2.5 days - Shanghai or Beijing
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Sep 11, 2012 1:24 AM Last Post By: AngelinaM
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2.5 days - Shanghai or Beijing
I am traveling to Shanghai for 8 days for work in October and will have 2.5 days after finishing work; I'll probably be able to go out for dinner during the first 8 days but nothing more. Need advice about whether I should travel to Beijing or stay in Shanghai. I am interested in exploring history and in checking out some good places for nightlife.1
There is plenty of great nightlife in Shanghai, thats is a given, but for history, you would be best served heading to Beijing, take a fast train after work and make the most of it. There is enough to see and do in Shanghai on the history front, though not nearly as rich or important as Beijing.For nightlife:
TimeOut Shanghai & Beijing has all the nightlife you need.
3
I agree with the above, with just 2.5 days stay in Shanghai. You can always go to Suzhou (about 1/2 hour by high speed train) and/or do day trips to visit the water towns near Shanghai to see more historical sites.Heres a link to a site with a map and descriptions of what's around Shanghai:
http://www.shanghaihighlights.com/neighbours/
6
I think too short to go to Beijing. I'd stick to the region. If you need to get out of Shanghai, go to Suzhou and Tongli or Hangzhou, or even Nanjing. Any of these by quick bullet train, and easy to do on spur of the moment. I'd recommend doing as overnights not staying in Shanghai and trying to daytrip.7
I agree with the concensus that you don't have enough time to go to Beijing. Even if you can re-jig your flight out there is so much that you WON'T be able to see in Beijing.I, like egjeg, usually trumpet Beijing over Shanghai (And, for history, it really is a no contest). But with such a short amount of free-time, you can't afford to spend very much of it on trains/planes. Two and a half days is a good amount of time to see pretty-much all that Shanghai has to offer and/or get a taste of the surronding area.
9
egjeg gvies you good advice. I am a tour operator for over 25 years and highly recommend Beijing over Shanghai for historical sites and more to see there. HOwever if you only have 2.5 days avaialble I would stay in Shanghai and perhaps go out to some of the water towns like JinXi, Zhouzhang or Qibaozhen which is close to Shanghai and perhaps Suzhou which is a short train ride away and stay there overnight to see some of the famous Gardens, Silk Factory, Tiger Hill Park., Canals etc. etc. Dave in Seattle
