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Summary of visit to Shanghai

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MatildaGirl

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Joined: Nov 05, 2004
Posts: 107

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 17, 2005 - 09:41 PM
Post subject: Summary of visit to Shanghai

The family recently returned from a pre-move visit to Shanghai. Overall it was a very positive experience and Shanghai seems like to good place to live.

POSITIVES FOR MY FAMILY

1. Schools seemed very nice. Very modern, lots of facilities, friendly staff, small class sizes etc.

2. Range of accommodation was good with many nice places to live. Very spacious and lots of extra facilties in many housing compounds.

3. Shopping was excellent, lots of range and lots of exercise looking at all the shops.

4. Interesting markets with lots of goodies for everyone to buy.

5. Great tea. I loved all the different teas available.

6. Excellent sweet shop on Nanjing Road, loved by one and all.

7. Very cheap taxi service.

8. Lots of English signs - streets, menus etc. Even an English phone book.

9. Locals were very friendly and helpful.

10. Amenities were usually clean and well maintained.

11. Very pretty at night with all the buildings lit up.

NEGATIVES FOR MY FAMILY

1. The traffic. Takes a very long time to travel a very short distance. Taxi service very cheap but long delays.

2. Pushy sales people at the markets. Hard to get away from at times.

3. Very crowded streets, particularly on a Sunday when everyone seems to be shopping.

4. Small size clothing. Very little to fit even though there for thousands of shops selling a fantastic range of clothing.

5. Cold wind, chilled the face.

6. Smoking. Particulary in restaurants.

7. The odd spitter. Not too many but a few.

8. Nice housing estates but not much to do. Long taxi ride into Shanghai.

9. Lots and lots of smog.

10. Dangerous drivers and bike riders.

OVERALL A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

msittig

Rocker

Joined: Oct 06, 2004
Posts: 733
Location: Zhangjiang High-Tech Park
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 17, 2005 - 11:43 PM

I will comment on some of these.

1. The traffic: I agree, taking a taxi is often as slow as taking the bus! On the other hand, Shanghai's metro system is relatively modern and very convenient. Once you get used to navigating it, you can cut down on taxi rides.

2. Pushy sales people: If you are talking about Xiangyang and other touristy markets (although, I admit, Xiangyang does have some essentials for less), you will probably learn where the alternative, more cozy markets are located soon after you move here. Just the other day I wandered into the new-ish Nanfang Mall across from the Lianhua Rd metro stop, for example, and was very impressed.

8. Housing estates: Would you consider living in the city? To me, the isolated estates seem such an updated relic from the days when foreigners were segregated to keep "spiritual pollution" out of China's pristine socialist society. Or even colonial. Ugh.

Otherwise, the crowds, smoking, cold, dangerous traffic, etc are all pretty much on target. Best of luck.

42
Raver

Joined: Oct 10, 2004
Posts: 445
Location: half way btwn here and hell

Posted: Jan 18, 2005 - 08:39 AM

MatildaGirl, happy that you enjoyed your trip.

as to the traffic, yes its bad, but not any worse than any other large metropolis.

Quote:

4. Small size clothing. Very little to fit even though there for thousands of shops selling a fantastic range of clothing.

they actually alter the sizes here to fit Chinese standards, so an XL here is smaller than one in the US.

Quote:

7. The odd spitter. Not too many but a few.

can never get used to these. there are actually quite a lot of them.

Quote:

8. Nice housing estates but not much to do. Long taxi ride into Shanghai.

not any different than the suburbs.

but this is the best city, hands down, of any to be in China. so take the differences in stride and enjoy you time here. Cool

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MatildaGirl

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Joined: Nov 05, 2004
Posts: 107

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Posted: Jan 18, 2005 - 11:21 AM

msittig - I agree with your comments. i wish we had visited the Nanfang Mall. Overall I thought the shopping was great and wished I had been able to fit into all the lovely clothes. There were so many items I liked. I couldn't agree more with your comment about the isolated housing estates. that was exactly my impression. You could have been anywhere in the world, these estates did not seem like China at all. I don't know about living in the city, with 5 kids it is probably better in a housing estate.

42 - it was the throat clearing noise rather than the spit itself. The sound seemed endless. I did like Shanghai and think it is a wonderful city but I was hoping for a bit more traditional China than upmarket. I guess we can see this on holidays and on the weekends.

benkloepfer

PopStar

Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 1042

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 18, 2005 - 11:44 AM

I agree with msittig about the housing situation. Sure the expat villas are great for being at home, but they are also isolated. If you can find a nice big apartment in the city then you will definitely find that there is plenty going on.

If you live directly in the city (not PuDong) you will definitely be thrown into the Shanghai lifestyle (I don't know if you what that). Which is great for learning about a new culture, for going-out at night to restaurants and bars, less of a problem with traffic because you will be closer to where you want to go, and of course never-ending shopping. But some of those bad things you noted will also be worse; more people spitting all over the place, more noise, more smog, more pushy people.

Depends on what you want. My wife and I love the city life, but maybe you'd be happier in the suburbs.
Ben

benkloepfer

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Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 1042

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Posted: Jan 18, 2005 - 11:46 AM

Oh.. I just read your post. 5 kids! Wow, you need a house with a yard I guess.

CheekyMonkiez

Talker

Joined: Dec 27, 2004
Posts: 106

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Posted: Jan 18, 2005 - 03:35 PM

Matilda, I just wanted to throw in that you sound like a very nice, responsible mother. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to Shanghai! Smile

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tnmom

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Joined: Mar 04, 2004
Posts: 927
Location: Shanghai
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Posted: Jan 18, 2005 - 03:45 PM

Quote:

I couldn't agree more with your comment about the isolated housing estates. that was exactly my impression. You could have been anywhere in the world, these estates did not seem like China at all. I don't know about living in the city, with 5 kids it is probably better in a housing estate.

That's why I like living in Hong Qiao - we're in a housing estate but there are shops and restaurants within walking and biking distance - even a produce market around the corner.

bursa

Lurker

Joined: Sep 12, 2004
Posts: 35

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 18, 2005 - 11:24 PM

Matilda
I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to Shanghai. I arrived here with my 3 kids three weeks ago. Life seems quite easy although I do agree about the traffic and the spitting. I had the choice to live in the outskirts but we chose Hong Qiao. But we live in a compound with a park. It's important for my kids because they're used to countryside!

I feel that Shanghai is probably better for people with no kids but I suppose any big city is the same. What we miss is going to the country or the forest or the seaside for the day. There's lots of shopping and restaurants but I don't feel it's always right for a family with kids.
I suppose we will get used to it.
By the way I thought I would never dare cycle here but I have and it's great (at least in HongQiao), even my two older kids have. The only problem is crossroads!
When do you plan to move?

good4kicks

LoopKicker

Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Posts: 955

Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 19, 2005 - 04:25 PM

housing estates and international schools....hmmm....... you sound like one of those packaged-up expats that will live a highly insulated life here then go back to Australia after 3 years knowing only “你好” and “多少錢？”.

MIexpat

Reacher

Joined: July 30, 2004
Posts: 324
Location: dongbei
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 25, 2005 - 08:53 PM

good4kicks wrote:

wow and you sound like a judgemental snob Confused

jaccllyy

Newbie

Joined: July 30, 2004
Posts: 6

Status: Offline

Posted: Feb 03, 2005 - 09:24 AM
Post subject: elite garden and china garden

hi there. i have just returned from my pre-look-see trip/honeymoon with my husband last week. i agree totally with matildagirl's summary of shanghai. we have looked at quite a number of apartments in the city and we dont like it. we can actually hear the traffic even from as high as 24th floor. we have also seen some villas in hongqiao and we adore them.

any feedback (good and bad welcome) on elite garden on hong mei road and china garden on hong qiao rd/hong mei rd?

how long does it take to go to the new british intl school at forest manor?

how long a car ride to xintiandi?

WendyCollins-Smith

Seeker

Joined: Oct 09, 2004
Posts: 62

Status: Offline

Posted: Feb 26, 2005 - 10:49 AM

Jaccllyy

What are the villas in Hongqiao like? This is one area which has been recommended to us by many people. What type of feel did you get when you were walking around this area? Did you visit any of the schools in the area?

I have heard of Elite Garden but not China Garden. I don't know anything specific but I will ask around for you, to see if any of my husband knows anyone who lives there.

MatildaGirl

Talker

Joined: Nov 05, 2004
Posts: 107

Status: Offline

Posted: Feb 26, 2005 - 07:45 PM

Wendy

I did not visit many villas in HOngqiao as we spent home time in the Pudong area. Our pre-moving visit was great and I would recommend you do the same if possible.