Layover in Shanghai

Shanghai is situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, it is China's largest city. The city is one of the most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers of China. Administratively, Shanghai is one of four municipalities of the People's Republic of China that have provincial-level status. Shanghai is also home to the world's busiest port, followed by Singapore and Rotterdam.

Click here for Google Earth Placemarks for this city.

Note: Must have Google Earth installed on your computer.

Get it free here: Google Earth.
The Airport

* Pudong International Airport (IATA: PVG, ICAO: ZSPD)

Layover Hotels
Intercontinental Pudong (website)

* Outstanding Breakfast Buffet
* Five Star Hotel
* Walk across the street, you will see a sign for a massage place. This is a reputable gym, and spa. It is nothing fancy, but the price is right. Go into the lobby and take the elevator to the 4th floor. There is a gym, bar, and spa located on this floor. The price for a 60 minute full body massage is 88 RNB (about $10) or if you prefer, a 90 minute foot massage for the same price. (You can also just spend the 176 RNB and spend 2 ½ hours there!) They do a very nice job. There is small bar with good prices located just down the hall from the spa.

Shanghai Grand Hyatt (website)

* Grand Hyatt Shanghai is the 'highest hotel in the world'

Getting Around

* Shanghai Subway on Wikipedia
* Taxi - Taxi cabs are a great deal in Shanghai, really the only way to travel. They usually will have a minimum 10 RNB charge ($1.24 USD), and a 30 minute ride will usually cost no more than 30 RNB ($3.75).

Things to See and Do
The Bund

The area centres on a section of Zhongshan Road within the former International Settlement, which runs along the bank of the Huangpu River, facing Pudong, in the eastern part of Huangpu District. The Bund usually refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas.

The Bund has dozens of historical European colonial buildings, lining the Huangpu River, that once housed numerous banks and trading houses from Britain, France, USA, Russia, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain. The Bund lies north of the old, walled town of Shanghai. It began as a British settlement. A building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia. The name Bund was given to the area by the British colonial authorities, and is believed to derive from Hindi for "bank" or "mudflats"

External Link: The Buildings of the Bund
Maglev Train
Maglev Train
Maglev Train

* Ride the Maglev. It is the worlds fastest train. It takes only 7 minutes 20 seconds to go from the Pudong International Airport to the Long Yang Road station. It reaches speeds of 431 kilometers per hour (268 miles per hour).

As of June 2005, the one way ticket price is 50 RMB (about 6 US dollars) and 40 RMB for airline passengers with proof of an airline ticket purchase. A round-trip ticket costs 80 RMB.

* Operate time:7:00 to 21:00
* Highest Speed: 430km/h(Normal Times) or 300km/h(Extend Times)
* Run time:7 mins and 20 sec. in Normal Times, while 8 mins and 10 sec. in extend times
* Normal Times is 8:30-17:00, Extend Time is 7:00 to 8:30 and 17:00-21:00
* Interval: 15mins.

People's Square

* Shanghai Museum

Nanjing Road

China's premier shopping street, 3.4-mile-long Nanjing Road, starts at the Bund in the east and ends in the west at the junction of Jingan Temple and Yan'an West Street. Nanjing Road is a must-see metropolitan destination hosting shoppers from all over the world.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Oriental Pearl Tower
Oriental Pearl Tower

The Oriental Pearl Tower stands by the bank of Huangpu River. It is in the centre of Lujiazui, opposite to the Bund which is famous for its grand buildings of various architectural styles. The tower is 468 metres high. It is the highest TV Tower in Asia and is the third highest one in the world.

The Oriental Pearl Tower is a multifunctional body with sight-seeing. restaurant, shopping, entertainment, hotel, radio and TV transmissions. It has already become one of the symbolic buildings and tourism resorts in Shanghai and it is honoured as one of the ten best views in Shanghai.

Cost to the observation deck is around 50 RNB.
Shopping
Xiang Yang Market (CLOSED)

Google Earth Link (Must have Google Earth installed on your computer)

UPDATE: THE MARKET IS SHUT DOWN PERMANENTLY AS OF June 30th, 2006.

We are working on gathering new information for shopping in Shanghai due to the closure of the market. Any input would be appreciated.

Take a cab to the market, every cab driver will know where it is. Located on Central Huaihai Road, between Shanxi and Xiangyang Roads.

This is the ultimate shoppers paradise. The market is quite large, and comprised of many many stalls. The majority of the products here are knock-offs. Some brands you will find include North Face, Diesel, Nike, Rolex, Gucci, Prada, etc. Also many great deals on Golf Clubs, DVD's and fake Monte Blanc pens.

The initial prices the venders will quote you are usually 4 to 6 times higher than you can actually get them down to after some negotiating. Here are just a few examples of items recently purchased at the market:

Item Initial Price Negotiated Price
-----------------------------------------------------------------
North Face Backpack $50 USD $9 USD
Knock off watch $80 USD $25 USD
North Face Jacket $110 USD $16 USD
DVD's $2-5 USD $1 USD (max)
Fake Mont Blanc Pen $5 USD $1 USD (max)

Some tips for the market:

1. Avoid DVD's of movies that are still in the theaters, or very new. They will probably be made by a guy holding a video camera in a theater.
2. When purchasing an item, first ask their price. Then make an offer you know to be extremely low. As you go back and forth during your negotiations, only budge a little bit. Then, when you get to the highest price you are willing to pay, tell them that is your final offer and walk away. They will usually call you back as you are walking out. Example: You ask, "How much for the North Face Jacket?" They respond, "$110 USD." Then you respond with, "$8 USD!" As they work their way down in price SLOWLY work your way up from $8 to your final price of $16 or so. When they tell you their last best price is $30 USD, just start to walk out. Odds are they call you back yelling, "Okay, Okay! Your price!"
3. You will be constantly approached by people trying to drag you to different stalls. Avoid going with these people. They receive a commission for taking you to the stall, and that commission will be charged to you...whether you know it or not.

Old Shanghai
Old Shanghai
Old Shanghai

Located on Central Fanbang Road between Renmin and Henan Roads. Excellent shopping road with more traditional Chineese gifts. You can still find many of the items from the Copy Market here, but there are more assorted brass, wood, and silk chineese trinkets.
Where to Eat
Pudong

* Shanghai Uncle - This place is on the 8th floor of the mall located across the street and down the block from the Intercontinental Hotel. You will know the mall because it sits on the corner, and has a Starbucks located in the lobby. Excellent Shanghainese food, and they have an English menu, with pictures. Some of the dishes we tried were Uncle's crispy pork of flame (they light this dish on fire at your table), and the ribs which literally fall off the bone. "Seventy-three-year-old Clarence Lee, son of the late Virginia Lee, the grande dame of Chinese cooking, never expected to be a chef. But after a career as a physicist in California, he was ready for a change. So he moved to Shanghai and last spring opened Shanghai Uncle, which has been packed from day one."

General

* O'Malley's (42 Tao Jiang Rd) - Not the best food in the world. Take the walk (or short cab ride) over to the Maoming Lu District for more options.

Google Earth Link to O'Malley's(Must have Google Earth installed on your computer)
Clubs, Bars, Nightlife
General

* O'Malley's (42 Tao Jiang Rd) - Standard issue Irish bar. Guiness on tap, etc. Beers are about 65 RNB for a large one. The best deal seems to be the 45 RNB for Carlsberg larges, or the pitcher of Carlsberg for 150 RNB. Also, there is a 20% discount for airline crews.

Maoming Lu District

Google Earth Link (Must have Google Earth installed on your computer)

This area is located South-East of the famous copy market on Maoming road between Fuxing and Yonjia roads. The area began with bars and restaurants in 1995 and is still Shanghai's original bar district. The government has threatened to shut the area down in recent years, but for now it is still a fun place. The street is lined with bars and restaurants, doesn't really start getting busy until 10:00 PM or so.

* Blue Frog - they have several locations around Shanghai, this is the original. Happy hour from 4:40-8:30 is 2 for 1 on any beer.
* Champagne Lounge - This bar is located at the extreme west end of the strip on the corner. You better know how to play dice and 'connect four' if you plan on spending time here, as the girls are very good at it.
* Chicagos - Packed on the weekends. Nightclub atmosphere.
* Nelly's - Packed on the weekends. Nightclub atmosphere.
* Judy's Too - Another hang out for ex-pats and locals alike.

Jing An District

* Hard Rock Cafe
* Malone's
* Manhattans

Safety Advisories

None at this time.