. You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it’s your choice.
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20/04/2025
Visiting Shanghai Now: It’s a Blue-Sky, App-Based Life

On a recent visit to Shanghai, I looked up through the canopy of trees in the former French Concession district, and realized the sky was not the customary gray but a bright blue.

At a busy intersection near Wukang Mansion, a century-old landmark reminiscent of New York City’s Flatiron Building, the scene was oddly quiet, as barely audible electric cars and bikes whizzed by.

And along a particularly hip stretch of Huaihai Road that would usually attract as many foreigners as locals, domestic tourists strolled along sidewalks empty of trash.

After a lifetime of loving Shanghai in spite of its pollution, noise and mess, I felt like I had taken off my rose-colored glasses only to discover that the city had turned pink.

In 2023, China began opening after its long pandemic closure. It began offering visa-free and transit-visa programs, setting up all-in-one apps like WeChat and Alipay to accept international credit cards and instructing hotels to welcome foreigners again.

In December, the country expanded and simplified the visa program, allowing travelers from 54 countries, including the United States, to enter visa-free for up to 10 days if in transit to another country. (Standard-issue tourist visas, which require an in-person consulate visit and allow you to stay longer, are still an option). It also increased the number of transit-visa entry cities to 60 and is now letting visitors travel freely between them.

All that is designed to make China easier to visit, but on my two-week stay I discovered a place that in some ways was more difficult to navigate. With proper planning and patience, though, visitors to Shanghai will discover a city just as varied and sophisticated in its post-lockdown character.

The country’s near-total transition to app-based life has brought incredible convenience to locals, but has also created a new barrier for travelers.

Before, businesses often had multi-language signs or websites; now, almost everything is digitized and consolidated onto the apps. I have the advantage of speaking Chinese, even if my reading abilities are limited, but for most visitors, this shift will prove challenging.

As usual, I downloaded a VPN service before my arrival, allowing me to bypass China’s “Great Firewall” and access blocked websites, including Google. I also added the messaging platform WeChat and the payment app Alipay and, crucially, made sure they accepted my credit card before my trip.

Both apps are required for the most basic of functions, such as hailing rides or ordering at restaurants. The first few times I pulled up Alipay for a transaction, by either scanning an establishment’s QR code or letting them scan mine, the app was glitchy and slow, but by day two, it was working — most of the time.

One day, I strolled Tianzifang, a maze of narrow alleys lined with converted mid-19th-century shikumen homes, a style of courtyard residence distinct to Shanghai. Some are still occupied by residents, but many are now filled with crafts shops, contemporary art galleries and food stalls that sell everything from crab shell pies to fried stinky tofu.

When I tried to buy a qipao, a traditional silk dress, the vendor’s QR reader wouldn’t accept my code. After multiple failed attempts, including a last-resort swipe of my foreign card that no one expected to work, we both gave up. I would have offered to pay in cash, but I hadn’t gotten any after being told that most businesses no longer accept it, a reality affirmed by the most humble of street-food vendors using Alipay.

Within Alipay are various other essential apps, including ride-hailing Didi, ubiquitous enough that it’s now impossible to physically hail cabs. The rides are so affordable — around 200 yuan ($27) for an hourlong ride from the airport, and often a few dollars for inner-city trips — that I rarely took the metro. Use of Didi comes with slight barriers for visitors: Drivers are only allowed to stop in approved areas and confirm riders by asking for the last four digits of their phone numbers instead of their names.

Many language-related issues can be resolved by using WeChat and Alipay’s translation functions, which interpret app features as well as images and speech. I found the tools most helpful at hole-in-the-wall restaurants whose menus wouldn’t have featured English even before the pandemic. At a seafood spot in Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town turned living museum on the city’s outskirts, the tool helped me discover dishes for which I wouldn’t previously have been able to read the Chinese characters.

Other travel infrastructure has also been slow to adjust. Though hotels have been instructed to accept foreign cards, it’s best to stay at an international brand or to call to reserve a room at a boutique hotel to ensure the payment process goes smoothly. Some online booking platforms will accept a card, only for the hotel to not accept payment upon arrival. This, along with other changes, such as the now-ubiquitous surveillance cameras, can feel discordant with the country’s desire for more visitors.

A New Waterfront

Along with growing outward, Shanghai continues to create new pockets of character at its centers. One example is along Suzhou Creek, a tributary of Shanghai’s central Huangpu River. The creek begins just north of the Bund, the waterfront promenade that continues to function as the city’s tourism focal point, home to a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant and almost every big-name hotel.

For decades, the areas along Suzhou Creek housed Shanghai’s industry, which moved outside the city in the 1980s, leaving behind run-down warehouses and a polluted waterway. But a $5 billion revitalization of the creek concluded in 2020, and at its heart is a 26-mile pathway that acts as a green link connecting both established and new arts and culture spots.

At the confluence of the creek and river is the recently opened Regent Shanghai on the Bund, a 135-room hotel with gilded interiors and views of the Bund’s Art Deco facades to the south, Pudong’s glassy skyline to the east and Suzhou Creek’s casual charm to the west (from $380 a night).

I spent a day biking westward from this point, stopping first at Rockbund, a series of alleyways flanked by red brick buildings containing galleries, shops and restaurants. At the center of it all is the Rockbund Art Museum, showcasing genre-bending works by Asian artists.

On my way to the newly opened Fotografiska, an outpost of Stockholm’s photography museum, for lunch at its all-day bistro Mona, I passed the former General Post Office building and the Sihang Warehouse, an important site of the Second Sino-Japanese War, which took place from 1937 to 1945.

I followed lunch with a drink across the creek at Beer Lady, a cavernous space lined with fridges and taps of brews from more than 50 countries, before spending an hour wandering the graffiti-covered lanes of M50, where assorted galleries fill former cotton mills and factories. The day’s final stop was 1,000 Trees, a complex created by the British designer Thomas Heatherwick that houses an over-the-top mall.

The city’s other visitor strongholds were bustling but free of the crowds I was used to. At Yuyuan, a Ming dynasty-era garden surrounded by a bazaar and teahouses, the wait for soup dumplings at famed Nanxiang Steamed Bun took a fraction of the usual time.

Crowds were also sparse in the restaurant and shopping hub of Jing An, except for the Friday night I spent at INS, a new nightlife complex in Fuxing Park. It offers music-festival-like access to all kinds of venues for a single entrance fee, and has been a hit post-lockdown with locals looking to dance more and spend less.

Growing Access

For travelers who want to see more of the country, it’s now possible to reach most of the country’s provinces by bullet train. I took the train from Shanghai to nearby Nanjing, an experience that was so easy and comfortable that it felt illusory.

Even Beijing is now only 4.5 hours by train, compared to the previous 12-hour drive or 2.5-hour flight. International travelers taking the bullet train for the first time have to present their passport in person at the train station to be able to purchase a ticket; following trips can be booked directly through Alipay.

This new ease of access made me excited to come back and see more of the country, but some of the remaining hurdles left me feeling like China’s reality hasn’t quite caught up to its tourism goals.

After two weeks, my Mandarin was regaining fluency, and so was my ability to use the apps. The city beneath the surface felt just within reach.

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12/04/2025