My first time in China started of with great anticipation.. I would finally be visiting the land from which my great-grandparents came from (my father's side anyway). My Shanghainese colleagues and friends that I made were incredibly hospitable and took us to eat many Chinese delicacies cooked in various Chinese cooking styles that I previously had not been exposed to. Visiting Shanghai has influenced my cooking! =)I now try to mix meats and nuts and all kinds of sauces with vegetables..its so much tastier!
Great Eats (really REALLY recommended)
1. Steamboat (very different fr Malaysian/ Singaporean Steamboat)
东来顺火锅 dong lai shun huo guo
Tel No: 58356877
浦东新区 张杨路 579号 三鑫大厦 5 楼
Price estimated for 2: 100 CNY
2. Jun Gong Rd Seafood Street Wholesale Market
Metro Line 8 - Shi Guang Rd Station
Buy crabs/ prawns/ fish for 2 pax at CNY200, ask nearby restaurant to cook it for CNY10 cooking fee
I have done research and merged the travel advice from a few sources, lonely planet and my own experience to come up with a suggested 3-day tour plan:
Shanghai is famed as “the Oriental Paris” and is regarded as the center of finance and trade in mainland China. Now let me show you how to spend three days in and explore the past and future of this amazing city.
# Day 1: Start by exploring Shanghai by going to the Pu Dong area. There are a lot famous views in Pu Dong, which are symbolic of Shanghai and China's economic development. After taking Shanghai Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui station, you could have a gorgeous brunch at Jin Mao Tower, the fifth tallest skyscraper in the world. Then you might want to visit Lujiazui financial district, “the Chinese Wall Street”. Then it’s time to experience the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. After taking the elevator to the top of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, you will have the overview of the night of Shanghai. Dinner at revolving restaurant of the TV Tower will be the perfect ending of your first day in Shanghai. A cheaper but just as fulfilling alternative is to visit Starbucks (along the Huang Pu riverside) to have a good view of the Bund (lights go off at 10pm). This is one of the best views of Shanghai at night. In between the day, if you have time, visit the Science & Technology museum Metro stop, there are a lot of small shops inside the station where you can bargain and buy stuff cheaply.
#Day 2: Start with the People's Square. This is the traffic center and one of the most popular commercial areas of Shanghai. You could learn Chinese culture and history in Shanghai Museum, see how Shanghai will look like in the future in Shanghai City-Planning Exhibition Hall, and enjoy a wonderful concert in Shanghai Grand Theatre. After finishing the culture tour, you could walk to Nanjing Road, China's No.1 Commercial Street, to do some shopping and enjoy your dinner there. If you just intend to buy small articles and inexpensive clothes, Dimei Shopping Center (上海地铁人民广场站地下近西藏南路) beneath People's Square and the Science & Technology museum Metro stop (mentioned in day 1) will whet your appetite. In Dimei Shopping Center, clothes are competitively priced and fashionable, but you will seldom find the top brands here. With the alternation of four seasons the small shops here, sell clothes in vogue which cater for the needs of young people. You can bargain at ease. Qipu Lu Clothing Market 七浦路服装市场 (Metro Line 2 and get off at Nanjing Donglu Station) is also good for shoes, clothes, accessories, and cosmetics with quality and price getting better/ higher on the higher floors. Meanwhile, also try to visit Huai hai Lu. Often likened to Tokyo’s Harajuku, Huaihai Road is known as the fashion district of Shanghai. Featuring everything fashion-related from clothes to accessories, the street is dotted with huge malls and major shopping outlets such as Huating Esetan, the Paris Spring, Maison Mode, Yongxin Department Store and Parkson Shopping Centre, as well as a variety of shops selling specialty fashion items. Seen as ‘the street paved with elegance and luxury’, Huaihai Road features some of the world’s most renowned high-end fashion labels.
Day 3: Spend the last day in the famous Yuyuan Commercial and Tourist Area. Yuyuan Garden, one of the four finest Chinese gardens, is the must for visitors. Go to the Geng Yue Ren (Moonlight) teahouse for a relaxing Chinese experience and good views of Shanghai. The tea house is located on the fourth floor of Yu An Ge, which is opposite to the Dragon Gate Mall, the entrance is in a small narrow back lane called An Ren Street. Minimum 98RMB per person including tea, and other snacks such as nuts, chicken wings, barbecued prawns,fruits etc (buffet) (free Wi-fi). From the open terrace, you can see beautiful Yu Yuan and both the west and east of the Huangpu River. Also, have lunch or dinner at Lvbolang. You shouldn’t miss the most famous “Xiao Long Bao” there. Xin Tian Di is famous for its night life. You could find different kinds of bars with live band and restaurants there.
HANGZHOU
My mum came along to keep me company and we met up with Aunty Ivy and decided to go to Hangzhou for the weekend.. AWESOME decision. West Lake in Hangzhou is definitely one of the prettier places I've been. Here's a summary of Hangzhou for all those who wanna go!
To do:
Zhang Yi Mou’s West Lake production (at night).
Chill by west lake / row across it. (cross the road and walk through the paths to reach a pretty area of west lake near the temple and poet houses, away from touristy areas)
Other activities recommended by Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298559-Activities-Hangzhou_Zhejiang.html
Shop:
1) Hefang Street - lined with small shops, pharmacies, restaurants and teahouses, and food stalls housed in traditional style buildings.. probably the most convenient place in Hangzhou for souvenir shopping. The compact mid section of the street is pedestrianised and has loads of little shops selling various specialties of Hangzhou . Bargaining is very important (esp for silk!)! But most of the prices here are already 20-50% of the Shanghai prices. Hangzhou is famous for its fans (Wang Xingji), tea (Longjing) and silk products. There is a tourist information center with English Hangzhou maps.. get it here.
2) Silk Market (opens 5am, closes by 5pm) - · Address: Jiankang West Road
· Directions: Entrances on Fengqi Lu and Tiyuchang Lu, located between those two and Jianguo bei lu & Zhonghe zhong lu.
· sells anything from ties to scarves to fabric and clothes. If it's made of silk, you'll find it here! Hangzhou is famous for its silk, and walking on the silk market, you understand why. There are hundreds of shops selling silk in all forms available. You will find traditional silk farbrics with Chinese motif patterns, as well as trendy scarves and ties. These shops are outlets for local companies that also export their products. Be prepared to haggle, but generally my experience is that the shop-keepers do not start with excessively high prices, though foreigners who don't speak the language can expect to pay more than Chinese. Shopkeepers also know their limits, and will not sell to any price, as may happen in other markets. So if it is a question of a few yuan, don't let that keep you from getting something you find really nice. Compared to Europe , the price level here is very low, as the cost of middle men and logistics are cut out. However, I have so far never found raw silk (some call it Thai silk) fabric here. Haggle, haggle, haggle. In the end, you have to be prepared to pay a bit more for higher quality. You get cheaper prices by bulk (3 pieces and more)
·Ladies: small scarf: ca 40-60 yuan, long/big scarf: ca 80 yuan, pashmina scarves: ca 40-80 yuan, thick woolen shawls: 80-250 yuan, depending on size and material, nightwear: 100-170 yuan, depending on how much fabric is used, long underwear: 200-250 yuan, ladies silk tops: 40-100 yuan. Gap shirts/ sleeveless shirts 10 yuan – 30 yuan
·Men's ties: 25-40 yuan, men's woolen scarves: 80-100 yuan, long underwear: 250-300 yuan
