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Shanghai VisitBy Dominic Deveau, as seen on Ezine Articles Also viewed in DOMSCAFE/ARTICLES Shanghai is extremely busy, vast in size and has a population of approximately 22 million people. Flying out of Busan, South Korea, only an hour and 10 minute flight, and arriving in Shanghai, I would find an airport bus to People's Square, near my hotel. The bus is only 20 Yuan to reach my destination and another 11 Yuan by taxi to the hotel. I found a taxi fairly easy, depending on how busy a street is and how many people are waiting for taxis. The corner is a better place to wait. I gave the taxi a card with the name and address of the hotel, in Chinese, and 5 minutes later I arrived at the 3 star Magnificent Plaza Hotel. Most of the staff spoke descent English, the room was fairly spacious, a bit of a stained rug, large bed and bathroom complimentary things, for a great price of $43 US a night. It also included a half descent buffet western, Chinese fusion breakfast and a couple computers in a room for free internet usage, as well as a few exercise running machines. It was fine for me. First stop, a Chinese restaurant, whatever will do, as I am very hungry and want to try some local food. I find a fancier place, and have some nice sweet and sour pork and excellent spring rolls, large green tea pot and bottled water. The waiters constantly fill my glass and tea cup, great service and food. I pay about $20 US (100 Yuan) and thank them. This is a relatively high medium expensive meal in Shanghai. You can pay much more for especially western meals such as steak for example, or very cheap for local dive type restaurants or the cheapest, street food. I choose mostly some low medium cheap and very adequate places to eat, as well as KFC and Starbucks. Starbucks offered a place to rest between site seeing and to get out of the August heat. My first attraction was the Oriental Pearl Tower, a vastly high tower and marvel to view the city from. You may view it from view finders and round watch tower setting as well as see through hard plastic floor. The middle level of the tower contains a huge revolving restaurant and at the bottom an excellent museum, mostly of wax figures in historical Chinese settings. The tower and museum took me about 4 hours to see, and was approximately $30 us for the entrance fee. For taxis, the hotel staff provided me with small cards and translated into Chinese some destinations. I was off to the Bund, the old down town, in which the buildings are still used for banks, high society social clubs and others. From the Bund I took an hour ferry boat up the river and back. The huge river runs through Shanghai, the name I am unsure of. I can get a good look at the Bund from the river and opposite the newer, skyscraper business district as well as oriental Pearl Tower. I spent 5 days in all, and it was a fantastic trip. It is very busy and a bit exhausting, not quite a kind of relax by the pool or on a beach vacation spot, but very interesting. I met a few ESL teachers and business people randomly who live in Shanghai from other countries. Most tend to speak the local language if they have been there several years. I met some very nice locals, who took me to a great traditional Chinese restaurant, a kind of huge spicy soup, with fish, peppers, and noodles. You then add meat such as mutton and beef to boil in the soup. It was delicious. We also tried a traditional tea house which was very interesting. We sampled many fine and exotic teas. The hostess, while in our private room, explained each teas history and significance, in Chinese, in which my new acquaintance translated. The price, however, was relatively expensive, as we paid 350 Yuan per person, 3 people. Once in a life time perhaps. I did find some of the service staff, such as attractions, a bit rude, or not quite as friendly as you might expect. The language may have something to do with it, they seemed to be on a robotic, non smile and move along quick everyone mode, even towards locals. But tour guides running the elevators at the Oriental Pearl Tower for example, who spoke in Chinese and translated into English were very nice. Mostly, locals were very nice. In a very metropolitan city I was also fairly unnoticed. One German business man who lived in a small countryside village explained that Shanghai was the exception to not feeling so much like a foreigner, as you would get more looks in rural China. The day I left, I was glad to be going back to Korea, though overall it was a great trip. I took a taxi to the local fast train, perhaps pronounced as the Moglev, though I am not positive on its exact name. It cost 50 Yuan and took less than 8 minutes to get me from the city to the airport for my return Saturday 9 am flight. There were plenty of English signs and information at the train station and throughout much of the city. I do recommend a trip to Shanghai or even Beijing, the more traditional Chinese city. By Dominic Deveau, as seen on Ezine Articles Also viewed in DOMSCAFE/ARTICLES |
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