Day 72–74: Yancheng to Shanghai
The Road to the City
As the ID. Buzz World Tour approached Shanghai, the journey entered one of its most anticipated milestones. The final stretch from Yancheng featured familiar routines: multiple stops at Volkswagen dealerships, each one echoing the last with warm welcomes, quick ceremonies, and group photos to mark the occasion.
Skyline and Social Buzz
Arriving in Shanghai revealed the immense scale of the city, home to more than 25 million people. Multi-layered motorways, expertly coordinated traffic systems, and high-rise backdrops guided the vehicle toward its destination: The Bund. This iconic riverside promenade, where historic colonial buildings face off against a skyline of glass and steel, offered the perfect welcome.
Here, the team met with sponsor Giti Tire and a prominent local influencer, known in China as a “Key Opinion Leader” or KOL. The ID. Buzz drew attention, standing out even against the dazzling urban setting. Later that evening, a rooftop view of Shanghai’s skyline provided one of the tour’s most striking visuals to date. Reflections of neon towers danced across the Huangpu River, capturing the pace and power of one of Asia’s great cities.
Bridging Generations at SAIC
The next day included a visit to SAIC, Volkswagen’s joint venture partner in China. Alongside presentations and discussions, there was a memorable moment: the appearance of a mint-condition 1984 VW Santana bearing Wolfsburg plates. This piece of history sat beside the futuristic ID. Buzz, connecting two eras of automotive design and engineering.
Before departing the city, the team made time for final photographs of Shanghai’s skyline. Even in daylight, its silhouettes remained instantly recognisable and deeply impressive.
Next stop: Hefei.
