I too am eagerly awaiting your SH-NJ comparison. As far as hotels go, there are a lot (I want to say 27) of Marriotts in Shanghai, and the Yu Garden Ren is not among my top 10, especially since your visit is going to take place during the spring. The Portman would be my first choice, followed by the JW and maybe the Zhongshan Park Ren.

My four night stay at the Ren at. Yu Gardens was very good. Had a status upgrade. B Fast was good, Western and Chinese at the buffet with even a three item Indian corner. Staff was very good The three young ladies who greet you when you pull up at the door were extraordinary ! Sought out the GM to mention this.

Cows are very soothing to the mind. Never seen one in central park.:p
But plenty in Jersey.

The buildings in Pudong are twice as tall as those in Jersey.

HK as a nature destination?!? Yes, I've been to Lama Island and once hiked to the top of a small mountain in the New Territories, but these activities hardly make the short list for a 3 day visit. Shanghai also has nature (Chongming Dao and Sheshan come to mind). However, few people know or care.

Correct, and if you calculate the wealth differentiation, the buildings are actually substantially smaller in Pudong.

I once saw a Tiger at Sheshan.

http://i0.wp.com/i.cdn.turner.com/dr...iger-China.jpg

Having lived in HK years ago and traveled to Shanghai several times, I'd say Shanghai if you want to experience China. HK is too much like Manhattan for me (ie just like home). April should have decent weather for Shanghai (not too hot). If you were going today, I'd say HK due to the AQI in Shanghai right now, just awful.

April actually can be a very nice time in Shanghai, without much air pollution if the spring winds are a blowin'. I'd second Moondog's recommendation for the Renaissance Zhongshan Park rather than the Renaissance Yu Garden. It's a much nicer hotel (the tallest Renaissance in the world) with a great lounge and it is right on top of the main subway line that connects you to both airports and most of the main attractions. If it's a clear day views from the executive lounge can't be beat as you get to see all the big buildings in both Pudong and Puxi. Yu Garden is the most overrated tourist attraction in Shanghai (the bund sightseeing tunnel is the most underrated, you'll never forget it:D).

Definitely yes. 70% of HKs space are country parks. Only HK trail has 50 km.

HK is more westernized, definitely less of a culture shock if you have never been to China before. Shanghai is well... just another big city.

IMO either can be a culture shock if you haven't traveled in Asia before.

Have been to china once before, Beijing and Guilin and really loved both, am looking to go to one more big city and some countryside on this trip,
On way back from a conference in south Korea
So far shanghai seems more of what I want with the history, don't know of anything remains of the European bund but that would be interesting to me

You have one and a half days. I would recommend HK over SH. You won't get to Suzhou, or only get to Suzhou if SH is your destination - although there's a fast train, it's a whole day affair. Whereas in HK you can easily get to the islands for a morning and then back to the city. I don't know SH as well, but to me, HK is far more beautiful, and the food is better.

SH doesn't have as much 'history' as you might think, although I guess the concession area is ~ 100 years old.

tb

tb