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Easy Going Shanghai
When travelling through a country you've never visited before, your expectations are often based on what you’ve seen in old movies, on TV, what you’ve read in books or what you've heard from others. Mentally preparing yourself for your Shanghai travel is a bit more complex. Start off with a pinch of Hong Kong (the perpetual competitive city), a dash of Manhattan (with its towering skyscrapers), a drop of Rotterdam (a world harbour) and top it off with lots of ‘hectic Asian atmosphere’ and you’ve got Shanghai. |
| Price: |
From AUD$195 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Included: |
Transfer from Hongqiao domestic airport to the hotel and 2 nights in the centre of Shanghai |
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| Comfort Level (1-5): |
4 (see accommodation) |
Excluded: |
Surcharge Pudong In'tl airport: AUD$32 per person |
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Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai The old Hongqiao airport is 18km from the city; depending on traffic it’s a 30 - 60 minute drive. Most international flights arrive at Pudong, a new airport an hour away from the city. |
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You’ll stay at one of the older hotels in Shanghai. The historic atmosphere has been maintained by keeping the wooden floors and the cables that help support the roof. The location is ideal at Suzhou Creek at only a stone throw distance from the Bund. In the evening simply exit the hotel and you’ll be on Shanghai boulevard, the Bund. |
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Day 2: Shanghai Walking past the large classic colonial buildings, which you’ll be doing along with quite a few Chinese, you’ll get an impression of 18th and 19th century Chinese. In those days Shanghai traded with the French, Portuguese and Dutch free harbours (concessions), but trade was bound to very strict rules. |
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Across from the Bund, Pudong’s skyscrapers shoot into the sky. This is Shanghai’s Manhattan, where buildings shoot into the sky in a fury of building rage. The motto here is: "To become rich is glorious". The old Chinese street lanterns in the Bund now compete in the unfair struggle against the small bundled laser lights coming from Pudong’s business district. |
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Culture A popular, yet hectic, tourist attraction is the Jade Buddha temple (Yufo Si). If you only want to visit one museum while in China, go to the Shanghai Museum at the Renmin (Peoples) Square. The enormous overview of anything Chinese is enough to get lost in. You can also get lost while walking past the ultramodern buildings at Century Road or in the art district at the MoganshanLu at Suzhou Creek. Chinese elite call this Shanghai’s Seine. Yuyuan garden If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air, you may want to visit the famous Yu Garden near the Bund. If you visit the garden close to closing time, it will be quiet and peaceful and not only your feet but also your head will be thankful. |
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Shopping One of the side streets of the Bund, the shopping street Nanjing Donglu, competes with the Weifujing in Beijing. The entire centre of the city is packed with people. Whoever shops here does so in the midst of a great many of the Chinese mid-class with newly found spending power and who have some catching up to do. Going out The best place to go out in the evening is in the old French district. Be aware: spending the evening in your hotel room is not an option. Going out in the evenings in Shanghai is a part of the Shanghai experience. The French district is filled with balconies, large trees and beautiful old facades. In the midst of Shanghai’s concrete jungle this part of Shanghai is wonderfully European. There’s no shortage of bars and clubs in this area and going out China style is a unique experience. Another area that’s known for its enjoyable nightlife is Xintiandee, a district of pedestrian streets filled with tea houses, restaurants and renovated Shikumen houses. This is one of the few areas in Shanghai where traffic is less congested and chaotic and you’re in less danger of getting run over. |
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Day 3: Departure from Shanghai You’ll need at least two days to truly experience this unforgettable city (an extra night stay is always possible). Depending on your travel plans, you’ll either check out and fly back to Australia or continue on to your next Chinese destination. If you take an international flight to or from Shanghai, you’ll depart from Pudong Airport. Transportation from Shanghai to Pudong Airport is quite extraordinary; take the fastest train in the world, the German Maglev (a magnetic high-speed miracle racing an amazing 400km per hour). You can take a taxi from your hotel and you’ll be at the train station in 15 minutes (or vice versa).If you’re hungry for more Chinese experiences, take the boat to Putuoshan... the island that time forgot, to rest up for a bit or combine Shanghai with the Zen gardens and waterways or Tongli. |
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For inspiration check out our suggested itineraries.