sightseeing in SH

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Greenie

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Joined: Mar 09, 2004
Posts: 103

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Posted: Mar 09, 2004 - 02:32 PM
Post subject: sightseeing in SH

Hi

I'll be in SH from 23 to 28 March this month. Could someone advise if this short period will be adequate to do some sightseeing in SH ? I like a mixture of city beat atmosphere and scenic sightseeing.

Would hiring a car be cheaper or is it relatively alright to travel by public transport ?

I am all set to have a taste of the authentic Shanghainese food? Any recommendation of cheap places ?

Are there any wholesale market where I can get gifts for friends like clothes, sportswear, bags,etc ?

Where are some of the less popular but scenic places to take pictures?

Are there any good website where I can find out more about the lifestyle, spending habits of the locals ?

Thanks a Zillion.....
Greenie

Michael

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Joined: Mar 22, 2002
Posts: 5160

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Posted: Mar 09, 2004 - 03:25 PM

Hmmm.. lots of choices.. there are probably some better one ( anyone can jump in here).. but the most trafficked ones are probably

XiangYang Market - corner of XiangYang Lu and HuaiHai Lu - be prepared for 50 guys coming up to you wanting to show their watches and DVDs - but does have a good selection. Another option are the shops around Yu Yuan (Old Shanghai St) and yet another are the stores off of Nanjing Lu on ShiMen Yi Lu or Shanxi Lu.

In general - be willing to argue the price down as much as half ( more if you can speak Chinese) . Be willing to walk away unless you have to have it.

If you have no Chinese or are not with someone who speaks Chinese.. its a push.. but you in general public transportation is safe and works OK. Subways are packed at rush hour. Taxis are good and cheap but you need to know a little Chinese to get where you want to go ( or have someone write down the names of your destinations on a card).

Shanghai food.. lots of choices. Try Shanghai Ren Jia - several locations.. the one in the bus terminal near Jing An temple on Nanjing Lu is good.

If its a nice escenic place. its popular with at least a million of the other 17 million residents of the city. It is an urban scene so count on taking urban pics unless you get out of the city. That said - Along the river on either side ( the Bund on the west and Lu Jia Zui on the east side of the river) are great.. especially at sundown or in the evening. There are numerous parks and tree lined streets. You might was to go to the city planning building near Peoples Swqaure. They have some interesting displays and exibits of Shanghai past and future that might give you some ideas.

There are probably tons of good websites about the locals - they are just in Chinese. So.. if you read Chinese you are all set. Otherwise.. this is a good site and there are a lot of local folsk who post in the forums. But to get a sense of lifetyle.. walk around the neigborhoods.. and spending habits spend an afternoon watching the shoppers in XuJia Hui, Huai Hai Lu, or Nanjing Lu. That should give you some insights.