We're about to move in to the Ming Yuan Century City apts. on Fuxing/Xiangyang. The place seems great, does anyone know this place? Is it a good building?

We looked at it when we first arrived, and again about a year or so ago. We also have a friend the lived there for a couple of year, then moved out. It's gotten much worse. The construction wasn't very good, and the compound management has gone downhill. It's really too bad because it's a great location.

In its heyday it was very popular and had good management. A number of people have renovated their apartments and a few have come up well. The problem that does happen is that someone renovates an apartment that looks really stunning but the environs, common areas and quality of services don't necessarily match the level/quality of the apartment.

As long as you can accept that it is now more of a local housing development rather than an investment/expatriate compound then you'll be just fine. Make sure you have the landlords number or their representaive so that you aren't reliant on the management for support if things go wrong.

Adrienne
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

its too bad, the place was very well furnished, and the landlady seemed really nice, but we can't take a chance with 2 small kids. The other place we saw was the Joffre Gardens. Can anybody recommend a 2 bedroom in walking distance to the Montessori school, or the Centre building on Changle Lu?