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What is a western girl to do?

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crash11

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Joined: Oct 03, 2007
Posts: 13

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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 09:07 PM
Post subject: What is a western girl to do?

My girlfriend and I are leaving for Shanghai in a couple days. Unfortunately I have to work for about 5 days when we get there. So my girlfriend will be on her own those days. The first day she plans to just relax and maybe explore the area around the hotel. We are staying at a hotel called Xin Ci in Anting. I suggested she use 1 day to go visit the Shanghai Zoo because she is studying to be a veterinarian here in the states. Another day she plans to attempt to head into Pudong to sight-see a little and visit a massage parlor. The problem is there's still 2 days where she really doesn't have anything planned.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what a 24 year old American girl who speaks absolutely no Chinese can do in Shanghai. I would bring her to work with me, but it's a private event put on by Michelin, and she can't get in.

Boronia

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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 09:33 PM

Hi crash11. As your girlfriend is studying to be a vet., she no doubt likes animals. I would therefore suggest that she not visit the Shanghai Zoo.
There are plenty of interesting places to explore. She could go to the Yu Yuan garden & the bazaar there. The hotel should be able to write the name for the taxi driver. As long as she takes the hotel card with her, she can always get a taxi back to the hotel. Most hotels will have brochures on 1 day tours to one of the water towns & they can help you book. Have you picked up a tour guide book such as Lonely Planet?
Enjoy!

hammerforlife
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Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: 2701

Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 09:44 PM

Yes approach the zoo with caution if you like animals unfortunately. The aquarium on the other hand is pretty good.

Yu yuan gardens as mentioned could be worth a visit.

babebibobu

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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 09:48 PM

Nonsense. Whats so horrible about Shanghai zoo? Sounds to me like you are just repeating someone said in 1990. How about Chine being communist? The zoo is ok.

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hammerforlife
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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 10:04 PM

Who let you out of News and Opinion?

eklaning

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Joined: Nov 09, 2007
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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 10:48 PM

Hi,
I am myself a 24 year old girl living in Shanghai. I think the thing to do in Shanghai is to get a good massage, go shopping and sample some of the delicious food on offer.
I can recommend Meriandric massage near the crossing of Huashan Lu and Changle Lu, it's cheap and they know what they are doing, especially no. 25 (the number for a person working there). The place is on the 2nd floor, and can be a bit difficult to find, but it's worth the trouble.
On Changle Lu and the area around it, you can find various types of clothes shops, these shops are smaller than the big brand stores located on nearby Huaihai Lu.
If your girlfriend likes to visit museums, I can recommend Shanghai Museum, it has a large collection of chinese antiqueties.
I agree that the zoo is not a very nice place to visit if you care for animals, but it has got some rather rare species of birds and other animals. I study biology, and I actually liked the zoo until I reached the part that has been rented to a petstore. Here, they have placed a wide range of dogbreeds in tiny cages, not very pleasant.
Also, she can spend some time to visit the Jinmao tower in pudong, allthough it's best to do it on a clear day or in the evening.

A wish you both a nice stay in Shanghai!

ladylady

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Joined: Aug 29, 2007
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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 11:24 PM

I'm slightly older - but still an American that can't speak mandarin ... here are a few things I managed to do on my own..

First - the way to get around is to make sure you have a card from the hotel with the address in English and Chinese so that you can always get into a cab and point to the address to get home! Then, when you decide where you want to go, get the address written out for you in Chinese so that you can show the driver. Taxi drivers do not speak or read English but they are plenty used to us foreigners getting in the cab with a card or an address for them.

I second the shopping on Changle Lu.

Shanghai has a facinating history - even a short read of what happened here during the early 1900's could inspire anyone to go looking at architecture on the Bund and in the French Concession area ... tell her to get a City Guide Book so she knows what she is looking for/looking at. It will tell you things like go into the old HKSBC building on the Bund for a little look-see at the lobby- I thought that was pretty cool.

For a bit of excitement, she could visit one of the fake markets - like Qipu Lu or a more tame one at the Science and Technology Museum subway stop. Lots of people in small shops selling stuff... knock offs, clothes, jewlery, etc... remember to bargain, at least 1/2 off!

From the Science and Technology Museum in Pudong cross over the walkway to Century Park for a beautiful view... go to Century Park just when it opens (7am) to see older people doing Tai Chi, or sword exercises. Rent a bike and cycle around the park.

I also went to the Fabric Market to see all the stalls of fabrics and tailors... but what I thought was really interesting was wandering off into the old neighborhood just past it... it was a little intimidating at first, but after a block or two It seemed people didn't mind me being there. A guide book or the hotel should be able to get you an address to show the taxi driver.

leidelaohu

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Joined: June 11, 2007
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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 11:45 PM
Post subject: Re: What is a western girl to do?

crash11 wrote:

We are staying at a hotel called Xin Ci in Anting.

First thing you should do when you get here is find a decent hotel in Shanghai. An ting is in the middle of nowhere, a good hour away from anything except the Volkswagen factory. If you're on the cheap you could find a decent place five minutes' walk away from People's Square for less than 300 rmb / night.

Really, you don't want to be stuck in An ting. Sounds similar to that poor sap who found out too late that Jia ding is definitely not Shanghai Shocked

At least Jia ding is cute. An ting ... well .... Milpitas has more to offer.

monalisalee

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Posted: Nov 09, 2007 - 11:58 PM

Yes, Yu Yuan Garden and Market is a must, but she really should have a Chinese negotiator with her, as she will definately want to spend some money. Allow all one day. There is much to see, and usually some entertainment. I know a 32 year old bi-lingual girl who would help. My email johnb882004@yahoo.com Jin Mao Tower is good. Go to 87 floor cafe. Pay the cover charge, (about RMB 240, U.S. $30 I think), then eat or drink it, and enjoy the view. I think near by Pearl Tower is great, but better you two go together, and have dinner in revolving restaurant.
The Shanghai Zoo, I thought was fine, but nearby animal park is reputed to be better, but I havn't been.
Nanjing Donglu is worth a look as famous shopping mall in China, but also better to have an escort, as she will be beset by beggars, and people selling "genuine Rolex copies".
Learn to say "Bu Yao", Sounds like Boo Yow. (dont want).
Good Luck.
Kiwi John, Shanghai.

crash11

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Posted: Nov 10, 2007 - 01:08 AM
Post subject: Re: What is a western girl to do?

leidelaohu wrote:

crash11 wrote:

We are staying at a hotel called Xin Ci in Anting.

At least Jia ding is cute. An ting ... well .... Milpitas has more to offer.

It's too late for that. We are already booked. As I said, work is paying for me to be there, and I have to stay in that hotel.

Would it be best for my girl to get a cab from the hotel to the nearest subway station and then take the subway into downtown or to just take the cab all the way into to town? Cabs for a single person are kind of expensive in my experience, but would an American be able to navigate the subways? Is the color coordination easy to figure out? From what I can tell she would pretty much be taking the green line back and forth. Is that right?

leidelaohu

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Posted: Nov 10, 2007 - 02:08 AM
Post subject: Re: What is a western girl to do?

If you're going to insist on staying in Anting you'd better just find her a friend. I'm not being snotty, it's just that Anting is in the Far Styx, nowhere near Shanghai. And no, she doesn't want to do the subways alone if she's never been in China before, either. They have great maps of how to get places - after you buy your ticket and go downstairs. Before that you can't even figure out how to get out of the damned station without some chinese. Taxis in Shanghai are reasonably cheap - compared to the US anyhow - but from Anting ? Half the taxis in Anting aren't even allowed to go into Shanghai, and how is she supposed to know which ones ? And how is she going to get back ? And it'd cast a fortune, which she'd be better off spending on a room in the middle of town.

Honest, Anting is to Shanghai like Coalinga is to San Francisco, only the transportation is worse. Especially for a beginner. She won't like it, not one bit. There are places she can stay that are five minutes from anything, and they cost less than the taxi fares to get to and from Anting will be. I'm sure Pablo would be happy to escort her, too ... there's a rumour that if you cuff him, he can be a gentleman. Mostly.

monalisalee wrote:

To be honest, I am not sure where Anting is

Anting is about halfway between Shanghai and Kunshan. It's where the VW factory and the F1 racetrack are, and a bunch of warehouses and filthy factories and that's about it. Last time I got stuck there it took over an hour on the bus to get back to civilization. The chickens and pigs and peeing children bus, since I don't think there was a better one. "Anting district" har har har. That's like calling Tianjin a district of Beijing.

http://www.maplandia.com/china/shanghai/jiading/anting/

(Okay, I like to exaggerate Razz

but it's still a looong way away, especially for a noobie. )

Last edited by leidelaohu on Nov 10, 2007 - 02:56 AM; edited 4 times in total

monalisalee

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Posted: Nov 10, 2007 - 02:09 AM

To be honest, I am not sure where Anting is, but it sure as hell is not on my Shanghai map!. Leidelaohu is right, but you are stuck with your location, so savings will be spent on transport. Taxis are real cheap here, but make sure you/she gets the flag fall, which is RMB11, ($1.50), but if you are an hour away from downtown, would cost about RMB 100-120, and never use a "Black" taxi. They are not legal, and there is no insurance with them. If she can get to Metro, its a great way to travel, but I have been here 4 years, and still learning the Metro stations. If she can get to green line, that is No 2 Metro, and runs from Hongqiao to Pudong, and beyond, to connect with Maglev, fast rail, which goes to international airport. No 2 passes downtown Shanghai, but it is underground, so you need to know which station to get off, and these are named after the streets/roads. Get a map in English, then you can figure the street name and study the station map in the metro carriage, and listen to the instructions, (if you can hear them.)
Metro will be RMB 3-5, depending how far.
Honestly, without any help, and if you can afford, I would recommend taxi for a start. (colored one).
Hope this is a help.

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johnboy88

dr3x320

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Posted: Nov 10, 2007 - 02:42 PM

If you or your friend need a guide or someone to show you around I'd be glad to when available. Theres still alot that I need see and do as well. I'm bi-lingual and could probably help. Just give me a PM.

Taxi's that are common and largest in Shanghai.

Dah Zhong 96822 (Teal Cab)
4RMB charge if you reserve a cab to pick you up.

John Sun 6258-0000 (Yellow Cab)
no charge if you reserve a cab to pick you up.

tbh, as some of the above posters, having a friendly person who is fluent in both languages, local or an experienced expat who knows his/her way around town will help any newcomer of this big city. Shanghai can be great, but theres alot of shenanigans that happens on a daily basis.

hautumncloud
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Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 912

Posted: Nov 11, 2007 - 12:57 AM

babebibobu wrote:

Nonsense. Whats so horrible about Shanghai zoo? Sounds to me like you are just repeating someone said in 1990. How about Chine being communist? The zoo is ok.

I went to the zoo a few months back, and regreted it very much. I brought my children with me and wish I did not. We went to see the elephant show and the way they treated the performing elephants was awful! They had a big hook with sharp edge which they would poke to the elephants' back to get the elephants to do tricks. And the seal show....the water was so horribly dirty...no one could see the seal as soon as it went in the water. The water looked like green tea with milk! The trainer never once stroke the seal to praise it....no announcement or "Welcome to the show" or "Thanks you for joining us", just came out, do the show in silence and went back in. The spectators were not sure if the show was over, so no one left until about 5 mins later when no one came out!

For a short visit, don't waste your time in the Shanghai Zoo!!

ShanghaiHokie

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Joined: Aug 19, 2007
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Posted: Nov 11, 2007 - 02:36 AM

Crash11,
I am somewhat older and have only been to Sh. twice so far. On my second trip I too was alone and wanted to get out and see the sights. I headed for a Metro station that I could see from my hotel room and went down to the ticketing area. The kiosks are in english and easy to use. She will need to figure out where she's going and what stop will land her there. Get the ticket and head for the correct line. The signage is pretty self explanatory. I went all over Shanghai for two days this way and was the only blond person I ever saw on the train. I received lots of stares but never felt threatened. If she is confident and finds it easy to navigate her way with a map, then it's a snap.
I say go for it. It beats staying in the hotel.
Good luck,
Up and coming expat

comradeA

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Posted: Nov 11, 2007 - 02:50 AM

Of the 5 days in Shanghai, how many do you have to go to the work site in AnTing?

Even if it is all 5 days, I am thinking it is much more worthwhile to rent a hotel in city centre and then YOU take the taxi ride to and fro work... I believe you can afford to "waste" the company-paid accommo... and shell out the 5 X 350RMB yourself... You will know what we all mean the moment you arrive in AnTing...

If you need something downtown, the BaoLong Home Hotel on NanYang Lu in JingAn district has rooms ranging from the most basic queen bed room for 249RMB@ (includes simple Chinese breakfast) to nicer suites at about 800RMB... I have only stayed in the basic room and it is nice allbeit small... and the location is fantastic...

If you are anywhere near that you can join us Wednesday night at Malone's...

But honestly, economical 3-star hotels are all over Shanghai... Take advantage of them... More importantly, take advantage of your stay in Shanghai... Just don't waste them on traffic congestion...

Still... hotel reservations are changed / cancelled everyday... Why don't you talk to your company about that? Good luck !!

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kappakai

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Posted: Nov 12, 2007 - 04:14 PM

anting is only twenty minutes away from hongqiao, where there is plenty to do for someone wanting to just wander. there is a nice little japanese boutique hotel behind the pearl market with rooms for about 400 kuai. its comfortable, but small enough that it will force you out to explore. hongmei road isn't bad to explore on, some good restaurants, shopping, and plenty of foreigners to help out.

i don't think there's even a subway that goes to anting.

personally, i'd stay away from the zoo. yah, it's probably better than the first time i was there back in 94. but, you can say the same thing about the driving in shanghai, and that STILL doesn't make it good.

my suggestions, having hosted numerous 20 something year old females in shanghai...

massage
2 days of shopping at... pearl market in hong qiao; sci/tech museum; fabric mart; nanjing road; huaihai road
one day of "sights"... yu yuan, pearl tower, jinmao, people's square, the bund
eat

yu888
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Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH

Posted: Nov 12, 2007 - 04:27 PM

An Ting Town is a bit farther than 20 mins away from Hong Qiao in traffic during the day. Took me 50 mins to get back in no-traffic Saturday night into ZhongShan Park.

The metro system is fairly easy to navigate even for newbies, as several of my not-so-experienced-but-adventurous-enough visitors fround when they took the mag-lev and metro to my place and then travelled all around on lines 2, 1 and 3 respectively for a week during their stay. Metros are FAR easier than taxi's because they ALWAYS stop in the same place, ALWAYS go the same route, and you DON'T NEED any chinese to get around.

And since SH is pretty darned safe as par as personal safety goes, you needn't worry about her either travellling around, just make sure she keeps and eye on her belongings as pick pockets in tourist areas ARE an issue.

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yu888
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Posted: Nov 12, 2007 - 04:29 PM

Oh, taxi into town will run about 160-190rmb each way But there are also regular Anting to ZhongShan park shuttle buses that run every hour or so that you may be able to get the hotel to look into for you.

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Swiss-James

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Posted: Nov 12, 2007 - 04:32 PM

I went to the zoo and had a fun day out- Pandas, Monkeys, Penguins- it's good fun. The bit with the dogs is horrible though, when you start hearing the cacophony of barking, go the other way.

The other advice given on this thread is good IMO

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baros

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Posted: Nov 12, 2007 - 05:26 PM

I echo the comment above, the best thing to do is change the hotel reservation (unless its one of these places which insist on pre-payment), plenty to do even if wandering around in Shanghai. Would not want to be in Anting and try to get into Shanghai or anywhere fun each day. Shanghai Zoo - What a depressing experience...Pandas, Elephants, Penguins...everyhing in there just looked badly treated and suffering. The pandas shocked me the most, avoid. Plenty to do once in shanghai which the hotels could reccomend anyway.