China Travel Forum

[George]

I'm going to Shanghai for two weeks next Friday. I don't know anything about Shanghai and surrounders. Any suggestions? I don't want to take planes or night trains to visit a lot of places. I just want to taste a little bit of the Chinese culture.

1) Any recomendations for restaurants, nightlife, daytrips, shoping?
2) I've heard about Putuoshan and Suzhou. Is it worth a visit?
3) What about the weather? Very cold now? Is there a tropical place in the south of the country to enjoy the new year drinking a beer in a hammock?

[Duncan]

In Shanghai, there are also a couple of museums which are interesting. The Shanghai Museum can teach you a lot, if you're open to it, about the history of porcelain-making and Jingdezhen ware, for example. I also enjoyed the historical museum which is in the base of the Oriental Pearl tower. The tower is as tacky-touristy as can be, but the historical museum presents an interesting Chinese view into Shanghai's history -- a mix of repulsion at the degradation of the 20s and 30s and wistful nostalgia for the energy and creativity that accompanied that period. I found that museum greatly added to my understanding of what Shanghai represents, in the Chinese people mind.enjoy walking around certain areas of Shanghai, near the bund, and definitely the french concession and the old town.

The Bund, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road and the famous Shanghai Museum of Art & History.
A river cruise at nighttime is also worthwhile.
Bring a heavy jacket with hood (and gloves) because it is cold in late afternoon and at nighttime. We did our shopping in “Chinatown”. They called it “Chinatown” because it used to be the only place wholly owned by Chinese . Very cheap merchandize but have to bargain even as low as 50% or more of the price tag .