Shanghai
Travel Guide > Asia > China > Shanghai
Introduction
Shanghai（上海） is a colossal city of 18,670,000, making it China's largest city and the world's 8th largest. Not surprisingly, it is at the forefront of China's economy and symbolises the rapid modernisation and urbanisation of Chinese society.
Shanghai is sprawled out where the Yangtze River meets the East China Sea. It boasts the world's largest cargo port.
Districts
Sights and Activities
- The Bund (Wàitān 外摊) was the center of colonial Shanghai.
- Yu Gardens and Bazaar (Yùyuán 豫园) is a nice traditional garden and tourist market.
- Xintiandi (Xīntiāndì 新天地)
- Jing'an temple (Jingan Si 静安寺) is an interesting temple. On the eastern outer wall of the temple there is a vegetarian noodle restaurant. The restaurant is only open till 2 pm. The temple is located on line 2 at the Jing'an Temple stop.
- Jinmao Tower (Jīnmào Dàshà 金茂大厦) is home to the world's tallest hotel. Remember the bar has a strict dress code.
- Jade Buddha Temple (Yùfó Sì 玉佛寺) is a nice traditional temple with the amazing Jade Buddha Statue.
- Duolun Lu Cultural Street (Dūolún Lù Míngrén Jiē 多伦路名人街)
Events and Festivals
Weather
Shanghai has four definite seasons, with the most pleasant to travel in being spring and autumn. It is hot and humid in summer, and cold and humid in winter. May and October are the nicest times of year to be in Shanghai, with clear blue skies, warm days, and little rain. Unfortunately, these months also coincide with two of China's "Golden Week" vacations. Generally, however, roughly the same number of Shanghairen evacuate the city for these holidays as outsiders come to visit, so avoid tourist sights such as Nanjing Dong Lu and the Yu Gardens and the crowds will be tolerable.
Spring still tends to be cool until May, when average daily temperatures are around 23º C. A lot of rain also tends to fall around April.
Average temperatures for summer are around 31º C, with the hottest month generally being July. It is not uncommon to have days around 36C, and the heat is compounded by air-conditioners pumping hot air into the streets, traffic, and rank smells that worsen with the heat. If you are in Shanghai for summer, do as the locals do: carry an umbrella and paper fan with you everywhere - an umbrella drops the temperature by a few degrees, and a fan will help keep the sweat at bay.
Autumn is generally warm up until November, with averages of 27º C and 22º C in September and October respectively.
Winter temperatures in Shanghai average 7º to 11º C during the day. Since Mao's time, anywhere south of the Yangtze River was considered "warm", so there is no central heating anywhere in Shanghai. Double-glazed windows are also rare, so it is not uncommon to still require jumpers, long-johns, hats and gloves while sitting inside in front of a highly ineffectual reverse-cycle air-conditioner. The air is humid, so will chill you to the bone, and wind will cut through any number of layers. Global warming seems to be doing its job, however, as the 2006-2007 winter was unseasonably warm. If you are in Shanghai during the winter, again, do as the locals do: wear long-johns and every item of clothing you own and shed them as required.
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Getting There
By Plane
Arriving by plane into Shanghai can be a little confusing. If coming in from an international flight you will arrive at the new Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) which is far away from the city center. If leaving on most domestic flights, but not all domestic flights, you will leave from the older Hongqiao Airport (SHA) which is close to the city center. Although it might soon get more complicated as both airports are starting to serve more domestic and international flights.
- Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is located 20 minutes west of the city making it very easy to get to by taxi and the cost is usually between 30 to 40 rmb. There are also several reasonably priced buses that go to and from the airport from many different areas of the city including the North Train Station, South Train station and Jing'an Temple. Be warned that late at night the taxi line can be quite long.
- Pudong International Airport (PVG) is located about an hour away south and west of the city and making the taxi ride cost around 200 rmb. Although if you take the Maglev the trip can be shorter the downside is the Maglev is at the last subway stop on the green line making for a long subway journey into the city center. There are also several reasonably priced buses that go back and forth from several stops in the city including the North Train Station, South Train Station and Jing'an Temple.
At this time there is no metro service to either airport but the city plans to have metro service to Hongqiao Airport by 2009 and Pudong Airport by 2011.
By Train
Shanghai is now home to one of the world's fastest trains, the Maglev. The train runs from Longyang Road Station to a stop nearby the Pudong international airport.
- Shanghai Train Station (上海火车站) is also known as the Shanghai North Train Station is located slightly north of the city center in Zhabei District. Shanghai Train Station can be accessed by metro lines 1, 3 and 4. This train station has trains to almost every city in China and many direct high speed trains (T trains) to several major cities.
- Shanghai South Train Station (上海南站) is the new and gorgeous train station located in the Xuhui District and can be accessed easily by metro line 1 or 3. This train station mainly services areas south of Shanghai but also has trains going everywhere in China.
Purchasing Train Tickets: There are several locations to buy tickets in the city other then the train station itself such as at the corner of Wanghang Lu and Beijing Xilu just north of Jing'an Temple .
By Car
By Bus
Bus stations are attached to both of the Train stations. Buses serve all the major cities in the neighboring provinces and towns in the Shanghai (S.E.Z.).
By Boat
From the international ferry port you can get ferries to Japan and Korea. Ferries also serve several domestic destinations including islands as far south as off the coast of Zhejiang.
Getting Around
By Car
It is possible to hire a car (usually with a driver) in Shanghai, but because it is such a high-density city, other forms of transport will usually suffice. International driver's licences are not valid in China, and the traffic is a bit crazy so you probably would not want to drive anyway. If you are taking trips outside of Shanghai, trains are usually faster and cheaper.
By Public Transport
The Shanghai transport card acts like a credit card for buses, metros, taxis and even McDonald's purchases. You can buy them and add credit to them at metro stations and convenience stores. You pay a 30RMB deposit, and then you can add credit as required. There is a picture of a lightening strike at metro turnstiles, taxi dashboards, and at bus doors. Simply swipe your card on the picture and it debits the correct amount.
The metro system is clean, fast, cheap and user-friendly. Most tourist sights are close to a metro line, so it is probably the most convenient method for sight-seeing. Line 1 and 2 are the best lines to be near. The metro also lets you avoid the traffic, which is particularly horrendous at peak hour, though the metro is invariably crowded at these times. Trips range from 3-5RMB, and you can buy single trip tickets at vending machines or ticket booths in the stations.
Taxis are also reletively cheap and clean, though drivers rarely speak English (it's wise to carry a bilingual map with you so you can point). Flag fall is 11RMB, and goes up 2.3RMB for each kilometre after the first 3km. A trip from Pudong International Airport to inner Puxi will cost about 150RMB. If you are staying in Puxi, most places of interest can be reached in less than a 20RMB taxi ride. It can be almost impossible to find a taxi in peak hour, and once you do you will just get stuck in traffic. Taxis are also scarce when it rains.
Buses can be daunting to the new-comer as all signage is in Chinese. Once on the bus, however, announcements are made in Chinese and English. They are cheap, mostly air-conditioned, and go to places the metro does not reach. Air-conditioned buses are usually 2RMB per trip (maybe one or two rmb more for longer routes), while non-air-conditioned buses are 1RMB (less comfortable and no English announcements). Some useful routes include the 911, which goes all the way along Huaihai Lu from Huangpi Lu, and out along Hongqiao Lu. The 925 leaves from People Square and goes to the Hongqiao Airport (Note: the 925B does not go to the airport).
By Foot
Shanghai is a great city to walk in. See all the knick-knack shops up close, watch people slurping their lunchtime noodles, dodge the vegetable vendors on the sidewalk, and peer down quaint laneways. Walking through the leafy French Concession allows you to appreciate the European architecture and how it has been incorporated into Chinese life. The Old Town (south and west of the Bund near the Yu Gardens) also has fascinating narrow streets filled with vendors, food stalls and interesting shops. Shanghai isn't a destination for "sights" as such, but walk just one street a day and you are guaranteed to see a hundred things you have never seen before.
By Bike
At first it may seem that riding a bike in Shanghai is equivalent to suicide, but it is actually another great way to see the city. Cars, pedestrians and bikes all move slower in Shanghai, cars usually give a wide berth to cyclists and there are often bike lanes, so it is quite a safe way to get around. Some hostels will offer bike hire. You can also buy a new bike for just 150RMB from most supermarkets, so it may even be worthwhile to buy one and then donate it to one of the many bike thieves in the city at the end of your trip. Nobody wears helmets (not even on motor scooters). Keep your eyes wide open, obey the road rules, and ride slowly and you'll have a great time.
Bohdi Bikes offers excellent mountain biking trips in the greater Shanghai area at a very good prices. They also rent and sell bikes for personal use. Bodhi Bikes is located at Suite 2308, Building 2, 2918 North Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai 200063 (上海市中山北路2918号2号楼2308室), Phone: 021- 5266 - 9013, Mobile: 139 - 1875 - 3119.
Eat
Drink
In Shanghai any booze hound can find fun. From swanky clubs and discos to drinking beer on the street while eating meat on the stick, there is something for everyone in Shanghai. Although places come and go very quickly (or change English names) in Shanghai there are some classics that never seem to go away. For more information and up to date information on bars check out Smart Shanghai.
Bar Streets
- Tongren Lu is one of the main bar streets and is just south of the Nanjing Xi lu and Tongren lu intersection. Be careful because many of these bars are fronts for prostitution or talk-talk bars.
- Maoming Lu is a truncated version of Tongren lu and is located in the French Concession. This bar street is full of dance clubs and talk-talk bars.
Bars
- The Hut bar is located at 385 Yongjia Lu and is a nice chill bar that is good for grabbing an early night drink or late night cap after clubbing. A big glass of Carlsberg only costs 20 rmb and there are several week day specials.
- Jwow Wine Bar is a swanky wine bar located in Xuhui district. This wine bar has an excellent selection of wines and a nice outdoor area in the back. There is a good happy hour between 5 pm and 7 pm. The address for Jwow bar is 515 Jianguo West Rd (建国西515号).
- Windows Scoreboard is a member of the windows family of bars, meaning watered down drinks and loud music, but with a sports bar twist. This is a good place to go if you just want to get loud and rowdy during a sports match, but not to be able to hear the people next to you. The bar is located on the second floor of 681 Huaihai Zhong Lu 3/F（淮海中路681号).
- Windows Tembo is a member of the windows family and is a cross between a chill bar and dance club. By far the best of the windows bar, attracting the least annoying people. This place can get pretty loud, but if you get tables near the front or upstairs you're ok. Windows Tembo attracts a slightly older crowd then compared to Windows Too. As with all windows locations drinks are all around 10-20 rmb. Windows Tembo is located at 66 Shanxi North Rd (陕西北路66号).
Dance Club
- Windows Too is the dance club of the windows family. If you are looking for the constant university party this is the bar to go to. Most of its clients are around young 20 somethings studying abroad looking for cheap drinks and load pop music. 104, Jing'an si (静安寺104号).
- Zapatas is Mexican restaurant by day and crazy dance bar by night. This place has a reputation for being a place were people meet for a one night stand. The drinks start at about 30 rmb for a big beer and 40 rmb for a mix drink, which means a late 20 something/ early 30 something crowd. Zapatas is located in the French Concession at 5 Hengshan Rd, (衡山路5号).
Night Club
- Attica is an expensive night club on the Bund with techno and R&B rooms. The main feature of this bar is the excellent outdoor lounge between the two main dance areas with a great view of the Pudong District across the river. The major downside is that drinks here cost more then they do in bars in the west, with most mix drinks over a 100 rmb and small bottles of beer costing 75 rmb on top of the 100 rmb cover charge. The majority of clients are foreign expats that like to live the big life style. Attica is located on the Bund at 11F, 15 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu (中山东二路15号，靠近金陵东路).
Sleep
Budget
- Captain International Youth Hostel is located in an art deco building on the Bund with a great roof top bar looking at the Pudong, No. 37 Fuzhou Road. (福州路37）
- Etour Youth Hostel is located at No 55 Jiangyin rd, email: mingtown@vip.163.com (江阴路55）
- Hiker Youth Hostel is located at No 450 Middle Jiangxi Rd, email: mingtown@vip.163.com (江西中路450）
- Le Tour Shanghai Youth Hostel is located at 136 Bailin Road, Putuo District, (普陀白兰路1447）
- Shanghai Koala International Youth Hostel is located at 1447 Xikang Rd, Putuo District, email yhashanghai@126.com, （普陀西康路1447）
- Backpacker Homestay is located at Jiangning Rd and Haifang Rd, Jing'an District, just 3 minutes walk to Jade Buddha Temple.
Mid-Range
Upscale
- JC Mandarin is an excellent 5 star hotel located in Jing'an District. This is a great place to stay if your looking for comfort and luxury with an inner city location. The JC Mandarin is located at 1225 Nanjing Xi Lu（南京西路1225号）. Phone: (86-21)-6279-1888, Email: mandarin.sjm@meritus-hotels.com.
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