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Shanghai Visitor's It S Existance Handbook

This brief information on Shanghai is intended for visitors who will just be spending a short while in the city. It aims to focus on the city's top attractions, provide basic orientation information, and warn about some potential gotchas (these are highlighted in red). From the extensive by using references, additionally it may also aims to remain as up-to-date as much as you can, and provide transparency about how up-to-date data is. It's devised to be usable when printed out.

The view that come from the Bund( )

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Money The currency is the Renminbi (RMB), also called Yuan. Click the following links for current exchange rates:

US dollar
Eur
British pound ATMs are everywhere in Shanghai, and there are plenty throughout the tourist hotspots which accept foreign bankcards. Venture further afield however and you could have more difficulty finding one which is going to take your card. Chinese ATMs generally never present you with your card back automatically - you will have to indicate it. This makes it very easy to depart your card within the machine.

At the airport

The maglev at
its top speed( )

International visitors arrive at Pudong airport (PVG), which happens to be by the eastern suburbs. You can find 4 approaches to stepping into town:

By metro - line 2 has recently been extended to the Pudong airport and it is among the many simplest ways to acquire into town. Be warned, the road will never be continuous - you will have to change trains at Guanglan Road. When you've got a flight to catch, think about one or two extra minutes due to this. The Pudong airport extension is open between 6.30-21.00.[1]

By taxi - this can not will cost more than 150RMB ($‚¬) to get a ride on the city centre.
By maglev - the ultra-modern German-made magnetic levitation train will whisk you part of the way into town for 50RMB ($‚¬) (40RMB in the event you show your flight ticket).[2] A good you're staying within the aspects of town most tourists stay in, you'll still need to trust a taxi or metro ride to complete your journey.
By bus - a fleet of city buses usually takes you to most locations within the city. They leave from an identical place because the taxi rank. This is definitely the cheapest option, but unless you can chat Chinese, you even know already a suitable bus to take, forget it.
Of your various tactics to begin your Shanghai experience,taxi is the most convenient option, maglev the foremost spectacular, and bus is the cheapest.

Getting with regards to
Taxis

Taxis in Shanghai are more cost-effective than in most western countries. The minimum fare is 12RMB ($‚¬). This goes up to 16RMB ($‚¬) for journeys starting between 11 o'clock in the dead of night and 5 o'clock just after waking up.[3] The per-mile cost also goes up by about 30% at nighttime. Very few Shanghai taxi drivers can chat English. In practice, this gives you two choices: apply a phrasebook and say the destination yourself, or getting hotel to write down your destination on an card in Chinese characters, and show that to the driver.

Metro

The metro system is cheap, efficient, and really new. It includes air cooling, frequent trains (at the very least at the major lines), and almost 100% reliability. Signage and recorded announcements are scattered all in each of the Chinese and English. The minimum fare since summer 2008 is 3RMB and more trips around the centre of town will set you back not more than 5RMB. The metro has undergone rapid expansion lately, as well as some of your new lines are less convenient to use in comparison to the original lines, with smaller trains also lesser frequent services.

Buses The least expensive strategy to going town, but not for faint hearted. Bring your phrasebook, watch your bag, get ready to have. Around the plus side, they're a powerful way to see the genuine Shanghai.

Beginning

China leads the world in eco-friendly, ultra-silent electric mopeds and bicycles. Together with the undeniable fact that many riders cycle on your pavement and break other traffic rules, this reasons significant hazard to pedestrians. Be cautious about bikes silently whizzing up behind you after you least expect it.

Making yourself understood The primary difficulties of Chinese coming from a foreigner's perspective are its tonal nature, and also the character-based writing system. However, taxi drivers are generally relatively beneficial at understanding common destinations as mispronounced by foreigners, with incorrect or missing tones, simply because they've experienced great deal of practice.

The free and open-source cell phone software Dictionary for MIDs features a Chinese-English version that may prove extremely useful, even if you don't speak any Chinese. Including in a shop, you can lookup the item you're trying to find and show the characters for it to another person. However, it should only work but if your phone supports Chinese characters.

Staying in touch Phone Foreign-made GSM phones work fine in China, along with the local mobile operators have roaming agreements with most major international networks. If you need to utilize a local SIM, you can buy China Mobile "EasyOwn" SIM cards at newspaper kiosks, corner shops, and China Mobile offices. On the street the package costs 110RMB, includes 50RMB of call credit.[4] It's cheaper in the event you go to a China Mobile office, but they'll want your passport to officially register you.[5] You can check your balance by texting YECX to 10086.[4] Once your balance drops below 10 RMB you'll start getting regular text reminders automatically. You should buy top-ups from convenience stores and newspaper kiosks.

Internet Many fast food chains have free wifi - ask before you buy your cappucino. The notable exception is Starbucks which persists with making customers pay for access. A reliable chain for getting online would be the Coffee Bean Tea Leaf - there exists over 20 branches around town, including ones near People's Square, Jingan Temple, and Xintiandi. China Mobile SIM cards come pre-configured with a GPRS profile for getting online, but it's pretty expensive to make use of. You could bring the price down by texting KTG5 to 10086 then replying 1 to your confirmation SMS. This buys you 30MB of bandwidth for 5 RMB per month[6], still the package will only take effect at first of the next calendar month. You can find other packages an option for larger amounts of bandwidth: look at the China Mobile website for SMS codes and charges.

Puxi and Pudong Puxi is west of your Huangpu river, Pudong is usually to its east. Almost all of the sights that the short-term visitor towards the city is going to be curious about are currently in Puxi, but Pudong will have an incredibly nice waterfront area in Lujuiazui with cafes and bars directly on the riverside, the Jinmao and SWFC towers, and the excellent Science and Technology museum.

Google Map

Fom left to right, the shaded areas are People's Square, the Bund, and Lujiazui.================================================================================
Areas to go, what you should look at
Shanghai Art Museum( )
People's Square Shanghai's foreign occupiers built a racecourse here during the colonial era - the clubhouse now houses a talent museum and fancy restaurant. All other traces of that equestrian past actually have been erased: the square is home of the huge Shanghai Museum, a brace of other cultural venues, several hotels and shopping centres, and People's Park. Be cautious about the open-air double your dating event which happens most weekends in the park, where anxious parents conspire to be one with off their offspring (who usually aren't present). The ideal spot to catch your breath and become further from crowds is your peaceful roof garden at Starbucks, just besides the art museum.

Shanghai Art gallery

Shanghai Museum( )
What: Massive assortment of cultural artifacts spanning China's 6000 year history. You are able to easily spend a whole day just in this museum.
Admission: Without charge, open 09.00-17.00 (no admission after 16.00), 7 days a week.[7][8] The admission charge has only recently been abolished, and the ensuing increase in visitor numbers signifies that sometimes the museum has to stop admitting visitors for safety reasons.
Getting there: People's Square metro station. Take exit 1[9] and head of the circular building between park and the expressway (pictured).

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The BundWhat: Embankment around the Huangpu River built throughout the colonial era. Gives fine views of Pudong's 21st century skyline, and backs right into a distinguished assortment of colonial era buildings. New and improved to coincide with the Expo - the promenade has long been widened and the six lane highway replaced with a traffic calmed road.[10]
Getting there: Nearest metro station is Nanjing East Road (Line 2). Turn right out of exit 3 (i.e. in the wrong way towards the skyscraper housing the Le Royal Meridien Hotel, with the twin radio masts) and also keep walking until you reach the river. State that the Chinese don't say "The Bund" - they call it "Wai-tan", and i really few taxi drivers know the English name.

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Yu Garden (Yu Yuan)

The Bridge of Nine Turnings and also the
Mid-Lake Pavilion tea house with all the
Yu Garden within the background( ) This peaceful formal garden sits in the dead center associated with the overcrowded shopping mall. The Bridge of Nine Turnings zigzags the particular lake in front of the backyard, in the famous Mid-Lake Pavilion tea house with the centre. Despite its tourist-trap location, the tea home is actually very nice and definitely worth a vacation. Prices are between 40-60RMB to get a pot of tea.[11] The Taoist City God Temple is unremarkable but only costs 10 RMB to acquire into[12] (machine-translated website).
Getting there:
The brand new Yuyuan Garden station on metro line 10 is true on your edge of the garden.

The backyard itself

This dates coming from the mid-sixteenth century, and was built because the private retreat of the Ming dynasty bureaucrat.[13] The admission charge is incredibly reasonable when compared to many other attractions in Shanghai.

Opening hours: 8.30am to 5.00pm

Prices: Adults 30RMB, children 10RMB.[14]

Hard laboring in the kitchen of your Nanxiang dumpling restaurant( ) Probably the best dumpling restaurant in the world

There exists dumplings. And then you can find the xiao long bao (steamed dumplings) manufactured by the Nanxiang restaurant in the Yu garden. Many Chinese domestic tourists regard going to see this takeaway dumpling restaurant for an essential part of their holiday here, a reputation which guarantees an extended queue leaving your restaurant at almost any time. If you don't fancy queuing up, you are able to take a peek for the preparation process through the restaurant's plate glass windows.

Where: It's to your left of a typical Bridge of Nine Turnings as viewed within the photograph above - though you can't really miss the queue.
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Tianzifang (田子坊, Taikang Road Art Street)

It was only recently that in the 'Off the beaten track' portion of this guide, this attractive, laid-back network of longtangs just off Taikang Road has become firmly on your tourist trail, aided by the brand new metro station directly opposite plus a new name. Plenty of its advantages over Xintiandi still apply - these would be real Shanghai longtangs, not faux ones, and there are usually bars and even coffee shops than ever before to choose between. Nonetheless it can now get unpleasantly crowded on weekends. Try to visit during the week.

Getting there:

Exit 1 of Dapuqiao station on metro line 9 is directly opposite the gate. (žÂ¢)
Take a taxi to your intersection of Ruijin Road and Taikang Road, then walk a number of hundred yards up Taikang Road. The doorway to Tianzifang is on your left.

=================================================================================Lujiazui This business district opposed to this of your river that come from the Bund boasts Shanghai's tallest buildings (the Jinmao, SWFC, and Pearl towers), Asia's largest department store (the Superbrand Mall), and a riverfront strip of bars and even coffee shops where you can sip your cappucino although container ships slide by. The realm has become a victim of their own popularity along with the riverfront and Superbrand Mall are unpleasantly crowded on weekends. Attempt to visit on a weekday.

Getting there:

Lujiazui metro station on line 2. The Superbrand Mall and Pearl Tower are impossible to miss if you exit the station. The riverfront is further the Superbrand Mall - walk later on to its right.
The gloriously daft Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (aka Bund Tourist Tunnel). This is often has become toy train in a tunnel with psychedelic flashing lights. Entrance carries in the underpass which connects underneath of East Nanjing Road with the Bund. One approach ticket 40RMB, return ticket 50RMB.[15] The ticket office also sells various packages combining the tunnel with all the Pearl Tower, aquarium, Jinmao Tower, and so on.[16]

Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) The SWFC Observatory opened firstly of September. It offers three viewing floors: the 94th, 97th and 100th. The even taller 632m Shanghai Tower is under construction inside an adjacent lot.
Prices: For adults, 100RMB gets anyone to the 94th floor, 110RMB gets anyone to the 97th, and 150RMB to the 100th. Pensioners and students pay about two-thirds, and infants get in for half price.[17]

Opening hours: 8am-11pm, last admission 10pm.[17]

Getting there: Take metro line 2 to Dongchang Road, take exit 4[18] and head west down Century Avenue.[19] Alternatively, walk up from Lujiazui metro station.

SWFC - the brand new block at the block( )

Jinmao Tower observation deck Recently upstaged because of the adjacent SWFC, the Jinmao also has an veranda on your 88th floor. For clearest view, go with a fine morning after it possesses rained overnight and become there early. Otherwise you might find there's not much to view - even on a day that looks to be fine and clear at ground level.
Prices: 70RMB for adults, 35RMB for little ones, 60RMB students and elders.[20]
Getting there:It's right next towards the SWFC.

Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai's original supertall building is now classified as a freestanding tower instead of a skyscraper. It includes three large spheres suspended from its three structural columns.
Prices: 150RMB to go to all three spheres, 135RMB of the lower two, 100RMB for the middle level one (prices only accurate to August 2008).[21]
Getting there: Directly opposite Lujiazui metro station.

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium It is a short way along the road to the right of those Pearl Tower, as viewed from when you exit Lujiazui metro station.
Prices:120RMB ($‚¬) for adults, 70RMB for senior citizens, 80RMB for children.[22]
Opening hours: Chinese public holidays, and July and August: 09.00-21.00. All the times: 09.00-18.00.[23]

Dongchang Riverfront Garden
Dongchang Riverfront Property

While the Lujiazui riverfront staggers helped by the weight of visitors on an weekend, just a few blocks way up

flood

this more recent waterfront development is pleasantly quiet and empty. There are not exactly many eateries to choose from - the pricey Rouge Morille represents the only option. However a coffee there won't bankrupt you best can savour a good view of the river without using the crowds.
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Public education poster:
"A gentle warning from Hai Bao
(the Expo mascot). The highway is not really your bedroom and night
clothes aren't good style. For the benefit of your image
thinking that of this place, please
dress in a civilised way,
and don't allow night
clothes and pyjamas to get the street 'view'."Shanghai Expo site The Shanghai Expo ran between May and October, 2010. Although over, the foremost roads from the site are actually public roads as well as some of your larger structures seem to have been left intact. The Lupu bridge viewing platform gives a commanding view of this website (see below).

Getting there:Metro Line 7 runs down the Pudong side of those Expo site.

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Attractions from the beaten trail
1933Built to efficiently drive frightened bulls for their death, this former slaughterhouse is all angles, inclines, and ramps. It's being gradually redeveloped into restaurants and bars, and hasn't been discovered because of the hordes yet in addition to a wide selection on weekends. The rooftop gives a fine view of the relatively undeveloped shikumen buildings of the surrounding district.

Lupu Bridge deck Climb the staircase to your viewing deck on top of the world's longest steel arch bridge, and luxuriate in a 360 degree view of town (so the bridge's staff keep a wary eye in your vehicle). Overlooks the Shanghai Expo 2010 construction site. Should you have vertigo or many fitness difficulties, this attraction is not for yourself. It's totally open-air so have a miss in case the conditions are below excellent. Entrance fee 80RMB ($‚¬).[34]
Getting there: Take metro line 4 to Luban Road, and walk or have a taxi south along Luban Road.[34]

Pudong's canals Not really long ago they have been industrial cesspools, but now a few of Pudong's canals seem to have been beautified. Eliminate the metro to Dongchang Road from internet 2, afterwards a taxi along Pudong South Road going south, put a stop to beside the Pudong hotel. Bring the towpath from the bridge across the nearby canal. It'll take you all the way to Pudong's Century Park - although in a variety of places you should cross an active road. In the warm summer months it's an exceptionally peaceful scene - couples strolling, old men so their grandchildren fishing, and not just a tourist in sight.

Pudong's wildlife

Praying mantis, Pudong
Clouds of dragonflies, vigilant bats patrolling car parks, a kingfisher watching over a canal, and swallows swooping down before your bicycle and racing you - not exactly what you'd go with among the many world's biggest cities. But these are all common sights in Pudong, since the downtown is basically not which far from the countryside. There are numerous dragonflies during summer around Century Park and also the science museum. And bats can be found through out Pudong - you may also see them on Century Avenue related to the SWFC and Donchang Road metro.

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Overrated destinations

Looking down East Nanjing Highway

from People's Square( ) East Nanjing Road Overpriced and overcrowded, the stretch of Nanjing Road running between Bund and People's Square is touted as Shanghai's shopping mecca - but those within the know head elsewhere. Look out for the varied tea shop and art exhibition scams along here, often perpetrated by smiling young "students" who are billed as "on holiday from Beijing".

Xintiandi Best when compared with London's Covent Garden, this district of cafes and bars is overpriced and uninspiring. Perhaps the architecture is fake - the buildings are meant to seem like traditional longtang (lane) buildings, but it's all reinforced concrete with the brickwork. If ersatz culture is your thing, confirm it out. Though if you wish to use in a real Shanghai longtang, head for Taikang Road Art Street. The beers are cheaper there too, and you won't be in the midst of throngs of other tourists.

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Clothes shopping
As noted elsewhere in this guide, Nanjing East Road is a popular choice with tourists. Nevertheless for the real bargains, head for starters of these alternatives, and be prepared to bargain hard.

Xinyang Market Conveniently located inside Science Museum metro station from internet 2. The touts aren't too aggressive and shall give you alone in the event you politely rebuff them, along with the place is reasonably neat and tidy. Furthermore, you can combine it with visits towards the immediately adjacent Shanghai Science Museum and Century Park. The name is a play on the legendary Xiangyang market in Puxi, now closed.
Getting there: Shanghai Science Museum metro station on line 2.(žÂ¢) The market place carries in an identical underground area when the booking hall.

Qipu Highway

Qipu Street

Pronounced something such as "cheap-oo" road, the market place is mostly a bunch of large and rather rundown shopping centres centred at the intersection of Qipu Road and Henan North Road (žÂ¢). This is certainly the destination for your cheapest bargains in Shanghai, as well as many shops buy wholesale from here. But the area is unpleasantly chaotic and dirty, and the touts are so aggressive they could actually tail you from shop to shop.
Getting there: Take metro line 2 to Nanjing East Road, turn onto Henan North Road, and cross the Suzhou Creek. It's a 10-15 minute walk or possibly a short taxi ride.

Shanghai South Bund Soft-Spinning Material Market ("material market") Located near the Puxi side of your Nanpu bridge, here is the place to come for cheap tailored clothes and, er, fabrics. It's lively but pleasantly lacks the touting at many of the other markets.
Getting there: 399 Lujiabang Road, on your corner of Nancang Street.[35]

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Where to stay - hotels and hostels

Captain's Hostel Which has a bar and rooftop terrace overlooking the river, what's not to ever love? Prices start from 70RMB ($‚¬) per night.[36]
Getting there: Use taxi to your intersection of your Bund and Fuzhou Road (tell the motive force "Wai-tan - Fuzhou Lu"), and walk one or two yards up Fuzhou Road.

Park Hotel At one time the tallest building in Asia, its interior is undoubtedly an Art Deco masterpiece. Whether or not you're not staying, game here to examine the exhibition at the second floor about the building's history, as well as the "ground zero" bronze plaque in the middle of the lobby. Prices start from 600RMB ($‚¬) per night.[37]
Getting there: It's on your Nanjing Road side of People's Square, about halfway down the side of those square.

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Where to eat For an excellent choice of restaurants at reasonable prices, and further from tourist trap areas, head of the Superbrand Mall in Lujiazui (see Lujiazui section above for directions). The upper floors are rich in restaurants offering almost every conceivable form of cuisine, plus some by using a fine view of the river. Other shopping centres which has a good choice of restaurants are Raffles Plaza on People's Square, and Cloud 9 Store at Zhongshan Park metro station on line 2.

Spicy ribs, Di Shui Dong
In the event you haven't tried Shanghai cuisine before, you're likely to see it not the same as your existing ideas about Chinese food, and possibly quite hard to be familiar with. At the plus side, its generally very low fat and healthy.

Di Shui Dong (滴水洞)Deservedly popular Hunanese restaurant. Spicy ribs are its signature dish, but you'll work hard enough to look for anything at the menu which doesn't set your oral cavity on fire. Lashings of beer put out the flames. Second floor, 56 Maoming Nan Lu, Puxi.[38] (Avoid the Dongping Lu branch - the positioning is shockingly slow).[39]

Smart Noshery Causes you to Slobber (好食道)Its English name has ensured loads of free publicity for this Pudong institution (client says he chose it since it sounds "high class and distinguished"). Foods is great too, despite the modest decor. Don't miss the breaded beef. 1028 Nanquan North Road, Pudong.[40]

Bali LagunaWith a dining area which looks out at water level across peaceful Jingan Park's lake, this Indonesian restaurant's location is hard to higher. But a level of complacency apparently has affected both the food and maintenance. Still, it's a smart decision for a romantic meal. 189 Huashan Road, inside Jingan Park, Puxi.[41]

Quick edibles

In case you really must, branches of McDonalds and KFC are on the city - even in neighbourhoods where foreigners rarely venture.

A more satisfying choice for semi-fast foodtstuffs are Ajisen Ramen, a franchised chain of Japanese-style noodle shops. Clean, efficient service as well as a healthy menu implies that these restaurants are favored by local Chinese and foreigners alike. Don't be put off from the Chinese-only website: the menus in the restaurants are bilingual and easier to request from even if you don't speak any Chinese, and despite the fact that the staff generally don't speak any English. A bowl of noodles or rice costs between 20-30RMB, with a starter expect to pay between 40-50RMB per head.

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Where to slurp
Time PassageTucked down a side street off Huashan Road, this is certainly among the many oldest bars in Shanghai, and one of the most worrying nicest. A house band on Saturday nights thumps out their signature tune, Xu Wei's anthemic Lan Lianhua. Catler the mustachioed house moggie prowls grumpily. 25 RMB per pint. 183, Lane 1038 Huashan Lu, nearby the intersection with Fuxing Lu.

Bar 88Bling bling! From the Captain Nemo styled interior into the princeling's Ferrari slung across the kerb outside, there's nothing subtle or tasteful here. However if you simply do naff, it's a laugh. Bottled beer 50 RMB. 291 Fumin Lu close to the intersection with Donghu Lu.

(All photographs are by and copyright of a typical author)
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