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MatildaGirl
Talker
Joined: Nov 05, 2004
Posts: 107
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Nov 25, 2004 - 10:51 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Pre-moving visit to Shanghai - Jan 05 |
I have decided to take everyones advice and visit Shanghai for a week in January. This way I will be able to visit schools, look for accommodation, and get a general feel for life in Shanghai.
Any advice about shopping, funs activities for the kids, shopping and shopping would be wonderful. |
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sobie
Reacher
Joined: Oct 13, 2004
Posts: 325
Status: Offline
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Nov 26, 2004 - 07:51 PM |
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for the kids... there's the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (near Pearl Tower) and then there's the the Shanghai Zoo on Honquiao Rd. |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 30780
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Dec 01, 2004 - 11:08 AM |
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Shanghai will be very cold in January ... be sure to bring your warm clothes and dress in layers. Sound like a mother myself there. Sorry.
The aquarium as sobie mentioned is a lot of fun. A note about the zoo ... depending on where you are from and the ages of your children, please be aware that many zoos in China tend to show the animals in more harsh conditions than elsewhere. You may want to visit it yourself prior to taking the kids.
Some other activities would be going to the Bund, going up to the top of the Pearl Tower, Laser Tag, Fuxing Park. There are often childrens theatres in town, but you would have to check what was around when you were here.
Shopping - a large open-air market is centrally located on Xiang Yang Road and Huai Hai Road. Tons of fakes, clothes, shoes, scarves, etc. Usually a big hit with everyone. One-stop tourist shopping can be done at the Friendship Store, on Beijing Xi Lu (I think), near the Bund. A walk down Huai Hai road or Nanjing Road will reveal international and domestic shops galore. The Shanghai Museum has a great gift shop. |
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42
Raver
Joined: Oct 10, 2004
Posts: 445
Location: half way btwn here and hell
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Dec 02, 2004 - 08:16 AM |
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How old are your children? There are plenty of activities for them and international schools aplenty here.
As for shopping, the entire city is one big mall. I found the new mall (Jiu Guang) next to the Jinan Temple to have really nice stuff, even Tiffany's is there! There is a lot of fake stuff, so really look carefully before you buy and never accept the first price given you. We once saw a jacket that the saleslady said "150" and we finally settled on 50  So if you are shopping and are shy about bargaining (like I am) take a local friend that can do the haggling for you.
good luck and have fun on your trip! |
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heyhunts
Barker
Joined: May 03, 2004
Posts: 178
Status: Offline
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Dec 02, 2004 - 09:12 AM |
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Mags
Is the Shanghai Museum the one that looks like a big round pot?
I like Jiu Guang too. I'm working near Plaza 66, so it's fun to go window shopping sometimes during lunch hour - but don't bother buying designer here - way to expensive compared to other countries.
Flea market at Dong Tai - it's fun! |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 30780
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Dec 02, 2004 - 10:24 AM |
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heyhunts ... that's the one! In People's Sqaure ... the pot with the horsehoe-like things on each side. It is an excellent museum, although I usually just zoom into the gift shop. |
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comradeA
Reacher
Joined: May 07, 2004
Posts: 361
Location: in the old house behind Plaza 66
Status: Offline
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Dec 02, 2004 - 12:42 PM |
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I think the XiangYang Market and the DongTai Lu (fake) antique markets are great family fun.. but I would suggest establishing a way of staying connected through these type of crowded places... especially when it's the first time you go... and you have 5 kids... who don't speak the language at all...
If you have a tri-band cell phone that works in China, just buy a phone card off the booths anywhere (metro stations, newspaper stands, etc.)... and get maybe 100RMB's worth on each phone that you have... You can easily use that up in a week with so many troops... If you or your husband's potential employer can loan you a couple of spare phones... get them...
The museum is great for people with a bend on antiques, or Chinese art history... Don't know about teenagers and below unless they liked the subject to start with... the aquarium should be a good start... Shopping is a big thing here but I don't think kids want that everyday... and the city is more than just a commercial hub...
You can run through a few of the touristy stuff quickly, and spend the rest of the time looking at how local people (expats) live...school, homes, supermarkets, hospitals, etc... the week will go by very fast...
Just a reminder... Go first thing to Watson's (any one... they are all over the place)... and buy loads of their wet tissues + regular tissues... they will be useful... |
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MatildaGirl
Talker
Joined: Nov 05, 2004
Posts: 107
Status: Offline
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Dec 06, 2004 - 12:34 PM |
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Thanks for the information everyone, it is all very helpful.
Should we hire a local guide or just do our own thing? |
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jackyhan
Talker
Joined: Jan 03, 2004
Posts: 101
Status: Offline
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Dec 11, 2004 - 09:16 AM |
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um..i suggest you should do your own thing,and you will enjoy.
but if u really want to hire a guide,maybe you can hire a student,coz there are some students willing to be Volunteer |
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bursa
Lurker
Joined: Sep 12, 2004
Posts: 35
Status: Offline
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Dec 16, 2004 - 05:16 AM |
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I did my first visit to Shanghai in october to look for a house and it's OK if you have a good map with chinese and English street names. You can also take a tourist guide book.It's always useful to know where the flower market, the zoo and the museums are. Taxi drivers were OK. I couldn't speak a word of mandarin but I managed. Also at the hotel they are friendly and can explain to the driver where you want to go. Make sure you have a card of your hotel with the address in Chinese.
I'm moving end of December with 3 kids. i wish you good luck!!! |
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MatildaGirl
Talker
Joined: Nov 05, 2004
Posts: 107
Status: Offline
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Dec 16, 2004 - 11:13 AM |
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Bursa
Did you take your Mandarin/English map with you? Are they available from most hotels? |
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bursa
Lurker
Joined: Sep 12, 2004
Posts: 35
Status: Offline
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Dec 20, 2004 - 06:50 AM |
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Matildagirl
My husband got the map from the hotel shop on his first visit to Shanghai. I suppose most hotels have it.
Will you come with all your kids? |
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MatildaGirl
Talker
Joined: Nov 05, 2004
Posts: 107
Status: Offline
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Dec 20, 2004 - 07:52 AM |
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Bursa
Yes, all the kids are coming. Plus my sister, her husband and two kids for company. We are making it a real family affair. |
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m1978
Newbie
Joined: Jan 09, 2005
Posts: 1
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Jan 09, 2005 - 07:37 AM |
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Love the topic!!!!
I, too am visiting Shanghai in Jan. 2005 to determine if we want to move there.
Keep the information coming on places to see and check out while visiting. Very helpful!
Also, I have an extremely picky husband when it comes to food, i.e. not keen on vegies, only likes beef and chicken, not sold on rice etc etc etc (worse than a child  ) If anyone knows of any groceries that sell imported food from US, please advise.
Also, any resturants you could recommend would be helpful.
Thanks everyone!!! |
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margarita
Reacher
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 291
Status: Offline
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Jan 10, 2005 - 07:31 AM |
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m1978, china in general is not the place to be picky... sorry to say but its true. Here you pretty much roll wth the punches until you have to or until you decide to go to wherever you came from. There are markets that sell imported stuff mainly City Supermarket and many things at Carrefour as well. As for restaurants I will let another person reply to that, we are not much of goig out to eat people ourselves and if we do we always go to the same places as we are creatures of habit. But there are many restaurant here to choose from. Have fun and enjoy your visit to Shanghai it is a great city.
Margarita |
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jackyhan
Talker
Joined: Jan 03, 2004
Posts: 101
Status: Offline
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Jan 10, 2005 - 09:41 AM |
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| MatildaGirl wrote: |
Bursa
Did you take your Mandarin/English map with you? Are they available from most hotels? |
um..actually i suggest that you can buy a lonly planet in shanghai that including all of the shanghai interesting place and teach you some useful chinese.you can find it at huaihai road,san lian book store.it's very useful!you can try it.  |
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