China - First trip to China in a week

Hi, I have been reading some of the threads here learning a bit about China before my first trip next week. It is on short notice and I am only in Shanghai for 48 hours. I am going to have time to explore Nanjing Road and the Yuyuan Tourist Mart areas only. And I definately have to fing a Jian Bing vendor for breakfast. They look interesting!

if the weather is good, hit the bund instead of nanjing east unless you're really into shopping for a bunch of mass produced goods and getting hit up for fake LV bags and massages. shanghai meuseum is also good (in people's square near nanjing) if you want some free chinese history.

Bund is good on the evenings.

FYI, nanjing and nanjing road in shanghai makes a big difference.

If it's a clear day, the view from the Pearl Tower may be worth the price of admission. Do not pay for access to the highest level; the view is much better one stop down (for 30 yuan less) and you get the glass floor to look through.

There's also the advantage that the view from the Pearl Tower is the only view in Shanghai where you can't see the Pearl Tower. :D

Thanks for the input. I guess the plan is to go to Yuyuan Garden first for a look through the temple, some shopping and lunch. Some friends are taking us out to dinner and then to the Shanghai Circus City. Somewhere in there I am going to try buying some new glasses. Also, does anyone know a good spot to pick up a new battery for my HP laptop - one that won't catch on fire the first time I use it. :)

also you can try Vue bar on top of the hyatt for a good view of the city. You can see both the bund and lujiazui (pearl tower, SWFC, etc). While it will be dead before 10pm, you want to get there while the Bund lights are still on. Getting there early also avoids cover - I think.

For the laptop, Metro City mall near in Xujiahui (metro stop at line 1/9) has a lot of electronic stuff, but it's normal retail. There is a electronics mart where they sell stuff for less, but I can't remember where it is.

also you can try Vue bar on top of the hyatt for a good view of the city. You can see both the bund and lujiazui (pearl tower, SWFC, etc). While it will be dead before 10pm, you want to get there while the Bund lights are still on. Getting there early also avoids cover - I think.

For the laptop, Metro City mall near in Xujiahui (metro stop at line 1/9) has a lot of electronic stuff, but it's normal retail. There is a electronics mart where they sell stuff for less, but I can't remember where it is.

There's one on Xiangyang Rd near Fuxing Rd and I think another near HK Plaza.

Maybe you are not a museum person, but I would still recommend that you find time for a quick visit at least to the Shanghai Museum. It is pretty much the only place I have ever found in China where I really get a sense of the long history of the country (as opposed to just being told about the long history of the country ...). It is also the only museum I have seen in China that really presents the exhibits to an international standard (I say that begrudgingly being Beijing rather than Shanghai-based)

For me it would be worth the entrance fee just to take a 1 hour walk through the Chinese painting gallery and get a quick lesson in both history of the country and of Chinese painting (the paintings are, or at least were when I was last there, arranged chronologically). If you have more time take a look at the bronzes and/or the ceramics.

If it's a clear day, the view from the Pearl Tower may be worth the price of admission. Do not pay for access to the highest level; the view is much better one stop down (for 30 yuan less) and you get the glass floor to look through.

There's also the advantage that the view from the Pearl Tower is the only view in Shanghai where you can't see the Pearl Tower. :D

I'd skip the Pearl Tower and head to the IFC instead. Taller and you can look down on the Pearl Tower.

I'd skip the Pearl Tower and head to the IFC instead. Taller and you can look down on the Pearl Tower.

While I'm in agreement with you (might as well eat nice food while taking in the view), I must admit that Mike Jacoubowsky's point about not having to look at that eye sore of a building because you're in it is intriguing.

As you will be visiting the touristy places, please beware of pickpockets.

The pearl tower has a longer queue than the IFC iirc.

Maybe you are not a museum person, but I would still recommend that you find time for a quick visit at least to the Shanghai Museum. It is pretty much the only place I have ever found in China where I really get a sense of the long history of the country (as opposed to just being told about the long history of the country ...). It is also the only museum I have seen in China that really presents the exhibits to an international standard (I say that begrudgingly being Beijing rather than Shanghai-based)

For me it would be worth the entrance fee just to take a 1 hour walk through the Chinese painting gallery and get a quick lesson in both history of the country and of Chinese painting (the paintings are, or at least were when I was last there, arranged chronologically). If you have more time take a look at the bronzes and/or the ceramics.

I strongly second this recommendation. I loved all the exhibits in this excellent museum (yes, I had time to see them all as I went back a few times). And, as of a month ago anyway, the admission was free!

Indeed, as of a few days ago, admission was free.


I strongly second this recommendation. I loved all the exhibits in this excellent museum (yes, I had time to see them all as I went back a few times). And, as of a month ago anyway, the admission was free!

While I'm in agreement with you (might as well eat nice food while taking in the view), I must admit that Mike Jacoubowsky's point about not having to look at that eye sore of a building because you're in it is intriguing.

Fair enough, but you can go underground if you really hate looking at the Pearl Tower.

Indeed, as of a few days ago, admission was free.
When I was there, it was free as part of a special time every year when most of the public museums are free. Unfortunately the line was several hours long so I would have preferred to pay. They were restricting admission so that inside the museum was a bit crowded but not extremely so.

When I was there, it was free as part of a special time every year when most of the public museums are free. Unfortunately the line was several hours long so I would have preferred to pay. They were restricting admission so that inside the museum was a bit crowded but not extremely so.

Several hours long? Really? I was there three times (all in the afternoon). The first two times there was NO line. The third time was National Day, so of course there was a line, but certainly not several hours long (more like half an hour or so).