I am so tired now.
The three projects have almost killed me...
3/19/2009
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part10
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.
All the ''TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI''come from http://wikitravel.org/en/Shanghai
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.
All the ''TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI''come from http://wikitravel.org/en/Shanghai
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part9
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.
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.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part8
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.
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.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part7
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. edit
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.
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. edit
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.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part6
Do
Shanghai is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles, and this section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.
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.
Shanghai is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles, and this section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.
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.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part5
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.
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.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part4
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
Shanghai metro map
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.
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
Shanghai metro map
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.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part3
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 should be booked at least two days in advance at one of the many travel agencies. 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 (Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Chongqing, 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 weekend charters from Taiwan. Currently, both Taoyuan and Songshan airports in Taipei have flights to Shanghai.
Pudong International Airport
Transrapid trains known locally as Shanghai MagLev Trains (SMT) at Longyang Station
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 up to 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 thrillseeking 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.(Foreigncare)
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.
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 should be booked at least two days in advance at one of the many travel agencies. 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 (Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Chongqing, 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 weekend charters from Taiwan. Currently, both Taoyuan and Songshan airports in Taipei have flights to Shanghai.
Pudong International Airport
Transrapid trains known locally as Shanghai MagLev Trains (SMT) at Longyang Station
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 up to 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 thrillseeking 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.(Foreigncare)
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.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part2
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.
Due to rapid industrial and economic development, as well as lax governmental environment policies, Shanghai has recently been ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Individuals with asthma or respiratory issues should be prepared when visiting the city.
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.
Due to rapid industrial and economic development, as well as lax governmental environment policies, Shanghai has recently been ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Individuals with asthma or respiratory issues should be prepared when visiting the city.
TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI part1
Shanghai [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.
[edit] Districts
Shanghai is split in two by the Huangpu River ,with the older town on the west bank known as Puxi and the brash new development on the east side being Pudong .
Areas within Puxi:
The Bund - The colonial riverside of old (and reborn) Shanghai, including the Yuyuan Gardens.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 ,leading to People's Park and The Bund.
Hongkou - 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 - Where the famous Fudan University and Tongji University are located. Also contains the excellent and spacious GongQing forest park .
Jing'An Temple - Commercial area on Nanjing Rd.
Across the river:
Pudong - The skyscraper-laden new financial and commercial district on the east bank of the river
Outlying districts:
Jiādìng
Qīngpǔ
Jīnshān
Nánhuì
Sōngjiāng
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.
[edit] Districts
Shanghai is split in two by the Huangpu River ,with the older town on the west bank known as Puxi and the brash new development on the east side being Pudong .
Areas within Puxi:
The Bund - The colonial riverside of old (and reborn) Shanghai, including the Yuyuan Gardens.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 ,leading to People's Park and The Bund.
Hongkou - 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 - Where the famous Fudan University and Tongji University are located. Also contains the excellent and spacious GongQing forest park .
Jing'An Temple - Commercial area on Nanjing Rd.
Across the river:
Pudong - The skyscraper-laden new financial and commercial district on the east bank of the river
Outlying districts:
Jiādìng
Qīngpǔ
Jīnshān
Nánhuì
Sōngjiāng
3/11/2009
TRAVEL IN SUZHOU
Suzhou is located in the center of the Yangtze Delta, in the south of Jiangsu Province, with Shanghai to the east, Zhejiang Province to the south, Wuxi City to the west and the Yangtze River to the north. Since 42% area of the city is covered by water, including a vast number of ponds and streams, Suzhou is praised as the 'Oriental Venice'. Taihu Lake, four fifths of which is in the territory of Suzhou, is one of the four largest fresh lakes in China, with East Hill, West Hill and other scenic spots in its vicinity. The city is cut by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south. Together with its mild climate, making it an available destination all year round, fertile landscape and abundance of produce, it is no wonder that Suzhou is called 'paradise on earth'.Built in 514 BC, Suzhou is an ancient city with a 2500 years' history. The unique characteristics of the past are still retained in present-day Suzhou. The double-chessboard layout of Suzhou, with 'the streets and rivers go side by side while the water and land routes run in parallel', are preserved basically intact. Strolling the streets, you can feel the unique lingering charm of this landscape left by its long history.
As the saying goes - 'Gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them'. These gardens attain their high reputation not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction. At present more than 60 gardens are kept intact in Suzhou, and a series of them have been listed in the World Heritage List, including the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Garden of Master of Nets and the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty
.Rating alongside these classical gardens are the exquisite water townships in Suzhou. Zhouzhuang, Mudu, Tongli Town and so on should not be missed by any visitor. In any water township of Suzhou, a number of Ming and Qing dynasty preserved buildings can be found. The natural sights and human landscape enhance each other's beauty, which is a great attraction to visitors who linger there.
Being the cradle of Wu Culture, Suzhou plays a vital role in Chinese cultural history. Many great names and schools of art arose here. For example, the Wumen Fine Arts School is the finest in the history of Suzhou, represented by Shen Zhou, Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin and Qiu Ying, whose poems, calligraphy and paintings are considered to be historical artifacts. Pingtan, Kun Opera and Suzhou Opera are praised as 'three flowers' in the cultural history of Suzhou. Furthermore, embroidery, fans and brocade produced in Suzhou are noted world wide. If you want to explore more on their history visit the museum of Suzhou folk-costume for a complete description.
As one of the famous tourist cities in China, Suzhou has made a great improvement to its basic facilities and tourist functions. Suzhou is accessible by plane, train and bus. Star-rated hotels with good services and reasonable guesthouses and hostels provide a range of lodging. Of course, tasting local delicacies should not be forgotten in your journey. Authentic Suzhou cuisines and snacks can be found in Guan Qian Street, where delicious food and friendly service are memorable. When night falls, Suzhou City is quiet and peaceful. You can enjoy it while sipping a cup of tea in any teahouse.
THE MISERABLE MEMORY IN NEPSTAR DRUGSTORE
Last month I got a stomach, so I went to the nepstar to get some drug for myself.
I got in ,and there was no waiter come and offer help . That’s not the worst. When I pick one , the waitress came and trying to persuade me to buy anther expensive one. Of course I did not followed her advice. Then I went to check out , the waitress told me:”It’s 20RMB.” But I saw it was 16RMB,so I asked her why , her answer “we forgot to change the price.” made me angry. I asked her to compensate for me , but her rejected and treated me rough. At last I bought the drug because the stomach really hurts me and I can not wit to buy from other drugstores.
Though I bought in the nepstar drugstore finally , I won’t go to the nepstar again ,what’s more, I will tell my friends about my experience ,and I believe that they won’t shop in the nepstar .
I got in ,and there was no waiter come and offer help . That’s not the worst. When I pick one , the waitress came and trying to persuade me to buy anther expensive one. Of course I did not followed her advice. Then I went to check out , the waitress told me:”It’s 20RMB.” But I saw it was 16RMB,so I asked her why , her answer “we forgot to change the price.” made me angry. I asked her to compensate for me , but her rejected and treated me rough. At last I bought the drug because the stomach really hurts me and I can not wit to buy from other drugstores.
Though I bought in the nepstar drugstore finally , I won’t go to the nepstar again ,what’s more, I will tell my friends about my experience ,and I believe that they won’t shop in the nepstar .
2/20/2009
Travel in Beijing
Beijing is the political and cultural center of the People's Republic of Chin
a, and the spiritual and political heart of the country. Beijing (meaning Northern Capital) is perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in China. Great changes have taken place since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
a, and the spiritual and political heart of the country. Beijing (meaning Northern Capital) is perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in China. Great changes have taken place since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.Geographical Features
The total area of Beijing city is approximately 750 sq. km (290 sq. mi). It is laid out in an orderly design, with long, straight boulevards and avenues crisscrossed by a network of lanes. The Yanshan Mountain range forms a screen to the northeast. The long, winding Taihang Mountain range is to the west. To the northwest, the vast Mongolian plateau begins.
Beijing has four definite seasons. Summer and winter are the two longest seasons with fall and spring being the shortest. Autumn, which is usually clear with cool temperatures, is the most pleasant time to visit. Winters are dry and, at times, bitterly cold with temperatures dropping below 5 degrees F (-15 C). Spring is usually dry and windy, while the summer is rainy and hot with temperatures soaring above 100 F (38 C). In winter, cold, dry winds blow out of Siberia and Mongolia; in summer, warm, moist air currents from the southeast take over. A general change of wind direction occurs in March or April and again in September.
The average annual rainfall of 630 millimeters is regarded as a generous "heavenly endowment" for North China, which is otherwise short of rain. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -4.7C, while the hottest month is July, with an average of 26.1C. Rapid temperature increases in the spring are often accompanied by sandstorms, but windless days in that season are wonderfully pleasant. Autumn, though short-lived, is a concentrated stretch of clear, crisp days and patchwork trees.
Beijing People
Beijing has over 13.8 million people. Han Chinese make up over 95% of the population. Mandarin Chinese is the language spoken in Beijing, with Beijing's dialect being the standard form of Mandarin. The major organized religions are Daoism (or Taoism), Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam.
Beijing History
Some half a million years ago, Peking man lived in Zhoukoudian, in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing. The climate at that time was warmer and more humid than it is today. Forests and lakes in the area supported large numbers of living creatures. The fossil remains of Peking man, his stone tools and evidence of use of fire, as well as later tools of 18,000 years ago, bone needles and article of adornment from the age of Upper Cave Man are the earliest cultural relics on record in China today.
Some four to five thousand years ago, settlements southwest of Beijing were thriving on basic agriculture and animal husbandry. During the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC), the Marquis of Yan annexed the territory of the Marquis of Ji, making the city of Ji his new capital. The approximate location of the city was north of Guang' anmen Gate in present day Beijing near the White Cloud Temple (Baiyunguan).
Early in the third century BC, the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, set about unifying China. The city of Ji was named administrative center, as one of 36 prefectures in China's first feudal empire. For 10 centuries, until the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Ji remained a strategic trading and military center and the object of frequent power struggles. The building of a new city began in 1151 with expansion to the east, west and south. The imperial palace in the center measured roughly five kilometers in circumference. The registered population amounted to 225,592 households, or approximately one million people.
Envoys and traders from Europe, Asia and Africa who paid visits to China were astounded by the splendor and magnificence of Dadu. Marco Polo wrote this description of the palaces: "You must know that it is the greatest palace that ever was... The roof is very lofty, and the walls of the palace are all covered with gold and silver. They are adorned with dragons, beasts and birds, knights and idols, and other such things..."
On August 2, 1368, Ming troops seized Dadu and renamed it Beiping (Northern Peace). Beginning in 1406, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty spent 15 years constructing walls 12 meters high and 10 meters thick at their base around the city of Beiping. Th
e construction of palace buildings and gardens began in 1417 and was completed in 1420. The following year, Emperor Yongle formally transferred the capital from Nanjing to Beiping and, for the first time, named the city Beijing (Northern Capital). When the Manchus founded the Qing Dynasty in 1644, they began to build suburban gardens, the most famous of which was Yuanmingyuan. After the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Chairman Mao Zedong hoisted the red flag in Tian'anmen Square, on October 1, 1949 to officially proclaim the foundation of the People's Republic.
The scholar tree and oriental cypress are Beijing official city trees; the Chinese rose and the chrysanthemum are Beijing's official city flowers.
The total area of Beijing city is approximately 750 sq. km (290 sq. mi). It is laid out in an orderly design, with long, straight boulevards and avenues crisscrossed by a network of lanes. The Yanshan Mountain range forms a screen to the northeast. The long, winding Taihang Mountain range is to the west. To the northwest, the vast Mongolian plateau begins.
Beijing has four definite seasons. Summer and winter are the two longest seasons with fall and spring being the shortest. Autumn, which is usually clear with cool temperatures, is the most pleasant time to visit. Winters are dry and, at times, bitterly cold with temperatures dropping below 5 degrees F (-15 C). Spring is usually dry and windy, while the summer is rainy and hot with temperatures soaring above 100 F (38 C). In winter, cold, dry winds blow out of Siberia and Mongolia; in summer, warm, moist air currents from the southeast take over. A general change of wind direction occurs in March or April and again in September.
The average annual rainfall of 630 millimeters is regarded as a generous "heavenly endowment" for North China, which is otherwise short of rain. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -4.7C, while the hottest month is July, with an average of 26.1C. Rapid temperature increases in the spring are often accompanied by sandstorms, but windless days in that season are wonderfully pleasant. Autumn, though short-lived, is a concentrated stretch of clear, crisp days and patchwork trees.
Beijing People
Beijing has over 13.8 million people. Han Chinese make up over 95% of the population. Mandarin Chinese is the language spoken in Beijing, with Beijing's dialect being the standard form of Mandarin. The major organized religions are Daoism (or Taoism), Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam.
Beijing History
Some half a million years ago, Peking man lived in Zhoukoudian, in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing. The climate at that time was warmer and more humid than it is today. Forests and lakes in the area supported large numbers of living creatures. The fossil remains of Peking man, his stone tools and evidence of use of fire, as well as later tools of 18,000 years ago, bone needles and article of adornment from the age of Upper Cave Man are the earliest cultural relics on record in China today.
Some four to five thousand years ago, settlements southwest of Beijing were thriving on basic agriculture and animal husbandry. During the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC), the Marquis of Yan annexed the territory of the Marquis of Ji, making the city of Ji his new capital. The approximate location of the city was north of Guang' anmen Gate in present day Beijing near the White Cloud Temple (Baiyunguan).
Early in the third century BC, the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, set about unifying China. The city of Ji was named administrative center, as one of 36 prefectures in China's first feudal empire. For 10 centuries, until the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Ji remained a strategic trading and military center and the object of frequent power struggles. The building of a new city began in 1151 with expansion to the east, west and south. The imperial palace in the center measured roughly five kilometers in circumference. The registered population amounted to 225,592 households, or approximately one million people.
Envoys and traders from Europe, Asia and Africa who paid visits to China were astounded by the splendor and magnificence of Dadu. Marco Polo wrote this description of the palaces: "You must know that it is the greatest palace that ever was... The roof is very lofty, and the walls of the palace are all covered with gold and silver. They are adorned with dragons, beasts and birds, knights and idols, and other such things..."
On August 2, 1368, Ming troops seized Dadu and renamed it Beiping (Northern Peace). Beginning in 1406, Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty spent 15 years constructing walls 12 meters high and 10 meters thick at their base around the city of Beiping. Th
e construction of palace buildings and gardens began in 1417 and was completed in 1420. The following year, Emperor Yongle formally transferred the capital from Nanjing to Beiping and, for the first time, named the city Beijing (Northern Capital). When the Manchus founded the Qing Dynasty in 1644, they began to build suburban gardens, the most famous of which was Yuanmingyuan. After the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Chairman Mao Zedong hoisted the red flag in Tian'anmen Square, on October 1, 1949 to officially proclaim the foundation of the People's Republic.The scholar tree and oriental cypress are Beijing official city trees; the Chinese rose and the chrysanthemum are Beijing's official city flowers.
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