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Asia : East Asia : China : East : Shanghai

Shanghai

Grand Mercure Hongqiao Shanghai Hotel: Designed for genuine comfort this hotel is ideal for extended business stays and family trips.

Shanghai (上海 Shànghǎi) [1], with a population of more than 18 million (and over 5.8 million migrants), is one of the most populous and most developed cities in the People's Republic of China.

Shanghai was the largest and most prosperous city in the Far East during the 1930s, and has remained the most developed city in China. In the past 20 years Shanghai has again became an attractive city for tourists worldwide.

Districts

Shanghai is split in two by the Huangpu River (黄浦江 huángpǔ jiāng), with the older town on the west bank known as Puxi (浦西 pǔ xī) and the brash new development on the east side being Pudong (浦东 pǔdōng).

Areas within Puxi:

• The Bund (外滩 wàitān) - The colonial riverside of old (and reborn) Shanghai, including the Yuyuan Gardens (豫园 yùyuán).The Bund has dozens of historical buildings, lining the Huangpu River, that once housed numerous banks and trading houses from Britain, France, the U.S., Russia, Germany,and many other countries. A building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia. [2]

• French Concession - The leafy district once known as the Paris of the East, includes the refurbished shikumen houses of Xintiandi. The blending of architecture styles, bustling street life, and wealth of international Shanghai fusion culture make the French Concession one of Shanghai's most rich and vibrant neighborhoods. You would be well advised to spend many a day (and night) here enjoying the pleasures of life.

• Xujiahui - The southwest part of Shanghai; one of the city's business and upscale shopping districts.

• Gubei - The center of expatriate life in Shanghai. A huge number of Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, European, Australian, and North American workers reside in one of Gubei's many high rise apartment buildings and residential compounds. A large crop of international restaurants, often designed to provide the comforts of home to these expat populations, have cropped up as a result, as have a few department stores and hotels. A good place to go to check out how many foreigners live in Shanghai.

• Nanjing Road - One of China's most famous shopping streets, it passes Jing'an (静安 jìng ān), leading to People's Park (人民公园 rénmín gōngyuán) and The Bund.

• Hongkou (虹口 hóngkǒu) - Home for famed writer Lu Xun, now including a Memorial Park and a museum, as well as a football (soccer) stadium. Once home to Shanghai's substantial Jewish population in the first half of the 20th century.

• Yangpu (杨浦 yángpǔ) - Where the famous Fudan University and Tongji University are located. Also contains the excellent and spacious GongQing forest park (共青森林公园 gòngqīng sēnlín gōngyuán).

• Jing'An (静安) - Commercial area on Nanjing Road West, most upscale shopping malls in the city.

Across the river:

• Pudong - The skyscraper-laden new financial and commercial district on the east bank of the river

Outlying districts:

• Jiādìng (嘉定)
• Qīngpǔ (青浦)
• Jīnshān (金山)
• Nánhuì (南汇)
• Sōngjiāng (松江)

Understand

Shanghai is a fascinating mix of East and West. It has historic shikumen (石库门） houses that blend the styles of Chinese houses with European design flair, and it has one of the richest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world. As there were so many concessions (designated districts) to Western powers during the turn of the 20th century, at times the city has a cosmopolitan feel. From classic Parisian style, to Tudor style buildings that give a German flair, while the 1930s buildings put you in New York or Chicago.

In the beginning of the 1990s, the Shanghai government launched a series of new strategies to attract foreign investments. The biggest move was to open up Pudong, once a rural area of Shanghai. The strategies succeeded, and now Pudong has become the financial district of Shanghai, with numerous skyscrapers.

Today Shanghai's goal is to develop into a world-class financial and economic center of China, and even Asia. In achieving this goal, Shanghai faces competition from Hong Kong, which has the advantage of a stronger legal system and greater banking and service expertise. Shanghai has stronger links to the Chinese interior and to the central government in addition to a stronger manufacturing and technology base. Since the handover of Hong Kong to the PRC, Shanghai has increased its role in finance, banking, and as a major destination for corporate headquarters, fueling demand for a highly educated and westernized workforce.

Shanghai is one of the least polluted major cities in China, but that's only because of the sorry state of environmental protection in China in general and its air quality can still be quite poor. Individuals with asthma or respiratory issues should be prepared when visiting Shanghai as well as other Chinese cities.

Get in

Shanghai is one of China's main travel hubs and getting in from pretty much anywhere is easy.

By plane

Shanghai has two main airports [3], with Pudong the main international gateway and Hongqiao serving most domestic flights. Be sure to check which one your flight is leaving from, and allow at least one hour, preferably 1.5 hours, to transfer if needed!

Domestic airplane tickets are best booked in advance at one of the many travel agencies, but can also be bought at the airport on the day of departure. Fares are generally cheap, but vary depending on the season; figure on ¥400-1200 for Beijing-Shanghai. When backpacking, it may often be cheaper to book a flight along a big traffic line (Shanghai-Beijing, Shanghai-Guangzhou, Shanghai-Shenzhen, etc.) and travel the rest by bus or train.

Pudong airport is also one of the mainland Chinese airports authorised to handle cross-strait daily flights to/from Taiwan. Currently, both Taoyuan and Songshan airports in Taipei have direct flights to Shanghai.

Pudong International Airport

Pudong (浦东机场, IATA: PVG, [4]) is Shanghai's new international airport, located 40 km to the east of the city. Arrivals are on the first floor, departures on the third, and the airport has all the features you'd expect. There are now two gigantic terminals (T1 and T2), so check which one you're going to. A free shuttle bus service connects the two.

The most convenient, but also the most expensive way to get to central Shanghai is by taxi, but figure on ¥145 and about an hour to get to the center of the city. Head for the official taxi line to the far right of the arrival terminal. Taxi drivers seldom speak any English, but you may want to check that they know where you would like to go and the estimated cost to get there. Ask an attendant at the info desk to write down the name of your destination in Chinese for you to show the driver. It is not advisable to follow any person inside the terminal claiming to be a taxi driver, unless there are two of you and someone speaks good Shanghainese or Mandarin. Use extreme caution and double check the charges as some will try to charge up to 10 times the normal fare. Never allow the driver to pick up a "friend" or any other second passenger.

Airport buses are considerably cheaper (¥15-22), but take up to an hour and a half and stop running at 11PM. There are a number of routes, but two particularly convenient ones connect to the Airport City Terminal on Nanjing West Road (#2, ¥19) and Shanghai train station (#5, ¥18). Budget travelers may also consider buses stopping at Longyang Road (1#/5#, ¥12) from where you may transfer to Subway Line No. 2. For a link to lines 3/4, #6 (¥20) goes to Zhongshan Park station (actually a few blocks off- change to the local 947 bus and take it one stop if you can't walk that distance for whatever reason).

More a tourist attraction and prestige project than practical means of transport, the Transrapid Maglev train shuttles from the airport to the middle of Pudong in 7 minutes flat at a blazing speed of 431 km/hour. If your final destination is Pudong, a short subway or taxi ride remains; however, if you're looking to go further west to Puxi, plan on 30 minutes or more on the subway. On the 2nd floor of the airport you can purchase Maglev tickets from the ticket counter. The wait for one train is typically no longer than 10 mins. Once you're at the end of the Maglev line, you can walk down the stairs and in about 1 minute arrive at the Longyang Lu subway station (Line 2). That said, the Maglev to Longyang and a taxi from there is the fastest way to get to places around Pudong, and the ride is definitely an experience in a thrilling way. Depending on traffic, it may be just as quick to take the subway to western areas of Shanghai rather than risk traffic congestion in a taxi. Some minor inconveniences aside, it's definitely worth the experience for the cost. The train is very clean, easy to find, and extremely fast! Services currently operate from 6:45AM to 9:30PM daily and cost ¥50 one way (¥40 if you have a same-day ticket) or ¥80 for a round-trip ticket (good for up to 7 days from date of purchase). You can also opt to pay double for "VIP Class", which gets you a soft drink and bragging rights.

Hongqiao Airport

Shanghai's older airport Hongqiao (虹桥机场 IATA: SHA) [5] services domestic flights, the only exception being the city shuttle services to Tokyo-Haneda and Seoul-Gimpo. 12 km away from the city center, a taxi can manage the trip in 20 minutes on a good day but allow an extra 30 minutes for the taxi queue, especially when arriving after 7pm.

The 'Hongqiao Airport Special Line' bus (机场专线) goes directly to Jing'an Temple every 10-30 minutes for ¥4. Due to the long taxi queues this is by far the quickest option, albeit at times crowded. There is no sign posting in English so it is advisable to print out the Chinese characters and then consult one of the airport staff, or look for one of the buses without a bus number (only Chinese Characters). Tickets are purchased inside the bus shortly before it departs, once departed there are no stops until arriving right in front of Jing'an Temple subway station on Line 2.

Bus: Although Hongqiao airport has fewer airport bus lines than Pudong, more public bus lines are linked to Hongqiao. No. 806: These buses run from Hongqiao airport to the Lupu Bridge between 6am and 9:30pm at intervals of five to 15 minutes. The line also has a stop at Xujiahui, and the whole trip costs 5 yuan. No. 807: These buses operate between 6am and 9:30pm from Hongqiao airport to the Zhenguang New Village in Putuo District. Fare is 4 yuan. No. 925: Most of the route is along Yang'an Road and the buses link Hongqiao airport and People's Square (behind the Shanghai Museum) between 6am and 9pm. Fare is 4 yuan. No. 938: These buses run from Hongqiao airport to Yangjiadu in Pudong at intervals of five to 15 minutes, and the one-way fare is 7 yuan. This service operates from 6am until the arrival of the last passenger flight. No. 941: Linking Hongqiao airport and Shanghai Railway Station, the line runs from 6:30am to 8:30pm and costs 4 yuan. Interval between services is 10 to 12 minutes.

The queue for taxi usually takes 20-30 mins waiting.

By train

Shanghai has several train stations.

• Shanghai Railway Station (上海站). Shanghai's largest and oldest, located in Zhabei district, on the intersection of Metro Lines 1, 3 and 4. Practically all trains used to terminate here, including trains to Hong Kong. However southern services are being shifted out to the new South Station.

• Shanghai South Railway Station (上海南站). A new, greatly expanded terminal opened in July 2006 and and is set to take over all services towards the south. On Metro lines 1 and 3.

Train tickets are also conveniently booked in advance at one of the many travel service agencies. If urgent, they could also be directly booked at the train stations and the Shanghai Railway Station even has an English counter. Unfortunately be prepared that almost all information even in Shanghai Railway Station will be only in Chinese characters and even at the English counter you will face problems to communicate. It is advisable to prepare the paper with your destination displayed in Chinese characters. Unfortunately, this is further complicated by the fact that some tickets aren't sold at the main ticket office, this includes tickets to Hong Kong (Jiu Long), for that you need to go to a similar ticket office near the main ticket office. To get there, exit the main ticket office and go left (towards one of the metro exits and parallel to the train station), the ticket office is just across the road after the metro exit. You have to pass through a security check to get to the ticket office.

• Beijing (北京)- There are a number of brand new night sleep trains running daily from Shanghai to Beijing, starting at 7PM in 10 minute intervals to 8PM and arriving at 7-8AM in Beijing. Fare is around ¥500 for a softsleeper, but they are very clean and the four-person cabins are quite comfortable. In the same new train, normal hardseaters are available for around ¥250. Food is now served when traveling in both directions, and there is a drinks and snacks trolley that comes past occasionally that you can purchase snacks from. For a regular normal sleeper in a standard train, which takes 13 hours from Shanghai to Beijing, expect to pay ¥200-300 with no food either.

• Hong Kong (香港)- The T99/T100 train to and from Hong Kong runs every other day (alternating between Shanghai->Hong Kong and Hong Kong->Shanghai) from Shanghai Railway Station (T99 leaves here at 5:15PM, T100 arrives here around noon), arriving at Hung Hom station in Kowloon(T99 arrives here around noon, T100 leaves here at 3:15PM). If traveling alone, expect to pay ¥800 each way for the soft sleeper, but discounts are given for group purchases (¥364 each way per person in a soft sleeper if purchased in a group of 4, for instance). Unless you are on a very tight budget, try to get the 'Deluxe Soft Sleeper' which fascilitates compartments of 2 beds and a private mainland-style mains socket (but with the introduction of new train cars, the regular soft sleeper also has a private mains socket for each room as well as one in the corridor of each car). Spaces are limited, so book well in advance. Keep in mind that you will still have to go through Customs and thus need a new visa for reentry into mainland China (unless you have a multiple-entry visa). However, going through Customs at the train station is much quicker than Customs at the airport; also, many restrictions present on air travel (liquid restrictions, baggage, etc) are not present on the train.

The new fast (200+ km/hr) CRH trains go South from Shanghai to Hangzhou, West to Suzhou and Nanjing, and North to Qingdao. These are very comfortable and convenient. Look for the separate "CRH" ticket counters.

Additionally, tickets for some sleeper trains are now being officially discounted (discount varies by distance, maximum discount is 50%) up to July 1 so for now there is more incentive for taking the train for some trips.

By car

In recent years many highways have been built, linking Shanghai to other cities in the region, including Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, etc. It only takes 2 hours to reach Shanghai from Hangzhou.

By bus

There are several long-distance bus stations in Shanghai. You should try to get the tickets as early as possible.

• Beiqu Long-distance Passenger Station - 80 Gongxing Road
• Hengfeng Road Express Passenger Station 270 Hengfeng Road
• Zhongshan Beilu Long-distance Passenger Transport Station 1015 Zhongshan N. Rd
• Xujiahui Passenger Station 211Hongqiao Road
• Pudong Tangqiao Long-distance Passenger Station 3842 Pudong S.Rd

By Bicycle

You can get to anywhere you want with a bike in Shanghai. Traffic in Shanghai is complicated but it is still safe to cycle around.

There is one place to rent a bicycle in Shanghai.

• Shanghai Bicycle Rental - 128, Fuxing Road, (In between Jinan Road and Jian Road - Behind Xintiandi) Tel +86 21 6387 9880 "Good service and warm owner"

By boat

There are ferry services from Shanghai to Kobe, Osaka (Japan) weekly and Hong Kong.

• The Shanghai Ferry Company [6] has once a week service from Shanghai to Osaka and vice versa. Takes two nights.
• The Japan-China International Ferry Company has similar service as The Shanghai Ferry Company but alternates each week with Osaka and Kobe as the Japanese depart / arrival city.

Get around

If you intend to stay in Shanghai for a longer time the Shanghai Jiaotong Card [7] (上海公共交通卡) can come in handy. You can load the card with money and use it in buses, the metro and even taxis. You can get these cards at any metro/subway station, as well as some convenience stores like Alldays and KeDi Marts. These come in regular, mini, and "strap" size (the latter being made for hanging on mobile phones), with various limited editions available for each. Only regular-sized cards can be loaded at machines (with a few exceptions, mainly at line 6/8 stations which have a special type of recharge machine made to take all sizes of cards) and only in multiples of 50 or 100 RMB (this applies to the big blue machines- certain smaller machines will accept any bills the service counter will). Most likely you will need to go to the service counter to recharge if you have an irregularly-shaped card or you want to recharge in multiples of 10 or 20RMB.

Also, this card allows you to transfer lines at Yishan Rd, Shanghai Train Station, and Hongkou Football Stadium stations, as well as discounts for bus<->bus and metro<->bus transfer (the fare is discounted 1RMB each time you transfer).

By metro

The fast-growing Shanghai Metro [8] network now has 8 lines with another 4 under construction. The trains are fast, cheap, air conditioned and fairly user-friendly with most signs also in English, but the trains can get very packed during rush hour. Fares range from ¥3 to ¥9 depending on distance. Automatic ticket vending machines take ¥1 or ¥0.5 coins and notes. Most stations on lines 1-3 will also have staff selling tickets, but on the newly-completed lines 6, 8, and 9 ticket puchasing is all done by machine (in both Chinese and English) with staff there only to assist in adding credit to cards or if something goes wrong. You can now transfer between lines freely with a single ticket (except at Shanghai Railway Station, Hongkou Football Stadium, and Yishan Rd where a subway pass/Shanghai Public Transportation Card is required for transfer). The metro can use Shanghai's public transportation card (non-contact). Be careful; certain stations exist on two different lines with the same name but are located in different places (Yishan Rd- Line 3/9 and line 4 are separate stations- transfer between these stations is only possible with a subway pass; Pudian Rd- line 4 and line 6; go to either Century Ave. or Lancun Rd. to transfer between these lines; Hongkou Football Stadium, Line 3 and Line 8- transfer is only possible with a subway pass).

If there are seats available but more passengers boarding than seats, be prepared to see a mad dash (literally) for the available seats. It's no use scolding anyone as everybody behaves like that, so just go with the flow. Pickpockets are likely to strike at this moment, so be careful.

By bus

If your Chinese is good enough and you're trying to go somewhere the metro doesn't without resorting to taxis you can use the public bus system. The bus system is much more extensive (and always cheaper) than the metro, and some routes even run past the closing of the Metro (well, more like "start running past the closing of the Metro"- route numbers beginning with 3 are the night buses that run past 11PM). Here is a handy list of bus routes and stops in English. Buses that charge by distance have a conductor selling tickets; tell them your destination and they will tell you the price for that distance. Hand your money to the conductor and you'll get a little paper ticket (and change, if any). Other buses do not have a conductor; they have a fixed price for the route, usually 2 RMB as the buses are air-conditioned(1.5RMB on some routes running on old buses without air-con- you can tell by the singpost at the bus stop; it will show the fare system for a given route and whether it is air-conditioned or not). Prepare exact change beforehand as the fare is dropped into a container next to the driver; if you need a bill broken up the unofficial solution is to state your situation to the driver, who will ask the next few people to hand you their fare as you drop your bill into the container (example- you have a 10 and you're riding a bus with a fare of 2RMB- you would kindly explain your situation and have the next 4 people hand you their fare as you drop the 10 into the farebox). If you change buses with an SPTC you will get a 1RMB discount on your second bus fare (and all subsequent transfers; there is a 90-minute window to do this on so if you're not spending too much time at the destination your transfer discount will apply to the start of your return journey too).

By taxi

Taxi is a good choice for transportation in the city, especially during off-peak hours. It is affordable (¥11 for the first 3km, 2.1RMB/km up to 10km, and 3.2RMB/km after) and saves you time, but try to get your destination in Chinese characters or available on a map as communication can be an issue. As Shanghai is a huge city, try to get the nearest intersection to your destination as well since even addresses in Chinese are often useless. Drivers, while generally honest, are sometimes genuinely clueless and occasionally out to take you for a ride. The drivers are very good about using the meter but in case they forget, remind them. It's also the law to provide a receipt for the rider but if your fare seems out of line, be sure to obtain one as it's necessary to receive any compensation. If you feel you have been cheated or mistreated by the driver, you (or a Chinese-speaking friend) can use the information on the printed receipt to raise a complaint to the taxi company about that particular driver. The driver will be required to pay 3x the fare if ordered by the taxi company so normally they're very good about taking the appropriate route. The printed receipt is also useful to contact the driver in case you have forgotten something in the taxi and need to get it back.

If you come across a row of parked taxis and have a choice of which one to get in to, you may wish to check the driver's taxi ID card that is posted next to or near the meter on the dash in front of the front passenger seat. The higher the number, the newer the driver, thus the likelihood that your driver will not know where he or she is going. Taxi driver ID numbers between 10XXXX and 12XXXX are likely to be the most experienced drivers (just make sure to match the picture on the ID card with that of the driver). A number of 27XXXX to 29XXXX is probably going to get you lost somewhere. Another way is to check the number of stars the driver has. These are displayed below the driver's photograph on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat. The amount of stars indicates the length of time the driver has been in the taxi business and the level of positive feedback received from customers, and range from zero stars to five. Drivers with one star or more should know all major locations in Shanghai, and those with three stars should be able to recognize even lesser-known addresses. Remember that it takes time to build up these stars, and so don't panic if you find yourself with a driver who doesn't have any - just have them assure you that they know where they are going and you should be fine.

If you need to cross from one side of the Huangpu River to the other by taxi, especially from Pudong (浦东) to Puxi (浦西), you may want to make sure your driver will make the trip, and knows where he or she is going. Some drivers only know their side of the town and will be as lost as you are once they leave their side of town. Taxis are notoriously difficult to get on rainy days and during peak traffic hours, so plan your journeys accordingly. As the crossings between Pudong (浦东) and Puxi (浦西) are often jammed with traffic, taking a taxi may be a more expensive and less time-efficient alternative to using the Metro to cross. It may be better to take the Metro between both sides, and then catch a taxi on the side that your final destination is on.

Taxi colors in Shanghai are strictly controlled and indicate the company the taxi belongs to. Turquoise taxis operated by Dazhong (大众), the largest group, are often judged the best of the bunch. Another good taxi company, "Qiangsheng" (强生), uses gold-colored taxis. Watch out for dark red/maroon taxis, since this is the 'default' color of small taxi companies and includes more than its fair share of bad apples. Also private owned taxis (You can recognize them easily as they have an 'x' in their number plate and may not be the standard Volkswagen Santana used by most taxi companies) are among them. The dark red/maroon taxis will also go "off the meter" at times and charge rates 4x-5x the normal rate - especially around the tourist areas of the Yuyuan Gardens. Bright red taxis, on the other hand, are unionized and quite OK, furthermore there are more 3-star and above taxi drivers working for this company. The dark-green taxis cover suburban areas only and are not allowed within the "city" area, but their meters start at ¥9 so they're somewhat cheaper if you're not trying to get downtown (rule of thumb- if you're trying to go somewhere within the Outer Ring highway, don't get one, but if your journey ends just within it you may be able to find a driver willing to bend the rules).

If possible, try to avoid using ¥100-bills to pay for short rides. Taxi drivers are not keen on giving away their change, and it is not uncommon to get counterfeit smaller notes for change. Taxis are very hard to come by during peak hours and when it's raining so be prepared to wait for a while or walk to a busy pick-up location. Non-Chinese might be disgusted at the "lack" of courtesy or lines while waiting for a taxi, so don't be afraid to "jump in" and get one.

By sightseeing bus

There are several different companies offering sightseeing buses with various routes and packages covering the main sights such as the Shanghai Zoo, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and Baoyang Road Harbor. Most of the sightseeing buses leave from the Shanghai stadium's east bus.

On foot

Shanghai is a good city for walking, especially in the older parts of the city across the Huangpu from Pudong but be aware that this city is incredibly dynamic and pavements are often blocked due to construction. With many roads also being closed off in some sections, expecially along the Bund, crossing the road can be difficult, if not impossible in some places. Look for subways as these are usually open despite the roadworks. Of course,given the large population, you should expect heavy concentrations of pedestrians and vehicles, but that is part of the excitement. Crossing large roads in particular, can get hairy and it's advisable to follow the locals. Be sure to bring an umbrella for rain as it is quite common. If you don't feel like carrying one around, you can easily find one at many small market shops or stores for about 15RMB.

By car

Driving is definitely not recommended in Shanghai, especially in downtown areas. Not only do you have to cope with seemingly perpetual traffic jams, but also Chinese driving habits which can be described as atrocious at best. Bicycles and pedestrians are also all over the place and with every driver swerving left and right to avoid them, especially at junctions, the traffic situation is very chaotic. It is also not unheard of for cyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians to suddenly dash in front of a car without any warning. Driving anywhere in China is not for the faint hearted and even more so in Shanghai. In short, do not drive if you can help it and make use of public transport instead.

Talk

The language of the streets is Shanghainese, part of the Wu group of Chinese dialects, which is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin, Cantonese, Minnan (Taiwanese/Hokkien) or other Chinese dialects. However, with Shanghai having been the commercial centre of China since the 1920's, Mandarin is understood and spoken fluently by almost everybody, including most of the elderly.

While you are more likely to encounter an English speaker in Shanghai than in any other mainland Chinese city, they are by no means common so it would be wise to have your destinations and hotel address written in Chinese so that taxi drivers can take you to your intended destination. Likewise, if planning to bargain at shops, a calculator would be useful.

See

Where to go in Shanghai depends largely on your time period. See Shanghai for the first-timer for a sample itinerary.

• For a feel of the China of yesteryear, check out Yuyuan Gardens, which is loaded with classical Chinese architecture. A lot of history resides in this little garden and temple. They were commissioned in 1559, built over the course of 19 years, destroyed in 1842 during the first Opium War, and later rebuilt and reopened to the public in their current incarnation in 1961. Pathways wind through rock gardens and bamboo stands, and stone bridges cross pools filled with bright carp. The word "yu" translates to "peace and health"—and the park was certainly designed with tranquility in mind.

• For a taste of 1920s Shanghai, head for the stately old buildings of the Bund. Or pay a visit to The French Concession, in Xuhui District (徐汇区), generally bound by Shan Xi Road to the East, Jian Guo Road to the South, Hua Shan Road to the West and Chang Le Road (长乐路) to the North. Some of the best sections are along Hu Nan Road (湖南路), Fu Xing Road (复兴路), Shao Xing Road (绍兴路) and Heng Shan Road (衡山路). The area is fast becoming famous for boutique shopping along Xin Le Lu, Chang Le Lu and An Fu Lu (安福路), all of which also have interesting restaurants.

• For 21st-century Shanghai, cross the river to gawk at the skyscrapers of Pudong. The area surrounding the People's Square is also great for skyscrapers, as well as Nanjing West Road (南京西路).

• To get away from the frentic pace of Shagnhai, you should visit the Longhua Temple. It takes a while to get there but it's not as busy as the Jade Buddha Temple and the experience is fulfilling. You can also have a nice vegetarian Buddhist meal in both Temples.

• For Shanghai's modern cultural innovations and a look into the hot contemporary art scene, head to the Tai Kang Road creative enclave. People from all walks of life converge amongst the traditional Shikumen thats home to design stores, fashion boutiques and cafes representing the best of Shanghai creativity. Unique local brands such as Vervia are amongst the most interesting, combining Eastern and Western influences to be at the forefront of modern Shanghai design.
• Shanghai Museum, People's Square(on the south side). 9:00-17:00. Probably the best museum in China. The Ancient Bronze exhibit is particularly impressive. Audio guides available. Also, there are often volunteer guides providing free service. Some of them speak English, although most will be Chinese only.Free.  

Do

• Walk along Fuxing Rd (复兴路) to see classical old buildings and enjoy the neatness of the road.

• Take an elevator to the top of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (东方明珠), the tallest TV tower in Asia with the height of 468 meters, and on a good day, the sprawling views are spectacular!

• Enter Shanghai Xintiandi (新天地), Lane 181, Taicang Road. A small pedestrianised area of the city featuring rebuilt traditional shikumen [stone gate] houses. Housing a cinema complex, mall, numerous bars, cafés and art galleries marketed towards foreign visitors and the more affluent locals. Close to where the Communist party headquarters were located.

• Enter Shanghai International Convention Center. Shanghai International Convention Center was opened for business in August 1999. The '99 Fortune Global Forum was held here. It is located in the southwest of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong. It covers an area of 45,000 square meters with a landscaped square of 30,000 square meters. It consists of several modernized halls including a 42,000-sq.m multi-functional hall, a 25,000-sq.m exhibition hall, a 11,000-sq.m underground exhibition hall and 20 meeting rooms of different sizes. There are 259 guest rooms, including presidential suites, executive suites, standard rooms, Chinese and Western restaurants, a coffee room, a nightclub, a show room, a gym, a swimming pool, a bowling room, a billiard room, a sauna bath and a shopping arcade.

• See the giant panda and many more exotic animals at the Shanghai Zoo. Located near the Hongqiao airport, this is a spacious and modern zoo that's for the most part a far cry from the concrete animal prison in Beijing. Open daily from 6:30 to 17:00 (16:30 in winter), tickets are ¥30, or ¥40 including an elephant show. One kid not taller than 1.2m gets in for free together with one paying adult. Take bus 925 from Renmin Square (¥3) for about 45 minutes. Please follow the signs (even if the locals do not) and do not feed or tease the animals.

• Walk along Nanjing Dong Lu (南京东路) in the evening. Start at People Square (人民广场) and enjoy the bright neons and lights of this pedestrian road. For a longer walk, continue your way to the Bund and enjoy the bright lights of Pudong. Be careful of pick-pockets and and people that come up to you for a chat. Usually, they have something to sell or a service to offer that is not in your best interest.

• Take a ride on the Maglev train either to or from the Pudong Airport. 431 K/hr is a cool ride. Taxi's are plentiful at the Maglev station.

• Take photos of the old style buildings in the Laocheng (Old Town) Huang Miao shopping district. Come back at night after 6.30 pm when the lights are on for an experience. Eat upstairs at one of the restaurants overlooking the square on Yu Yuan Lu (a pond criss-crossed by a zig-zag bridge and tea room) and see the reflections of the night lights. (The entrance to Yu Yuan Gardens can be found in the centre of this interesting area)

• Take a tour of Shanghai on a vintage 1930's sidecar motorbike. They are flexible on the tours you want to do: I chose the changing architecture of Shanghai. Afternoon tour is better. www.shanghaisideways.com.

• Go to the electronic market right next to baoshan metro station, they sell electronics, but also all sorts of crazy stuff. not too many foreigners go there yet so enjoy while it lasts.

Learn

Shanghai urban development is all about the 'five year plan'. Visit the Urban Planning Museum in People's Square for a fascinating look into Shanghai's colourful past, and learn about development strategies for the future. There is a heavy focus on eco-friendly satellite cities with spacious public centres and loads of greenery. The trip is worth it just for the scale model of Shanghai in ten years. All is located on the fourth floor, including a virtual tour of up-and-coming large scale public projects, which encompasses the World Expo 2010 site. It is located just across from the Shanghei Museum.

Work

There is lots of work for expatriates in Shanghai today. Construction is proceeding at an incredible pace and the economy is booming.

Buy

Shop until you drop on China's premier shopping street Nanjing Road, or head for the Yuyuan Bazaar for Chinese crafts and jewelry not far from the Bund. Nanjing Road is a long street. The more famous part lies in the east near the Bund (Nanjing Road East), with a 1-km long pedestrian boulevard (Metro line 2 at Nanjing Road East station, formerly called Henan Road station) lined with busy shops. The wide boulevard is often packed with people on weekends and holidays. The shops are often targeted to domestic tourists, so the prices are surprisingly reasonable. Local people often look down on Nanjing Road and shop at Huaihai Road (another busy shopping boulevard with more upscale stores) instead. For the high end boutiques, go to the west end of Nanjing Road West near Jing'an Temple. Several large shopping malls (Plaza 66 aka Henglong Plaza, Citic Plaza, Meilongzhen Plaza, and others being built) house boutiques bearing the most famous names in fashion. No. 3 on the Bund is another high-end shopping center featuring Giorgio Armani's flagship store in China.

For those interested in boutique shopping, head to the French Concession Streets Xin Le Road (新乐路), Chang Le Lu (长乐路）and An Fu Lu (安福路） starting from east of Shan Xi Road (陕西路) (nearest metro station is South Shan Xi Road on line 1). This section of low rise building and tree-lined streets bustles with small boutiques of clothing and accessories, where young Shanghainese looking for the latest fashions shop.

The infamous Xiangyang Market was finally shut down for good in June 2006. The biggest "replacement" market is in the metro station (Line 2) at the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum (上海科技馆). The most common name for the market is "A.P. New XinYang Fashion Market." There are a number of variations, and the name really doesn't even matter. The easiest way to get there is by metro and there you can purchase all your knock-off products. The place is much more overrun by foreigners than Qipu Lu (below), and as such the prices are much higher.

The horrendously crowded Qipu Lu clothing market is a mass of stalls jammed into a warehouse sized building which would take the casual stroller most of a day to look through. You'll find the cheapest clothes in the city here, but even the trendiest styles are clearly Chinese. Bargain hard, in Chinese if you can and make friends with the shop owners. Many of them have secret stashes of knock-offs in hidden rooms behind the stall "walls." Avoid this place on weekends at all costs.

Another option is the Pearl Plaza located on Yan'an Xi Lu and Hongmei Lu as well as the unassuming shopping center located on the corner of Nanjing Xi Lu and Chongqing Lu. Haggling can be fun for those who are accustomed to it, but those sensitive to the pressure might want to steer clear. Not only can it be stressful to haggle, but just walking in to the buildings can bring a horde of people upon you trying to sell you bags, watches, DVDs and all assortment of goods.

But rather than pursuing knock-offs of Western brands, one of the more interesting things to do in Shanghai is to check out the small boutiques in the French Concession area. Some of these are run by individual designers of clothing, jewelry etc and so the items on sale can truly be said to be unique. Visitors from overseas should expect the usual problem of finding larger sizes.

Shanghai Foreign Languages Bookstore (Shanghai Book Traders) at 390 Fuzhou Road (near People's Square) offers a lot of books in English and other major languages, especially for learning Chinese. Just around the corner at 36 South Shanxi Road you will also find a small but well-stocked second-hand foreign-language bookshop. Fuzhou Road is also a good street to wander around and find Chinese calligraphy related shops.

Those interested in DVDs of movies and television shows have a wide variety of options. Aside from the people selling DVDs out of boxes on street corners you can also find a good selection of movies at many local DVD shops in most neighborhoods. Perhaps the best way to score a deal with a shop is to be a regular. If you provide them repeat business they are usually quite happy to give you discounts for your loyal patronage. Typically DVDs can cost anywhere from ¥5 for standard disks to ¥10-12 for DVD-9 format disks.

However, if you are short on time in Shanghai and don't have the means to form a relationship with a shop, many people recommend the Ka De Club. An expat favorite for years, they have two shops: one in 483, Zhenning Road and the other one in 505, Da Gu Road (a small street between Weihai Road and Yan'an Road). While the selection at the Ka De Club isn't bad the downside of this store's popularity is that with so many foreigners giving them business, you tend to get somewhat higher prices than at local shops and haggling and repeat customer bargains are pretty much non-existent.

Antiques, jade and communist China memorabilia can be found in Dongtai Road Antiques Market, where you must bargain if you want to get a fair deal. Yuyuan Gardens is another good option for antiques as well as all manner of cheaply made and priced souvenirs (teapots, paintings, "silk" bags, etc.). There are two basement markets. You will have to hunt for them, but they are worth the effort. As with any market in China, don't be afraid to bargain to get a fair price.

Xujiahui metro station is the place to go if you're after game consoles (the Wii is available here in relative abundance), computers, computer accessories, or the like. You'll find pretty much everything electronic there, but the cellphone selection is a bit lacking.

If you're after a new cellphone, go to the Shanghai Railway Station. You can find good deals on secondhand phones as well as new phones (the selection is a mixed bag; you'll find Chinese off-brands mixed with reliable big-name brands like Samsung and Nokia as well as cutting-edge Japanese phones; if you live in North or South America be careful about buying the off-brand phones as most do not support the necessary frequencies for use there. Also, in the secondhand section of the market some of the phones are of dubious origin; CDMA phones may have their ESNs blacklisted in their home countries, but for GSM/3G phones the only issue is an ethical one. Be careful about prices that are too good to be true.

• Bu Ye Cheng Communications Market(不夜城), (Shanghai Railway Station, exit 4 from line 1 side, turn left and it's the large gold building). 10am-6pm. This is the one of the best-known open-style market for cellphones in Shanghai. 1F/2F for new phones (two-way radios too), 3F for various collectibles. They have pretty much everything under the sun from new Japanese phones to Chinese no-names or knockoffs. Any reputable vendor that sets up shop here will allow you to try before you buy- if they don't, leave. Best way to get a good (or uncommon) phone for cheap. 

Tailored clothes

• Shanghai South Bund Material Market: 399 Lujiabang Road (陆家浜路) You can take bus #802 or #64 from the Shanghai Railroad Station and stop at the final stop: Nanpu Bridge Terminal or you can take the Metro Line 4 to the Nanpu Bridge (南浦桥) Station (exit from gate #1, make a left from the exit and then left again on the light. You will see it to your right after walking about 200 to 250m. Hrs: 10 am to 6 pm. Three floors of tailors and their materials including silk, cashmere, merino wool. Have items measured, fitted and finished within two days or bring examples, samples or pictures. Bargain hard with the friendly tailors.

Eat

Shanghai's cuisine, like its people and culture, is primarily a fusion of the forms of the surrounding Jiangnan region, with influences sprinkled in more recently from the farther reaches of China and elsewhere. Characterized by some as sweet and oily, the method of preparation used in Shanghai, it emphasizes freshness and balance, with particular attention to the richness that sweet and sour characteristics can often bring to dishes that are otherwise generally savoury.

The name "Shanghai" means "upper harbour"/"above the sea", but paradoxically, the local preference for fish often tends toward the freshwater variety due to the city's location at the mouth of China's longest river. Seafood, nonetheless, retains great popularity and is often braised (fish), steamed (fish and shellfish), or stir-fried (shellfish). Watch out for any seafood that is fried, as these dishes rely far less on freshness and are often the remains of weeks' old purchases.

Shanghai's preference for meat is unquestionably pork. Pork is ubiquitous in the style of Chinese cooking, and in general if a mention refers to something as "meat" (肉) without any modifiers, the safe assumption is that it is pork. Ground pork is used for dumpling and bun fillings, whereas strips and slices of pork are promulgated in a variety of soups and stir-fries. The old standby of Shanghainese cooking is "red-cooked [braised/stewed] pork" (红烧肉), a traditional dish throughout Southern China with the added flair of anise and sweetness provided by the chefs of Shanghai.

Chicken takes the honorable mention in the meat category, and the only way to savor chicken in the Chinese way is to eat it whole (as opposed to smaller pieces in a stir-fry). Shanghai's chickens were once organic and grass-fed, yielding smaller birds offering more tender and flavorful meat than its hormone-injected Western counterparts. Unfortunately, these hormones have found their way to China, and today most chickens are little different from what can be found elsewhere. Still, the unforgettable preparations (drunken, salt-water, plain-boiled with dipping sauce, etc.) of whole chickens chopped up and brought to the table will serve as a reminder that while the industrialization of agriculture has arrived from the West, the preservation of flavor is still an essential element of the local cooking.

Those looking for less cholesterol-laden options need not fret. Shanghai lies at the heart of a region of China that produces and consumes a disproportionately large amount of soy. Thinking tofu? There's the stinky version that when deep-fried, permeates entire blocks with its earthy, often offensive aroma. Of course there are also tofu skins, soy milk (both sweet and savory), firm tofu, soft tofu, tofu custard (generally sweet and served from a road-side cart), dried tofu, oiled tofu, and every kind of tofu imaginable with the exception of tofurkey. There's also vegetarian duck, vegetarian chicken, and vegetarian goose, each of which looks and tastes nothing like the fowl after which it is named but is rather just a soy-dish where the bean curd is expected to approximate the meat's texture. Look out also for gluten-based foods at vegetarian restaurants, which unlike tofu, do not come with the phyto-estrogens that have recently made soy controversial within American vegetarian circles. If you are vegetarian, do be conscious that tofu in China is often regarded not as a substitute for meat (except by the vegetarian Buddhist monks) but rather as an accompaniment to it. As such, take extra care to ensure that your dish isn't served with peas and shrimp or stuffed with ground pork before you order it.

Some other Shanghainese dishes to look out for:

• xiao long bao (小籠包, lit. buns from the little steaming cage, or little dragon buns). Probably the most famous Shanghai dish: small steamed buns - often confused for dumplings - come full of tasty (and boiling hot!) broth inside with a dab of meat to boot. The connoisseur bites a little hole into them first, sips the broth, then dips them in dark vinegar (醋 cu) to season the meat inside.
• sheng jian bao (生煎包, lit. raw fried buns). Unlike xiao long bao, these larger buns come with dough from raised flour, are pan-fried until the bottoms reach a deliciously crispy brown, and have not made their way to Chinese menus around the world (or even around China). Still popular with Shanghainese for breakfast and best accompanied by vinegar, eat these with particular care, as the broth inside will squirt out just as easily as their steamed cousins.
• dazha xie (hairy crabs). Best eaten in the winter months (Oct-Dec) and paired with Shaoxing wine to balance out your yin and yang.
• xiefen shizitou (蟹粉狮子头, lit. crab powder lion heads). Actually pork meatballs containing crab meat.
• You Tiao (油条, lit. oil stick). Long, deep-fried donut. One kind of breakfast that is very popular in Shanghai. Typically consumed in the morning with soy milk (dou jiang 豆浆).

For cheap Chinese eats, head for the alley known as Wujiang Road. For fancier food in nicer surroundings, try the upmarket restaurants of Xintiandi.

Vegetarians should not miss Vegetarian Life Style [9] (258, Fengxian Road and 77, Songshan Road) where you can experience nice, affordable and organic vegetarian food resembling real meat or fish dishes in a fancy atmosphere.

Drink

Tap water is not drinkable, but generally ok if boiled, though you may not like the taste. Tap water is also said to contain a high amount of heavy metals. Bottled water (and beer) is widely available.

The prices of drinks in cafes and bars in Shanghai vary depending on the location and target customers. They can be cheap or be real budget-busters, with a basic coffee or beer costing anything from ¥10 to ¥40 and up if ordered in the "wrong" place.

When buying bottled water, you will come across a whole range of mineral water. Of course you could go for the "Evian", "Volvic", but you could also get yourself a bottle of the locally produced Nestle, Coca Cola, or Pepsi varieties. They will cost you about 2.5 RMB, 1.5 RMB respectively and are available nearly everywhere. Convenience stores have inundated Shanghai and there seems to be a few on every street corner. If you intend to stay for a longer period, you may want to buy yourself one of those plastic water dispensers. Those you can mount with those 8-10 l water tanks, which can be ordered via phone. Clean those units with a bottle of white vinegar. That way you can keep your machine free of any germs.

Tsingtao beer and Snow beer are widely available, and both are considered to be China's best all-around options. Brands like Budweiser, Heineken, and Carlsberg are brewed either locally or somewhere else in China and are also relatively inexpensive. There is also a local brew known as REEB (beer spelled backwards). A large bottle of any of these (640 ml) anywhere from 1.95 to 6 RMB.

Shanghai is filled with amazing nightlife, complete with both affordable bars and nightclubs that pulsate with a city energy.

Sleep

Accommodation in Shanghai is generally on the expensive side, by both Chinese and Western standards. There are two kinds of hotels: Western-style luxury hotels catering to international business travelers, and smaller hotels for local Chinese travelers. A few backpacker style options have cropped up though, mostly in the older parts of town near The Bund.

Budget

• Sleeping Dragon Hostel [10]. 上海歇龙国际青年旅社 (Address: 舟山路394#，虹口区，上海。）+65351562. A youth hostel in the Hongkou District. This hostel is in a great central location in Shanghai with great charm. The rooms and showers are very clean. There is a street market just outside of the hostel. The hostel is in a traditional Chinese area of Shanghai with a Jewish history from the early 20th century. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful and English is no problem here. Services provided include travel planning, plane and train ticket booking, no curfew, laundry, reasonably priced drinks, books and DVDs for borrow, international calls from the front desk, free internet, CD/CVD burning, all with free breakfast and and additional menu for other food. Dorms are about 55 RMB per night (8 USD) and private rooms range from 75-180 RMB. Near Metro Station line 4 at Lingpin Rd. station with easy access to major sights in Shanghai. See the website, call or email for more details. email: sleepingdragon.yh@gmail.com

• Le Tour Shanghai [11]. 上海乐途白兰国际青年旅舍 (Adress: 普陀区白兰路136号,凯旋北路口)A youth hostel in the Putuo District. While it is not in the most beautiful section of Shanghai, the place is clean, the people are friendly, the Metro is close, and there is a supermarket right across the corner from the hostel. Dorms usually run about the 8-11 USD/night range. Between Caoyang Rd. and JinShaJiang Rd. Metro Stations (lines 3 and 4). See map on the site for specifics. +86-21-52510808. They also newly built another hostel near Jing'an Temple, a very downtown area of Shanghai, Le Tour Traveler's Rest Youth Hostel.The Lonely Planet independent author Damian Harper comment like this:" One of Shànghai's most pleasant youth hostels, the Le Tour has buckets of charm and a highly attractive location along an old lilòng lane. If you want a hostel with colour and space and a tranquil hideout for a few days, this could be it..." (上海乐途静安国际青年旅舍）+86-21-62671912. (Adress:静安区胶州路319弄,近武定路)

• Blue Mountain Youth Hostel 上海蓝山国际青年旅舍 [12]. A youth hostel in the Luwan District. It has a good location just opposite the Luban Rd station on line 4. On the street just outside you will find several restaurants, small supermarkets, fruitshops etc. The staff are helpful and speak good English. Prices: drm 8/4-6 persons 40/50 RMB Dubbel/trippel with bath 160/220 RMB (for updated prices go to webpage). Address: 2F, Building #1, 1072 Nong, QuXi Road, Shanghai Tel: +86-21-63043938 Fax: +86-21-63043938 地址： 上海市卢湾区瞿溪路1072弄1号甲二楼 邮编：200023 电话：021－63043938.

• Backpacker Homestay [13]. A unique and cheap accommodation in Jing'an district, between HaiFang Rd and JiangNing Rd. Provides cheap hostels for people sharing apartment in Shanghai. Freedom, comfort and no curfew. Suitable for a long or short stay in Shanghai.

• Motel 168 [14]. Large budget chain within China. Twelve locations throughout Shanghai. Very simple, small, and sparsely furnished, but you can get private double rooms from 168 RMB. These properties are fairly new, and thus clean. You can book rooms in advance online. Family style rooms are also available in some properties, and they feature bunk beds, which may be useful if you're traveling in a group. Many properties feature their MerryLin restaurant/cafe, which offers decent fare at reasonable prices. This chain is fairly popular with domestic travelers within China. Knowledge of Chinese is recommended as the staff are not always well-equipped to communicate in English. Tel: (Toll-free) 4008207168

Mid-range

Medium-price hotels do exist within walking distance the Bund. The Xinkaifu Dajiudian on North Sichuan Road is an excellent three star hotel for under US$50, including breakfast. The Silk Road Hotel offers a Central Asian theme and caters to Western travelers.

• Swan Hotel, 2211 North Sichuan Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China, ☎ +862156665666, [15]. This three star hotel is just 18 km away from the Hongqiao Airport and is located near the Shanghai Railway Station, The Bund, and The People’s Square. All of their rooms are air-condioned, and feature functional amenities, like high-speed Internet access, cable TV, safe, and IDD telephone. It also houses the conference rooms that can accommodate up to 100 persons, and nine restaurants that offers western and eastern cuisines. 

• Jiu Long Hotel Jin Jiang [16], 601 Liyang Road, Hongkou District, Reservations Contact: 86-21-61226688 Ext. 7800. The location is great to explore Shanghai’s cultural treasures and other places of interest. Shopaholics will be thrilled to know that this hotel is adjacent to an 8-storey shopping mall. Online reservations are accepted at hotels website.

• Shanghai Yinbo Hotel [17]. Three star hotel situated in a prime location and near Shanghai’s city conveniences and popular landmarks. It offers cozy accommodations and friendly service. Address: 135 Tiantong Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China. Tel. No 86-21-63566288.

• New Asia Hotel Jin Jiang. Adequate comforts from the 3-star New Asia Hotel in Shanghai, China. The hotel has a grand ballroom, conference halls, and even sauna. Online booking is available.

• Nanjing Hotel Shanghai Jin Jiang. Located on the famous shopping strip Nanjing Road, this hotel offers affordable accommodations near many of the city’s attractions like The Bund. Also features business and recreational facilities. Address: 200 Shanxi South Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China. For inquiries call 86-21-61226688 Ext. 7800.

• Pacific Bridge Hotel [18] is a business hotel in Shanghai that provides guests with fine dining options, aptly equipped business and events venues, excellent service, and comfortable Shanghai accommodations all-in-one. Its location near the Shanghai Exhibition Center and Jing’an Temple makes it an ideal place for business and leisure travellers when in Shanghai. Address: 572 Xikang Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, China. Email: tprsvns@hubs1.net.

• Shanghai Wumao Hotel [19] Infusing pleasure in business. This three-star hotel offers contemporary facilities and multi-cuisine restaurants. It's conveniently accessible to Huning Highway, Inner Ring Highway, and Metro Line 3 and 4. Located at 2550 North Zhongshan Road, Putuo District, Shanghai China. Online reservations are now accepted.

• Jin Sha Hotel Jin Jiang [20]is a 3-star Shanghai accommodation that houses restaurants, banquet halls, multipurpose meeting rooms, recreational facilities, and a shopping arcade. Its Putuo District location has easy access to Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway, and Inner Ring Road for quick city explorations. Guaranteed reservations are available online.

• The Topsun On The Bund is a four-star Shanghai hotel, situated north of the bustling business area where many of Shanghai’s largest financial establishments, businesses, and foreign consulates can be found. It is almost an hour away from Pudong International Airport and about 35 minutes from Hongqiao International Airport. Address: 36 Huimin Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China. Phone Number: 86-21-65456999. Price: CNY 267.80

• Shanghai Jin Chang Hotel Shanghai Jin Chang Hotel is a 3-star hotel located on Changde Road, in Jing'an District. The Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, and Nanjing Road are few of the places you can visit while staying at this hotel. They offer air-conditioned rooms, that has a satellite TV, high-speed Internet, mini-bar, telephone, and smoke alarm.

• Yahsin Business Hotel, ☎ 86-21-38424949, [21]. This Shanghai hotel, which accepts online bookings, is just 22 km from the Hongqiao International Airport and 36 km from the Pudong International Airport. Guests of this hotel can visit remarkable places such as Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. It offers 115 air-conditioned rooms. No. 6 Lane 375 Shibocun Road, near No. 3500 South Pudong Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.Room rate starts at CNY 364.47+.  

• Gan Yuan Hotel, ☎ 86-21-62727258, [22]. A 3-star hotel located along Yuyao Road. It is only 11 km away from the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, while Pudong International Airport is 52 km away from the hotel. The hotel is also close to the following places: Oriental Pearl TV Tower, The Bund, and Jing'an Temple. 417 Yuyao Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China. Room rate starts at CNY 275.58+.  

> Grand Mercure Baolong Hotel Shanghai - 上海宝隆美爵酒店 > located close to major shopping areas, points of interest and cultural centres, including local attractions such as Lu Xun Park, historic Duolun Road and Fudan University > -More details here

> Grand Mercure Hongqiao Shanghai - 上海虹桥美爵大酒店 > in the centre of the Hongqiao district, close to restaurants, bars, shopping and local offices, ideal for business and leisure travelers, long stays and family holidays > -More details here

> The Panorama Shanghai - 上海海湾大厦 > located close to Waibaidu Bridge, on the Huang Pu River in the Hong Kou district > -More details here

> Novotel Shanghai Atlantis - 上海海神诺富特大酒店 > a 4 star hotel in the heart of Pudong, the financial centre of Shanghai, the first choice for a business trip, the Novotel is close to the Shanghai Exhibition Centre > -More details here

• Shanxi Business Hotel, ☎ 862152624866, [23]. It is located 15 km away from Hongqiao International Airport and 45 km away from Pudong International Airport. It houses 178 air-conditioned rooms. 658 Middle Yanan Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China.Rates start at CNY 486.71.  

• JunAn Design Hotel, ☎ 862151751188, [24]. JunAn Design Hotel in Shanghai, China is conveniently located in the West side of Nanjing Road, in Jing’an District. Opposite the hotel lies the famous Shanghai Television Tower. Their rooms are air-conditioned, and fitted with cable TV, hair dryer, and broadband Internet access. They also have a private bathroom and safe. Western and Chinese buffet breakfast is available. 696 Nanjing West Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, China. Rates start at CNY 431.15.  

Splurge

There are plenty of options in the upper price bracket, which for Shanghai tends to mean at least US$100. High end hotels include the Marriott International and the Grand Hyatt are located in Pudong, which is convenient for business but perhaps not so good for tourism. For a taste of 1930s Shanghai, try the stately Peace Hotel Peace Hotel (closed for renovation), the Gothamesque Park Hotel Park Hotel, Rui Jin Guesthouse on Ruijin Road, and Donghu Hotel on Huaihai Road.

Other luxury hotels in Shanghai include:

• Ambassador Hotel Shanghai, 818 Wanhangdu Road, Jing'an District, Reservations contact: 86-21-61226688 Ext. 7800. This is a superbly located business luxury hotel, situated in the heart of the CaoJiaDu Commercial Zone. Ambassador Hotel Shanghai offers 308 well-appointed rooms, complete with flat-screen TVs and wireless Internet access. It also has restaurants, meeting facilities, and an array of helpful services.

• Millennium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai, 2588 Yan An Xi Road, tel. No.:+86-21-6208 5888 [25]. Millennium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai is an impressive 5-star international hotel that is centrally located in the Hongqiao district within close proximity to Shanghai Mart and only 6 km from the domestic airport. This contemporary luxury Shanghai hotel provides ideal facilities for discerning business and leisure seekers. An oasis of calm within the bustling city of Shanghai, the hotel is a picture of serenity, featuring lush greenery and soothing water features.

• Hong Qiao State Guest Hotel Hong Qiao Road, Changning District. This 5-star hotel in Shanghai has 218 guestrooms spread over sprawling gardens, which are suitable for wedding ceremonies. Restaurants range from intimate settings to grand spaces, with cuisines that include Japanese and crab gourmet, among others. Various stylish meeting rooms are also available.

• Rainbow Hotel, 2000 Yan An Road (W), Chang Ning District, tel. No.:+86 216.122.6688 local 7800 [26]. A 4-star business hotel located in the Hongqiao business district. It offers spacious accommodations matched with superior facilities and excellent service.

• Riverside Hotel, No. 1305 North Kaixuan Road (W), Putuo District, tel. No.:+86-21-62609988 [27]. A 4-star hotel consisting of 20 storeys and 212 rooms. Rates start at CNY 398.

• Ivy Shanghai 709 Jiaozhou Road. This 5-star hotel has 45 rooms and suites, with a butler assigned to each floor. It also offers business amenities and Teppanyaki dining.

• Dongjiao State Guest Hotel, 2000 No. 1800 Jinke Rd, Pudong New Area [28]. A 5-star garden-style hotel located in the Pudong New Area. It offers 180 spacious and elegantly designed accommodations and boasts of modern facilities and first-rate service.

• Jin Jiang Hotel, 59 Maoming Road South, Luwan District [29]. A 4-star business hotel located in the French Concession area, one of the more affluent parts of the city.

• Anting Villa Hotel, 46 Anting Road, Xuhui District, (E-mail: E-mail: tprsvns@hubs1.net), [30]. Located at Shanghai’s Xuhui District, with landmarks such as The Bund, Xintiandi, and the Xujiahui Business District nearby. This 4-star hotel offers accommodations in Spanish and French decor, stately conference spaces and a number of restaurants.

• Salvo Hotel Shanghai, 339 Guangdong Road, Huangpu District, [31].Salvo Hotel is a 5-star hotel in Huangpu District. This is the first all-steel high-rise in the area that includes The Bund, Nanjing Road and Huangpu River.

• Jin Jiang Tower Hotel, 161 Changle Road, Luwan District [32]. Sister hotel to Jin Jiang Hotel. This premiere hotel has played host to dignitaries and famous personalities since it opened in 1988.

• Pacific Hotel, 108 West Nanjing Road, Huangpu District [33]. A convenient jump-off point for exploring Shanghai since it is located at the West end of Nanjing Road, near the Bund and several Shanghai landmarks. Rates start at 588 yuan.

• New Harbour Service Apartments, 88 Yongshou Road, Huangpu District [34]. Beautifully blending the elegance of hotel-style living with all the familiar comforts of home, this hotel in downtown Shanghai has 255 warm and cozy rooms furnished with modern conveniences. It has equally impressive leisure offerings found at its sprawling Health Club. Dining and business facilities are also available.

• Jin Jiang Galaxy Hotel [35]. The four-star luxury business hotel in Changning District is within walking distance to Shanghai’s exhibition centers, including Shanghai Mart and Shanghai International Trade Center. Facilities range from niche-cuisine restaurants to a 750-capacity ballroom. Address: 888 West Zhongshan Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China.

• Cypress Hotel [36]. A 4-star hotel surrounded by 40 acres of lush gardens. It offers comfortably designed accommodations with a bevy of first-rate facilities and services. Address: 2419 Hong Qiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China. Tel. No 86-21-62688868.

• Royalton Hotel, 789 Wuyi Road, Changning District [37]. Four-star hotel offering elegantly furnished rooms, various dining outlets, function halls, spa, business center, KTV, and fitness center.

• Park Hotel, 170 Nanjing Road West Shanghai, Huangpu District [38]. Held the distinction of being the tallest edifice in the city for more than half a century, this hotel is known for its gracious Oriental hospitality. It has 252 sophisticated and comfortable Art Deco-styled rooms. Impressive facilities include conference rooms, banquet halls and a bevy of dining and leisure choices.

• Pine City Hotel Jin Jiang, 777 Zhao Jia Bang Road, Shanghai, Xuhui District[39]. An elegant hotel inspired by traditional Chinese flair combined with the functionality of the modern 21st century. It offers world-class facilities and superb services.

• Hengshan Picardie Hotel. A classic Art Deco-inspired hotel in the heart of Shanghai’s French Concession in Xuhui District. The hotel offers 254 aptly furnished rooms and a wealth of dining and leisure facilities. Business amenities include a fully-equipped business center and flexible venues such as Kaixuan Palace and Blossom Hall. Address: 534 Hengshan Road, Shanghai, Xuhui District, China. Tel. No.: 86-21-61226688 Email: tprsvns@hubs1.net.

• Shanghai Hotel Jin Jiang is a 4-star hotel offering unparalleled comfort, convenience, and luxurious amenities for business and leisure. Celebrate grand or intimate occasions in our multi-purpose function rooms. Or iron out business matters with the aid of our well-equipped business center. Address: 505 North Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, Jing'an District, China. Tel. No.: 86-21-61226688 Ext. 7800.

• Jin Jiang Tian Cheng Hotel 585 Xujiahui Road, The East Building, Jin Yu Lan Square. This four-star business hotel houses 148 guestrooms furnished with modern amenities. Business and event facilities include a business center and event and conference venues of varying sizes. Leisure offerings include indoor swimming pool, disco and karaoke center.

• Jin Jiang East Asia Hotel 680 Nanjing East Road, Huangpu District [40]. A two-star business hotel offering essential comfortable amenities since 1914. It features elegantly furnished guestrooms, conference rooms, and restaurants serving authentic Shanghai and Cantonese dishes.

• Jing An Hotel Jin Jiang. A classic Spanish-style hotel in the heart of Shanghai’s French Concession in Jing’an District. The hotel offers 126 aptly furnished rooms and a wealth of dining and leisure facilities. Business amenities include a fully equipped business center and meeting and conference venues. Address: 370 Huashan Road, Jing'an District. Tel. No.: 86-21-61226688 Email: tprsvns@hubs1.net.

• Jin Jiang Da Hua Hotel 918 Yan'an West Road, Changning District [41]. This elegant hotel combines traditional Shanghai comforts with modern conveniences. Well-appointed guestrooms, recreational facilities, and restaurants offer utmost leisure. The hotel's conference rooms are also available for use for meetings and other small events.

• Regius Exhibition Hotel A 107-room business hotel with four-star appointments. Offers impressive business and leisure facilities including conference and banquet venues, business center, and a 20-room night club. 801 Beiai Road, Pudong New Area. Tel. No.: 86-21-61226688 Ext. 7800 Email: tprsvns@hubs1.net

• Shanghai Ever Sunshine Hotel, 1436 Pudong South Road, Pudong New Area. This charming hotel is home to 228 air-conditioned suites that are furnished with modern amenities. Meeting and conference rooms and a business center offering secretarial services are among the hotel’s corporate facilities. Recreational offerings include a health club, fitness center, and sauna.

• Skyway Hotel Shanghai 15 Dapu Road, Luwan District [42]. A 5-star luxury hotel with 653 rooms and suites that offer opulence and comfort to traveling executives or families on vacation. With first-class ballrooms, conference halls and a business center, plus a host of in-house restaurants, a swimming pool, spa, gym, and health club.

• Royal Court Hotel Shanghai No. 7, Lane 622, Middle Huaihai Road, Luwan District. A business hotel offering five-star comforts to traveling executives and holidaymakers. With air-conditioned rooms, conference halls, restaurant and bar, gym and sauna. Its location is very accessible from the railway station, South Shanxi Road Station and Nanjing Road.

• Garden Avenue Hotel 689 Old Humin Road, Xuhui District. A 5-star business hotel near Shanghai’s central business district. It has 218 beautifully furnished rooms, fully-equipped banquet halls, and dining and recreational facilities.

• Parkyard Hotel Shanghai 699 Bibo Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China 201203. This five-star hotel has a line of posh restaurants, spacious function halls, indoor pool, steam bath, gift shop, and massage services. The hotel’s proximity to key city areas like International Expo Center, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Zone, and Maglev Train Station will give convenience to any touring guest. Instant and secured reservations are available online.

• Yun’s Paradise Hotel in Shanghai, China is a 4-star luxury hotel with a great location near The Bund, People’s Square, South Railway Station, and Hongqiao International Airport. Explore the sights of Shanghai conveniently, or take advantage of the hotel’s excellent amenities. Features lavishly appointed rooms, gym, restaurant, business center, and function rooms. Phone No: 86-21-61226688 Ext. 7800.

• Grand Metropark Jiayou Hotel, 159 New Golden Bridge Road, Pudong New Area. This 5-star business hotel has 327 elegantly designed rooms. Leisure facilities include a snooker room, swimming pool, and spa. A vast and stately grand ballroom and numerous meeting rooms are also available to cater to various event needs.

• Shanghai Hundred Centuries Hotel, takes a few minutes to boutiques, markets, and historical sites, such as People’s Square and Yu Yuan Garden. Offers 94 air-conditioned rooms with mini bar, television, telephone, and free high speed Internet access. Address: 1528 South Tibet Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China . Phone Number: 86-21-51503777. Price: CNY 397.81

• Shanghai New-Westlake Hotel, Shanghai New-Westlake Hotel is located along Mao Ming South Road in Luwan District. It is 5 km from the railway station, 12 km from Hongqiao Airport, and 43 km from Pudong Airport. The Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. It offers 20 air-conditioned rooms, all of which have cable TV, a private toilet, and room safe.

• La Casa Hotel Shanghai, ☎ 86-21-54760066, [43]. La Casa Hotel Shanghai is a 4-star hotel strategically located along Yanan West Road. While staying here, you might want to visit some of the famous tourist spots in Shanghai namely Jade Buddha Temple, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and Shanghai Zoo. 3300 Yanan West Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China.Rates start at CNY 542.27+.  

• Gran Melia Shanghai Hotel Lujiazui Ring Road-Pudong. Gran Meliá Shanghai is the first Gran Meliá property to China, and a deluxe five-star hotel situated within the Lu Jia Zui Financial and Trade Zone district. Local attractions including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Aquarium, the Super Grand Mall, the Jin Mao Tower and the Financial Tower are all within walking distance; and only 15 minutes beyond hotel property, the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC).

Contact

Stay safe

Shanghai is a fairly safe city, and violent crimes are very rare even in the poorest neighborhoods. However, the ever-increasing divide between the haves and have-nots has created its fair share of problems and petty crimes like pickpocketing are on the rise, and sexual harassment is common on crowded subway trains and buses.

Various tourist-oriented scams, long practiced in Beijing, are unfortunately spreading to Shanghai as well. Be cautious if you meet a group of overly friendly students or attractive women who insist on dragging you along to an art gallery, tea shop or karaoke parlor - you're unlikely to be physically harmed, but the bill may well be more than you bargained for. Police can help to recover some part of your money. "Students" claiming to be from Beijing are also common as they will try to get you to buy art. These people are especially present around People's Square near the entrances/exits of the museums and art galleries.

Foreign males often attract unsolicited attention from female sex workers at many nightspots.

Be careful of people who approach and offer to polish your shoes, even if they are obviously a type which don't need polishing. Often when you refuse they'll squirt some hard-to-remove substance on them.

Hawkers are a nuisance, particularly in areas such as the Old Town and the Science Museum in Pudong where there are shops in the subway selling fake designer goods. The most effective way to deal with them is to ignore them: don't reply to them or even look at them. Otherwise they will continue to bark an ever-increasing list of goods at you. Shouting a rude "Bu yao!" ("I don't want it!") at them sometimes helps.

Cope

For visitors unused to travel in China the language barrier is likely to be the biggest obstacle, as English ability tends to be very limited in all but the largest tourist draws and establishments that cater specifically to Westerners. Mandarin-learners need to be aware that Shanghainese, a Wu dialect, is the language of the streets and very different from Mandarin, although most Shanghainese under the age of 50 speak Mandarin to one degree or another. The use of Shanghainese as the de facto 'first' language of the city has been discouraged by the government and its use is decreasing both due to the effect of the paramount use of Mandarin in mass media and by the large-scale influx of out-of-town Chinese moving to Shanghai to work in recent years.

In addition, Shanghainese speakers have a particular accent when speaking Mandarin. Mandarin is heavily tone-based and speakers from Beijing can easily be understood (most textbooks are based on their accent or an approximation). Shanghainese speakers, as second-language learners of Mandarin themselves, have appropriated some of the features of the Shanghainese language onto their Mandarin (think of a Frenchman speaking English or someone from the U.S. speaking Spanish). While in other languages this would not be a problem, given the phonemic and tonal nature inherent to Mandarin, the slightest shift in pronunciation can make it much more difficult to understand. The best thing to do is say "Shuo de man" (shoo-wo de man) which means "speak slowly".

Also, many unskilled laborers from western China, where local languages dominate ("dialect" in government jargon) and Mandarin level is sometimes adequate at best, have moved into Shanghai. They often suffer as do foreigners visiting Shanghai as these laborers ("country-side people, as the Shanghainese call them) have problems with Mandarin, speak little to absolutely no English, and coincidentally, often are in the streets selling.

Rudimentary Chinese and/or pattern matching ability for character recognition will help, as will getting your destination and some simple directions to it written in Chinese characters, particularly when traveling by taxi. Some taxi drivers know English, but not much. Make sure to not waste time with difficult grammatical constructions and pleasantries such as "Oh I was wondering if you could help me find..." It is too confusing. Just say "The Bund" or "Nanjing West". Though it may seem rude to an English speaker, this is EXACTLY how Chinese would say it in Mandarin and is highly more effective.

Pushing in subways is the rule, especially the chaotic People's Square Station 人民广场站 where lines 1, 2, and 8 intersect. Just dig in and push, don't feel sorry. Bumping into people in streets is commonplace and should not be a reason to get angry. For those who have been to Tokyo, do not assume that Shanghai is anything like it.

Visa extensions

• Entry-Exit Bureau, 1500 Mingsheng Road, Pudong District. A modern and efficient building where you can extend your visa. 

Tip Most shops and restaurants have business cards, which are written on in Pinyin and Chinese characters. Collect them whenever you go anywhere, just make a note on it what the place was, and then all you have to do to return to the place is show the card to the taxi driver.

Get out

• Jiading, an historic town about an hour NW of Shanghai by bus from Nanjing Xi Lu and Cheng Du Lu. The sights to see are Shanghai's F1 track, a Confucian garden, and a pagoda.

• Shanghai F1 Circuit, special buses run from Shanghai Stadium metro stop and a few others around the city. They cost Y50 return and leave every few minutes when they fill up. On Friday and Saturday it takes an hour or so each way (so if you are staying somewhere in the centre of Shanghai budget 2 hours door to door), on Sunday it is significantly quicker. They also drop you as far away from the main stand as it is possible to get, so budget on another 20-30 minutes to get to your seats depending on where your seats are. On the way back, you are better off just to jump on any bus as they all take you back to a metro station and your door to door travel time should be about the same.

• Qibao, a small ancient town, about 15km from Shanghai city, just in between the city and Minhang district. It resembles the more famous water town, Zhouzhuang.

• Songjiang 松江, a county in Shanghai province, some 30km southwest of Shanghai city. It is less crowded than Shanghai and is a good daytrip. It is also now much more accessible with the opening of the new Metro line 9.

• Xitang, an historic town SW of Shanghai. A few scenes from Mission Impossible 3 were filmed here. A picturesque canal town with old bridges and houses lining the canal lit up at night with red lanterns. You can even stay a night in one of the old houses and sleep in an old bed.

• Zhujiajiao ☎ 021-59240077, 021-59245559, [44]. An historic town an hour by car west of Shanghai. Another of those picturesque canal towns dating from the Ming dynasty (14th to 17th centuries). The first modern post office in China was established here. Worth a look in spite of the abundance of souvenir stores, although not overrun with tourists.¥10.

• Nantong, north of Shanghai, a newly developing city. The city has a natural and open atmosphere. Nantong is a modern as well as historic city.

Nearby cities

Several other major Chinese cities are near Shanghai and conveniently reachable on the new high speed (over 200 km/hr) trains. These are comfortable and reasonably priced and except at holidays, are not too crowded since other trains are cheaper. Look for the separate ticket windows with "CRH" on the signs.

• Hangzhou 杭州, about 75 minutes away by CRH, is China's number one domestic tourist attraction featuring the famous Xihu Lake.

• Suzhou 苏州, a historic town under an hour away from Shanghai by train. The city has long been lauded by emperors, ancient poets, and scholars alike for its beauty and vitality. Due to its many canals and bridges, Suzhou has also sometimes been referred to as the "Venice of the East". Suzhou has many gardens that are worth visiting. The "Venice of the East" parts of Suzhou have all been over run with agressive beggars and pan handlers. Reserve Suzhou if it can be combined with a tour of other historic areas.

• Nanjing, about two hours away, is a great place to escape the pace of citylife. Its also a great place to get a Chinese history lesson. From the city walls to the Presidential Palace, its a walkable, friendly place with a variety of hotels for all budgets. Well worth the effort. It is also home to the tombs of three prominent figures in Chinese history.

• Shaoxing 绍兴, about three hours away, is traditional Chinese tourist attraction featuring the famous fish and rice hometown. The ancient quarry of Keyan is an incredible site. Be sure to take a trip on the local rowboat on the lake surrounding the rocky cliffs. The Jianhu Lake is another beautiful area. Lan Ting is a nice park with lots of stone monuments engraved with historical Chinese calligraphy. The Dayu Ling (Tomb of the Great Yu) is nice although feels disappointingly unauthentic.
• Wuzhen is one of the water towns close to Shanghai, easy to reach on a day trip. Busses depart e.g. from Shanghai Stadium. Go and see how daily life was/is - weaving and coloring fabric, pottery, the Shadow Puppet Theatre is a great spectactle as well, with traditional Chinese stories and music played on traditional instruments. Well worth a visit, though it can be crowded at weekends..Wuzhen (乌镇) is located on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and also around a net-work of other smaller canals and rivers. The town has numerous bridges, ancient harbors and water-side pavilions, and makes an excellent complimentary side-trip for visitors staying in nearby Hangzhou. Buses ply the route from Hangzhou to Wuzhen.

This page was last edited at 14:07, on 26 March 2009 by Jani Patokallio. Based on work by Shaun Roberts, Ryan Holliday and Ian Sergeant, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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