Shanghai attractions

Replies: 17 - Last Post: 11-Jun-2007 06:48 Last Post By: ellyse

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Dexplorer

07-Jun-2007 20:10
Posts: 162

Shanghai attractions

Friends,
I am planning to go to Shanghai for about 3 days.

1. Whats the easiest way to get around the city?
2. What are the places to visit .. and how to get there. ?
3. Good cheap place to stay preferably around the touristy attractions.

thanks a lot in advance

squidstrips

07-Jun-2007 20:14
Posts: 697

The easiest way to get around is to take taxis. They aren't that expensive. Make sure they use a meter. There's a website reviewing all the taxi companies.

The best way for me was the metro. But it closes way too early. Not good for going out at night.

astroboy

07-Jun-2007 20:39
Posts: 4,927

Unlike most of the large cities in Asia, Shanghai is easily walked. Really. I walk from the French Concession to the Bund in about an hour. Otherwise taxis and the metro (although stay away - if you can help it - from line 1. line 1 is my metro line - I hate it)

2. What are you interested in? Honestly Shanghai isn't much on "sites" - although we have a few - it's more about city atmosphere and urban life.

3. What does "cheap" mean to you?

he'll defend us, he'll defend us,
the amazing astroboy!

woolf135

07-Jun-2007 20:45
Posts: 1,610

the shanghai metro is not made for a city like shanghai, it seems more like something for a mid-sized european city. they need to have the cars twice as wide, the trains a little longer, and extend the hours of operation. if i am with 3 people or so, and don;t have too far to go, i like taxi

Dexplorer

07-Jun-2007 22:49
Posts: 162

Thanks,

Have been seeing other posts about Shanghai and reading up on the net. Now I get the impression that there is nothing much to see in Shanghai in terms of specific sites. Like you do in Beijing. Except for the Bund perhaps.

Since I would be having 3 full days, i was thinking about making a day trip to Hangzhou. Is this possible ?
How long does it take ? How to make the travel ?

any idea about the east asia hotel in shanghai (the one on nanjing lu). How's that for getting a taste of urban life ?

woolf135

07-Jun-2007 22:55
Posts: 1,610

I think Shanghai is a lot of fun, but it is true when I have visitors I take them wandering around the city, not to any specific 'sites'. You can still have a good time in Shanghai for 3 days.

But if you end up getting bored in Shanghai, Hangzhou is 1.5 - 2 hours by train. Go to new Shanghai South Train Station and take one of the new "D" trains to Hangzhou. Hangzhou can be done in a day trip, but if you can spend an overnight trip and wander around really early in the morning you will have a much more memorable experience.

astroboy

07-Jun-2007 23:04
Posts: 4,927

A day trip to Hangzhou would be great.

But to be honest, I find 3 days in Shanghai of wandering and soaking up urban life is perfect. I mean if you like cities.

There are places to see - Shanghai Museum, Bund, Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, walking around the French Concession. . . but honestly I wouldn't recommend any of those places as a destination per se. I hope that makes sense. I mean they're cool things to see in the context of seeing them in a city. But as "places to visit" they're not very special at all.

he'll defend us, he'll defend us,
the amazing astroboy!

Dexplorer

07-Jun-2007 23:50
Posts: 162

thanks,
I get the picture.

I kinda making some changes in the plans... read up some more stuff and whats forming in my mind is that probably on the second afternoon I would head out to Xitang and spend a night there and go off to Hangzhou the next day and spend a night there as well.

-easiest way to get to Xitang from Shanghai in the afternoon
-can you recommend places to stay in Xitang, prices and if I need to book in advance
- how to go to Hangzhou from Xitang, and places to stay in Hangzhou

thanks

squidstrips

07-Jun-2007 23:52
Posts: 697

#3, Shanghai needs to have cars twice as wide? Are you kidding? Shanghai has the widest subway cars I have ever seen. They also have a ton of cars in each train. They also run every few minutes. Having said that, it still is like being a sardin at rush hour. They really do need to expand the hours though. Shutting down a line at 9:30pm is ridiculous for a city like Shanghai.

As for touristy things to do in Shanghai. I was pretty much done with that about 3 hours in. The best part was the Shanghai Museum. I spent my four days just hanging about which is fun. I left the tourist trail and headed out where the locals live. There are a lot of foreigners living in Shanghai. I saw more westerners living there than in any other Chinese city.

ellyse

08-Jun-2007 07:00
Posts: 8,932

1) Metro. Taxi as a supplement.
2) Did you bother looking at any guidebooks or online information? I'm not sure if you're ignorant or plain lazy. If you want more specific recommendations then you should be more specific about your sightseeing interests and preferences.
3) What do you deem "cheap"? Giving a monetary range for your budget would be more useful. What are your dates of stay? How many of you are there? Are you looking for private room or dorm bed?

Yes, Hangzhou for a daytrip is definitely feasible. Best way to get there would be by the D trains from Shanghai South train station to Hangzhou MAIN train station. Getting back the same way. These trains take 1h20min each way.
If you want to experience urban life I would suggest staying in the French Concession area instead.
Cheers!

astroboy

08-Jun-2007 07:38
Posts: 4,927

Quote
They also have a ton of cars in each train

I guess if 6 = "a ton"

Maybe life in Hong Kong and Singapore spoiled me for metro systems - but Shanghai's was built after them, and it's much more poorly managed and planned.

he'll defend us, he'll defend us,
the amazing astroboy!

rploehn

08-Jun-2007 08:50
Posts: 262

Hmm. Ellyse is on the money. Check the web, buy LP and DK Eyewitness guides. My version of answers to your wide-open questions.

1. Metro. Taxi to Metro. Metro to taxi. Cheap, reliable and fast. Hey until you ride the Tokyo trains, don't complain about Shanghai.
2. I still like Old Shanghai and Yu Yuan Gardens. This is the "real" Chinatown as opposed to the "so-called" Chinatowns around the world. But you gotta like "Chinatowns!" Yes, the Shanghai Museum is worth at least two visits of about three hours each, so you can absorb the priceless and fascinating works you will see. I still spend a good time in the Shanghai Museum Store, where you know the replicas are authentic replicas. Sitting in Renmin Square and watching the kids in the fountains help restore my sensibilities.
3. You will not have any problems finding cheap housing. I have slept in 10 Indian hotels and the cheaper ones are much like the Chinese cheaper ones. TripAdvisor.com might give you some ideas.

Always looking for new adventures, new cultures, interesting geography.

Chiefie

08-Jun-2007 10:15
Posts: 292

#11 -

Quote
the replicas are authentic replicas

- you mean... at the museum they are real fakes?

Thx

astroboy

08-Jun-2007 17:28
Posts: 4,927

at the museum STORE was what he wrote.

he'll defend us, he'll defend us,
the amazing astroboy!

astroboy

08-Jun-2007 17:29
Posts: 4,927

Quote
Hey until you ride the Tokyo trains, don't complain about Shanghai.

I've ridden the Tokyo trains. I ride the Shanghai trains almost daily. Tokyo is much much better.

he'll defend us, he'll defend us,
the amazing astroboy!

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