Hongkou — Uncover the Ghetto Secret
Uncover the hidden conspiracy that saved 20,000 Jewish refugees in Shanghai's Hongkou Ghetto. Decode clues from synagogues, cafes, and memorials to expose the shadowy network that defied the Nazis.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the chaotic shadows of 1930s Shanghai, as Nazi persecution swept Europe, 20,000 Jewish refugees found unlikely sanctuary in the cramped alleys of Hongkou District
Hongkou — Uncover the Ghetto Secret
You are an intelligence operative, deep undercover in the chaotic shadows of 1930s Shanghai, where 20,000 Jewish refugees found unlikely sanctuary in the cramped alleys of Hongkou
Shanghai 1940: The Last Visa-Free Haven
« “Shanghai was our Noah's Ark.” »— — Kurt Metzl, Jewish refugee in Shanghai
The Shanghai Ghetto: A Story of Humanity
Between 1938 and 1941, as most nations closed their borders to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, Shanghai was the only port in the world that did not require a visa. Approximately 20,000 Jewish refugees, primarily from Germany and Austria, found unexpected asylum in the Hongkou district. This area, already densely populated and under Japanese occupation, became a 'ghetto' not through physical enclosure imposed by the Nazis, but through a 1943 Japanese order designating the 'Designated Area for Stateless Refugees' where all Jews without passports had to reside.
Despite difficult living conditions, the Shanghai Ghetto community demonstrated incredible resilience. Schools, hospitals, newspapers, and even sports clubs were established, often with the help of the local Chinese population. Internal solidarity and aid from international organizations allowed the refugees to survive until Shanghai's liberation in 1945. This unique chapter in World War II history is a powerful testament to humanity in the face of horror and the ability to rebuild life, even in the most extreme circumstances.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The Last Haven
Delve into the poignant story of 20,000 Jews who found unexpected asylum in Shanghai during World War II.
Survival Archives
Unveil fragments of a secret logbook, bearing witness to life, culture, and resilience within the Ghetto.
Mutual Aid Network
Explore the places where solidarity between refugees and locals enabled the survival and rebuilding of a community.
Reconstruct the story of souls saved in Shanghai.
A quest for survival and resilience.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01What's the difference with a regular indoor escape room?
Outdoor escape game format: no physical locks, no actor, no fixed time slot. You start when you want, progress through Hongkou District, Shanghai with your phone, and the city itself is the set. More immersive on local history, more flexible in pace.
Q02How long does it take to finish Hongkou — Uncover the Ghetto Secret?
Plan 1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. Some finish in 1 h 10, others take 3 h in slow-mode. No pressure: the clock only counts for the leaderboard, you play at your tempo.
Q03Is Hongkou — Uncover the Ghetto Secret good for a hen / stag party?
Great fit: no costume required, the team really collaborates (it's not a linear path), and the final code earns you a souvenir photo. Pick a calm time slot — early afternoon usually.
Q04Is Hongkou — Uncover the Ghetto Secret stroller-accessible?
Depends on the exact route in Hongkou District, Shanghai. The vast majority of stops are downtown, on sidewalks or squares. If a stair or narrow passage is involved, it's flagged on the product page. Generally: yes, doable with a standard urban stroller.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Embark on this historical odyssey through the alleys of the Shanghai Ghetto, where humanity triumphed over horror. Your mission: reconstruct a secret logbook, fragmented across 8 iconic locations, and reveal the resilience of an extraordinary community.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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