It’s time to see for yourself what all the hype is about and plan a trip to China. Shanghai – a key port and economic hub – is usually the first place where foreigners get a glimpse of the social, economic and cultural transformation which the country is undergoing at an exhilarating pace.
Walking out of Pudong International Airport the wise traveler should come prepared with translation audio books, a pre-hired local guide or have learnt a few key phrases because mandarin speaking is more than just a “nice to have”; it’s a survival necessity to navigate a city of roughly 17 million non-English native Shanghainese in a hurry.
If you like roller coasters then traveling to the city using the Maglev (the magnetic levitation train) is the thing to do. At a top of 431Km/h you’ll travel 30km to LongYang Road in less than 7 minutes. How’s that for a ride?
At LongYang you can catch the underground to just about anywhere. The experience might shock you as thousands of people push each other into each train carriage filling every breathable space in sight but you will not know efficiency in transport until you commute here.
Start at People’s Square and walk around. It is not uncommon for someone to approach you on Sundays to practice their English with you. The large square is surrounded by dazzling skyscrapers and several monument buildings like the impressive Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre.
From People’s Square make your way towards the famous Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road) shopping street where hundreds of people will undoubtedly approach you to buy everything from watches to bags, golf clubs to polos. If you’re keen on shopping whilst in town, Nanjing Lu and Huai Hai Lu are the best places to find great looking stores but bargain hunting is best found in the underground shopping market beneath Century Park (close to the Science Museum on the Pudong side) where you’re sure to spend hours haggling over price and item which does wonders for your vocal skills.
At the end of Nanjing Lu you’ll find the iconic image which is Shanghai’s world brand – the spectacular view of Pudong from The Bund which includes the distinguishable Oriental Pearl Tower and the Jin Mao Tower. It’s also here that you should come to at night for upscale clubbing; but don’t be put off by the excessive glamour – a drink at Club Rouge overlooking the river and seeing the Pudong side lit up is well worth it.
A tourist’s favourite in Shanghai is the Yu Yuan Gardens. You’ll be amazed at the hustle and bustle of the place with its strange food odours, beautiful old Chinese style wooden and gold plated houses and its central restaurant which is the most famous dumpling restaurant in town. The wait for a table usually does not take long but alternatively you can grab take away and watch the experts prepare the delicacies on the spot.
You can find all the “laowai” (the Chinese nickname for foreigners) at Xintiandi; a mini-Europe built specially for those here on expat assignments who miss a bit of home feel and Europe style cooking. Here you’ll see westerners enjoying Brazilian rodizio, German beer and Italian pizza.
There’s a hidden paradise in Taikang Lu (closer to Xujiahui) where you can enjoy relaxed weekend breakfast and coffee and peruse some of the local crafts.
The Xujiahui area, its park and shopping malls are worth investigating for their tech-like allure as is getting a sneak peak at the Shanghai stadiums close by.
A couple of underground stations away is Longhua Park which is lovely to stroll through. There you’ll find a beautiful tall pagoda reminiscent of western kung-fu movies.
Also, keep in mind while planning that another 3 to 4 days will give you a chance to buy a round-trip train ticket to Hangzhou and Suzhou, both within 2 hours from Shanghai and spectacular for sightseeing.
article and photos by World Barrios Contributor: Pedro Oliveira
About the author: Pedro Oliveira is an entrepreneur exploring how web models bring communities together around common interest, a freelance writer, avid reader and travel enthusiast living in Melbourne, Australia. http://www.pedropreneur.com/
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I enrolled to a Mandarin class at school and I’m learning a lot of new words in Mandarin. I guess I would be able to use it if I go on vacation at Shanghai. Your article is very informative.