Milan: The Most Chinese-Friendly City in Italy? 🇮🇹🇨🇳

I only had a whirlwind 24 hours in Milan. Arriving at 10:00 PM and leaving at 8:00 AM two days later meant I had to make every second count! 🏃‍♂️ My hostel was near the Central Station, which was convenient, but my bus out was from Lampugnano—a 30-minute metro ride away. 🚇

A Walk Down Memory Lane 🛍️

Walking from my hostel toward the Duomo di Milano, I passed through Porta Venezia. The street felt like one giant open-air shopping center. Seeing vendors selling discounted clothes right on the sidewalk felt like a flashback to China in the early 2000s! It’s nostalgic because back home, that culture has mostly vanished in favor of online shopping. 📱📦

Is this Milan or Shanghai? 🏙️

Milan is Italy’s economic powerhouse, and the skyscrapers definitely give off that vibe. With the Winter Olympics in full swing, the “Chinese connection” was everywhere. ❄️

• Sponsorships: Posters for TCL and Alibaba are plastered all over the city.
• The Logo: This year’s Olympic logo looks remarkably like the Chinese character “功” (Gōng).
• The Vibe: I even saw locals filming TikToks in traditional Chinese clothing! For a moment, I honestly felt like I was back in Shanghai. 🇨🇳✨

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The Iconic Landmarks ⛪

Duomo di Milano The massive white cathedral is perhaps the only thing that reminds you you’re definitely not in Shanghai. The level of detail is insane! 😲 Looking at the thousands of sculptures, I couldn’t help but wonder: if a huge gust of wind hits, do any of them blow down? From a distance, the church actually looks like a giant, elaborate display stand for action figures. 🧸

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Right next door is this famous shopping gallery. If it weren’t in the heart of Milan, it would look exactly like the Yiwu Leather City back home! 🐂 I saw the famous bull mosaic on the floor—legend says if you spin three times on your right heel on the bull’s testicles, you’ll have good luck. There was a massive queue of people waiting for their turn! 🍀

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History & Culture 🏰

• Teatro alla Scala: A quick stop to see the famous opera house and the Leonardo da Vinci statue standing proudly in front. 🎭

• Castello Sforzesco: A real castle with perfectly preserved walls! It’s a bit small, but very cool. Behind it lies a beautiful garden leading to the Arco della Pace, where the Olympic torch is currently held. 🔥

• Chinatown: Unlike many “Chinatowns” that feel like 1920s Hong Kong, Milan’s Chinatown feels like modern China. It’s authentic and bustling. 🥢

• Cimitero Monumentale: Located just north of Chinatown, this isn’t just a cemetery; it’s an open-air sculpture museum. The artistry of the tombs is breathtaking. 🗿

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Living Like a Local 🛒

Before heading back, I stopped at Esselunga—the supermarket locals swear by. The variety was incredible! It really made me realize how good the quality of life is in Western Europe. 🧀🍷

I finished my night at the Milano Centrale station. The building was beautifully lit up in the colors of the Italian flag (green, white, and red) 🇮🇹, featuring a giant apple sculpture and a TCL Olympic showroom right in front. After a quick grocery run to Lidl and Pam—where the shelves were almost empty!—I headed back to prep for another busy day of travel. 😴