Asia - Shanghai Pudon: question re taxi from airport to hotel

I'll be arriving at Shanghai from the US (on United) and am wondering what the taxi situation is at the airport. I've only been in Shanghai once before, years ago. Are the taxis on meters? Are they honest? Do you simply get them at the curb or is there more of a process involved? And if I tell the driver I want to go to the Westin Hotel, will he understand? Thanks for any help.

I'll be arriving at Shanghai from the US (on United) and am wondering what the taxi situation is at the airport. I've only been in Shanghai once before, years ago. Are the taxis on meters? Are they honest? Do you simply get them at the curb or is there more of a process involved? And if I tell the driver I want to go to the Westin Hotel, will he understand? Thanks for any help.

You'll be fine. Just print out the hotel address (in Chinese) along with the phone number. If you're feeling thrifty and are traveling solo, you could also take the People's Square bus instead.

FYI, before the Westin came to be, what is now the Sheraton used to be the Westin so some cab drivers still get a little confused; that's why it's useful to know the address.

You'll be fine. Just print out the hotel address (in Chinese) along with the phone number. If you're feeling thrifty and are traveling solo, you could also take the People's Square bus instead.

FYI, before the Westin came to be, what is now the Sheraton used to be the Westin so some cab drivers still get a little confused; that's why it's useful to know the address.

Thanks very much! Any sense of about how much the taxi should cost from the airport to the hotel?

Thanks very much! Any sense of about how much the taxi should cost from the airport to the hotel?

less than y200.

Just ignore all the touts in the airport -- who will be agressive -- and walk out to the regular taxi rank, where you might have to wait in line. Taxi drivers will use the meter, you don't tip, and where there are no cops or speed traps, they drive like crazy. The ride last Monday from Pudong to the Grand Hyatt was Y130, but that's in Pudong itself and closer to the airport than the Westin.

If you want a new experience, don't have too many bags, and arrive between 9am-5pm or so, you can ride the Maglev. Show your airline ticket and the ride is Y40. You will need a taxi at the end of the ride and they usually are there in abundance, but not always.

. The ride last Monday from Pudong to the Grand Hyatt was Y130, but that's in Pudong itself and closer to the airport than the Westin.
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I said 200 because I wouldn't take a taxi from the airport without having at least 200 on me, but the Westin should be closer to 150.

Just ignore all the touts in the airport -- who will be agressive -- and walk out to the regular taxi rank, where you might have to wait in line. .

This is key. The touts will RIP you off. The best is to just ignore them, even saying "no thanks" will encourage them. The taxis in line will use meters and will be honest 9 out of ten times.

Try prinitng this out:

请您送我到上海威斯汀大饭店 ( 在外滩附近 )

If you prefer to take the tunnel, he/she will default to that but even though it is slighlty farther, I would prefer to go this way (via the lu pu bridge), because depending on the time of day it can be considerably faster:

请您走卢浦大桥 ( 我知道这样走远一点--没关系 )

If you are going to the Westin, as we did for the DO in February, when you come out of customs, turn left and walk along a row of kiosks. Thre will be kiosks on both sides. On the LEFT side you will find one for the WESTIN. Stop there and tell them you have reservations and they will walk you out to the curb and put you in a taxi and tell the driver where to take you so there should be no problems. The Westin kiosk is open late, as we came from NRT on NW and I think UA arrives around the same time.
I second the suggestion to take the Maglev if you get there when it is open, but you can get a special rate from the city (its terminus is at a Subway station) if you want to ride back and forth to the airport the same day as a tourist. I seem to remember it somewhere around $8 US RT, but could be wrong. Well worth it. 15 minutes OW, as opposed to almost an hour by taxi. Awsome ride. at 260+ MPH.

If you are going to the Westin, as we did for the DO in February, when you come out of customs, turn left and walk along a row of kiosks. Thre will be kiosks on both sides. On the LEFT side you will find one for the WESTIN. Stop there and tell them you have reservations and they will walk you out to the curb and put you in a taxi and tell the driver where to take you so there should be no problems.

Brilliant.

Come to think of it one of them even lent my sister their mobile phone when I was late to pick her up.

If you are going to the Westin, as we did for the DO in February, when you come out of customs, turn left and walk along a row of kiosks. Thre will be kiosks on both sides. On the LEFT side you will find one for the WESTIN. Stop there and tell them you have reservations and they will walk you out to the curb and put you in a taxi and tell the driver where to take you so there should be no problems. The Westin kiosk is open late, as we came from NRT on NW and I think UA arrives around the same time.
I second the suggestion to take the Maglev if you get there when it is open, but you can get a special rate from the city (its terminus is at a Subway station) if you want to ride back and forth to the airport the same day as a tourist. I seem to remember it somewhere around $8 US RT, but could be wrong. Well worth it. 15 minutes OW, as opposed to almost an hour by taxi. Awsome ride. at 260+ MPH.

Wow. Thanks to Vulcan, moondog and everyone else for the great advice! I don't think I'll take the Maglev the day I arrive because I get in at 6:15 p.m., which might be too late. Plus even though I travel a lot internationally I tend to be in a daze after a long flight and a taxi will be easier. But you've gotten me very interested in trying it some other day.

This useful information leads to a couple other questions:

1. Are there ATMs at the airport? If so, where?
2. Does anyone know whether Vulcan's advice applies when I take a domestic flight and get to Beijing (arriving about mid-day on a Sunday): I will be staying at the St. Regis and am wondering if it has a kiosk that could direct me to the taxi line and instruct the taxi driver.

Thanks again!

I'll be arriving at Shanghai from the US (on United) and am wondering what the taxi situation is at the airport. I've only been in Shanghai once before, years ago. Are the taxis on meters? Are they honest? Do you simply get them at the curb or is there more of a process involved? And if I tell the driver I want to go to the Westin Hotel, will he understand? Thanks for any help.Try taking the maglev train from the airport it runs about ever 15 minutes up until about 5:30 pm cost is about 60yaun and it's the ride of a lifetime it goes about 424kph and takes about 6 minutes to get downtown which is about 35km away then you can take a taxi from there to your hotel.

Try taking the maglev train from the airport it runs about ever 15 minutes up until about 5:30 pm cost is about 60yaun and it's the ride of a lifetime it goes about 424kph and takes about 6 minutes to get downtown which is about 35km away then you can take a taxi from there to your hotel.

Its actually 6 minures of acceleration about 2 minutes of cruise and then 6 minutes of deceleration. :)

Wow. Thanks to Vulcan, moondog and everyone else for the great advice! I don't think I'll take the Maglev the day I arrive because I get in at 6:15 p.m., which might be too late. Plus even though I travel a lot internationally I tend to be in a daze after a long flight and a taxi will be easier. But you've gotten me very interested in trying it some other day.

This useful information leads to a couple other questions:

1. Are there ATMs at the airport? If so, where?
2. Does anyone know whether Vulcan's advice applies when I take a domestic flight and get to Beijing (arriving about mid-day on a Sunday): I will be staying at the St. Regis and am wondering if it has a kiosk that could direct me to the taxi line and instruct the taxi driver.

Thanks again!

Not sure about the ATM. I am about 95% sure there is a separate Kiosk for the St. Regis. I seem to remember it on the Right side as I was walking toward the Westin Kiosk, a bit before you get the the Westin. At any rate, if you can't find it, ask at the Westin kiosk.

There is an HSBC ATM just inside the customs area, just to the left of the "green/nothing to declare" exit, which I used last week rather late at night and it worked fine -- despite a mildly scary English note giving you a phone number to call if it ate your ATM card.

The advantage of using the ATM inside the secure/customs area is that there are no touts, pickpockets, or other scum there to see you use it.

There was also a large boxed in area upstairs before going down to customs that said "CITIBANK ATM to be HERE IN JUNE," but as I was there on June 4 and the boxed in area was still boxed in, and it is China after all -- it might be working or might not be by the time you get there. However, look out for it.

P.S. The entire maglev ride is 8 minutes, not 15.

The advantage of using the ATM inside the secure/customs area is that there are no touts, pickpockets, or other scum there to see you use it.


relax

relax

For that, there's Tokyo. I really get tired of having to assume that everyone who approaches me has bad intentions, yet that's mandatory in China.

I know it's my problem and many other folks handle it better; but about the 85th time each day someone intentionally tries to shortchange me, tell me that "they are students who want to have tea and talk English, and I know a good tea house," or quote me a price that's 100 times higher they quote a local -- well, it just WEARS.

I really get tired of having to assume that everyone who approaches me has bad intentions, yet that's mandatory in China.

I'm sorry to hear you say this because:

1) Its just not true. In my experience the vast majority of people in China I have dealt with are honest. That said you need a little common sense, ask yourself: “How would I respond if this happened in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, or Rome?” Surprise surprise the same set of rules that work in those cities work equally well in Shanghai or Beijing.

2) You are missing out on a tremendous amount by isolating yourself in a bubble.

I'm sorry to hear you say this because:

1) Its just not true. In my experience the vast majority of people in China I have dealt with are honest. That said you need a little common sense, ask yourself: “How would I respond if this happened in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, or Rome?” Surprise surprise the same set of rules that work in those cities work equally well in Shanghai or Beijing.

2) You are missing out on a tremendous amount by isolating yourself in a bubble.

What bubble is that? I get out to a different part of town every time I get free time, generally someplace where I see no other westerners. And I didn't say that I assume everyone I deal with in China is out to cheat, just those who approach me. On a main street in Beijing or Shanghai, one where westerners will be found, this happens about once every 60 seconds or less, unless it's the middle of the night. So the frequency does matter. In New York and Chicago, I rarely get approached by anyone. In Rome, I'd apply the same rules as China, although it's still much less frequent. And unfortunately, I am also getting tired of how many street people are still around asking for handouts in S.F.

I've just seen a lot of people become so paranoid they miss out on a lot of great experiences...I suppose there is a balance somewhere.

I'll be arriving at Shanghai from the US (on United) and am wondering what the taxi situation is at the airport. I've only been in Shanghai once before, years ago. Are the taxis on meters? Are they honest? Do you simply get them at the curb or is there more of a process involved? And if I tell the driver I want to go to the Westin Hotel, will he understand? Thanks for any help.

A good life insurance is also recommended ...
Last month I arrive at 5h00 AM so no traffic.
Trip was fast but dangerous.

You could also try telling the cab driver:

dai wo chee wei si ting

which translates into "Take me to The Westin Shanghai". We checked in this past Friday and were given a handy card with the Chinese names of the local attractions and it has worked wonderfully.

The cab fare from the airport to the Westin was less than Y200, which is a shockingly little amount of money to pay for the fare, given the distance traveled.

You could also try telling the cab driver:

dai wo chee wei si ting

which translates into "Take me to The Westin Shanghai". We checked in this past Friday and were given a handy card with the Chinese names of the local attractions and it has worked wonderfully.

The cab fare from the airport to the Westin was less than Y200, which is a shockingly little amount of money to pay for the fare, given the distance traveled.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to speak understandable Mandarin from phonetic English (or, at least, phonetic English that doesn't include an indication of tone). Mandarin is a tonal language and, further, uses a different phoneme set than English. Though a Mandarin speaker might pick up simple and obvious words from context, I'd be surprised if they could manage with a westerner's Americanized pronounciation of Mandarin.

Best to have it written down in advance.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to speak understandable Mandarin from phonetic English (or, at least, phonetic English that doesn't include an indication of tone). Mandarin is a tonal language and, further, uses a different phoneme set than English. Though a Mandarin speaker might pick up simple and obvious words from context, I'd be surprised if they could manage with a westerner's Americanized pronounciation of Mandarin.

Best to have it written down in advance.

I was going to post a similar reaction; when I first read raffy's post, all I could conger up were images of my mom showing up at PVG and trying to rattle off his phonetics. She wouldn't get very far.

That said, I've long since maintained that a knowledge of the proper sounds alone (there are only about 50 and almost all are easy for English speakers to nail) can be sufficient to get by because context means everything.

That said, I've long since maintained that a knowledge of the proper sounds alone (there are only about 50 and almost all are easy for English speakers to nail) can be sufficient to get by because context means everything.
After 10 years living with my Chinese-speaking wife, viewing dozens and dozens of Chinese-language films, many trips to China, and an abortive flirtation with the Pimsler CD-based Mandarin instruction series (very funny story, there), I've gotten to the point where I can order a beer in a restaurant without the waiter saying, "Hunh?" ;)

Still, I agree that most westerners can, and should, learn basic polite expression, e.g. ni hao, sheshe, tsai jien, etc.

Still, I agree that most westerners can, and should, learn basic polite expression, e.g. ni hao, sheshe, tsai jien, etc.

As a matter of clarification, I was referring to sounds, not specific words. All Chinese words have phonetic and tonal components; the former are very easy for westerners to grasp.... and can be 90% effective on their own. Take, for example:

nanjing xi lu // tongren lu

As long as you get the phonetics right, pretty much any cab in the city will get you there, regardless of how off your tones are.

I am wondering if any Mandarin speaker can post about 10 phrases a traveller should know and how to pronounce them. I am familiar with sheshe and Bu Yao, but not a lot more. Thank you. Ed

I am wondering if any Mandarin speaker can post about 10 phrases a traveller should know and how to pronounce them. I am familiar with sheshe and Bu Yao, but not a lot more. Thank you. Ed

this is one of the better sites from the first page of google results:

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/language/mandarin-chinese-phrases.html

but, the back of the lp is still more useful imo.

let us know if you want to learn how to say anything more interesting.

since chinese is a tonal language, i find it helpful to hear the words. try these websites. i prefer the first, but everyone likes options:

http://www.languageguide.org/mandarin/index.jsp

http://www.wku.edu/%7Eyuanh/AudioChinese/index.html

Thank you. I was not sure what to ask for, but a lot of the words I found especially in the first link will be VERY helpful!

Perhaps I missed it, but how do you say "thats too much" when bargaining.
Thanks

use this link...

http://www.wku.edu/%7Eyuanh/AudioChinese/shopping.html

then scroll down to 'too expensive.'

this is a very helpful phrase to get right. i could spell it out for you phonetically, but it's better if you learn it with the tones in the right spots!

Perhaps I missed it, but how do you say "thats too much" when bargaining.
Thanks

you don't. i am not using my normal computer so i can't provide chinese, but there are much better things to say in that situation (english equivalents):

-you speak eight ways of nonsense
-ok, let me check with the 8 other people that are selling the same handbag and get back to you if your price is the best
-60 (just say the number over and over and over)
-your eyes are very pretty
-aren't we friends?
..........

^ :)

In Shanghai, assume that whomever you're dealing with is a cheating, conniving liar and you should be fine. Essentially, don't trust anyone you come in contact with. Everyone's goal is to extract as much money from a visitor as possible. Oh yes, and if you are cheated, remember that there's virtually nothing you can do about it. Enjoy your trip.

In Shanghai, assume that whomever you're dealing with is a cheating, conniving liar and you should be fine. Essentially, don't trust anyone you come in contact with. Everyone's goal is to extract as much money from a visitor as possible. Oh yes, and if you are cheated, remember that there's virtually nothing you can do about it. Enjoy your trip.
Wow!

First of all, this poster is completely, utterly and totally wrong.

However, what a sad, pathetic person!

Perhaps an example will help enlighten PTravel and provide some evidence that I may not be "completely, utterly AND totally wrong" This is just one of several I could provide:

At the end of your travel in a country do you like to exchange your remaining local currency into something more useable, like say US dollars? Well the Chinese erect so many barriers in your way that it's nearly impossible to do so when you leave China. Even if you can find all of your documents indicating that you did, in fact, exchange dollars into Yuan (how else would you get them?), the communists will only allow you to exchange back 50% of what you have receipts for. The result, as you can observe by just standing near the "Exchange Counters" in the airport, is that many, many visitors are forced to take home totally useless currency.

Perhaps an example will help enlighten PTravel and provide some evidence that I may not be "completely, utterly AND totally wrong" This is just one of several I could provide:

At the end of your travel in a country do you like to exchange your remaining local currency into something more useable, like say US dollars? Well the Chinese erect so many barriers in your way that it's nearly impossible to do so when you leave China. Even if you can find all of your documents indicating that you did, in fact, exchange dollars into Yuan (how else would you get them?), the communists will only allow you to exchange back 50% of what you have receipts for. The result, as you can observe by just standing near the "Exchange Counters" in the airport, is that many, many visitors are forced to take home totally useless currency.

your example hardly supports your previous contention that all chinese strive to cheat foreign visitors (a remark which, even if strongly qualified, would still be offensive).

tmk, prc currency has never been openly convertible; currency controls are designed to help promote stable development and prevent capital flight. to this end, they have been effective.

many economists and bureaucrats predict that the current system will start to evolve into something more market-oriented within the next six-months (in addition to improved convertability, expect a modest revaluation)

I think the taxi situation in Shanghai is the best that I've seen anywhere in the world. The taxi's are cheap (about 250 RMB to downtown), clean and all metered.

You'll have no trouble at the airport in Pudong. Don't expect English from the taxi drivers, so having the exact address you are going to written in Chinese is VERY helpful.

Perhaps an example will help enlighten PTravel and provide some evidence that I may not be "completely, utterly AND totally wrong"

I'll read your example, but it is unlikely to convince me that my personal experiences, derived from many, many visits over more than a decade, are wrong.

This is just one of several I could provide:

At the end of your travel in a country do you like to exchange your remaining local currency into something more useable, like say US dollars?
Actually, no. We draw only as much cash as we need from ATMs, and what little we have left at the end of a trip we like to keep for tips/taxis/sundries for when we return. This is true for all our international travels, not just for China.

Well the Chinese erect so many barriers in your way that it's nearly impossible to do so when you leave China. Even if you can find all of your documents indicating that you did, in fact, exchange dollars into Yuan (how else would you get them?), the communists will only allow you to exchange back 50% of what you have receipts for.

Yep. So? The PRC controls currency exchange, and wants visitors to spend money when they come. Besides, what's so hard about keeping your receipts? Incidently, the PRC is Communist in name, only. Totalitarian, yes, but in many ways the PRC is more capitalist than the US.

The result, as you can observe by just standing near the "Exchange Counters" in the airport, is that many, many visitors are forced to take home totally useless currency.

And how does this, in any way, support what you wrote? You said:

"In Shanghai, assume that whomever you're dealing with is a cheating, conniving liar and you should be fine. Essentially, don't trust anyone you come in contact with. Everyone's goal is to extract as much money from a visitor as possible. Oh yes, and if you are cheated, remember that there's virtually nothing you can do about it."

Sorry, I'll stand by my comments.

I think the taxi situation in Shanghai is the best that I've seen anywhere in the world. The taxi's are cheap (about 250 RMB to downtown), clean and all metered.
I agree, but for one thing -- they drive FAST! Clearly, they're intent on doing a volume business. ;)

I think the taxi situation in Shanghai is the best that I've seen anywhere in the world. The taxi's are cheap (about 250 RMB to downtown), clean and all metered.

i concur. you are much less likely to be cheater by taxi driver in china (in most major cities) than in most european countries (i am comparing to paris, lisbon, not the notorious prague taximeter).
i have never seen a tampered taxi meter.

the taxi meter is very well enforced, in fact, in all large cities. once i reminded a taxi driver about the meter halfway in the trip, he was so scared that he only asked me for what the meter displays (which was about 60% of the total fare)

yes, some driver may take a small detour, to cheat you for 20% more occasionally. (i found this in beijing, and in shanghai only many years ago) you just have to know the rough number and ask for a receipt if in doubt. the penalty for cheating is quite severe and that it works in most cases.

in shanghai, there are also branded can companies like Dazhong (light green cars), they are the best ones.

BTW, i recommend also trying the Mag-lev... and even its subway when you move around the city later.