BuildingMyBento

I didn't have much time in Urumqi, but I got a kick out of trying to ask people what time things - e.g. night markets in Erdaoqiao - started. Some locals seemed to go by Xinjiang Standard Time, two hours before the rest of China (in case no one on this forum knew, the mainland is officially all in one time zone). Makes sense, except that they never wanted to share to which "time zone" they referred...don't worry though, all transportation is in Beijing time.

sinoflyer

My lesson with Xinjiang time went like this: I had booked my return to PEK on a CA flight departing URC around 14:00, thinking that I could leave Turpan after breakfast and still get to Urumqi airport with plenty of time to spare. Then, I checked the bus schedule and found that the first bus to Urumqi didn't leave until 8:00. I was initially confused about why the first bus would leave so late, but then I remembered that 8 am actually meant 6 am--before the sun came up. Luckily for me, I also decided to take that first bus. I ended up cutting it too close for comfort with that 14:00 flight.

mbloes

I'll bite . . .

What are your favorite food blogs or food websites for Beijing?

Can you recommend a driver or service in Beijing that will not stop at the jade galleries / art galleries / favorite restaurants as part of the excursion?

cagcag

I thank all for your suggestions. Our situation is thus:

On an award ticket, we are flying into Kashkar with an anticipated stay of 3 days. Our flight into PEK overnights in Urumqui from 18:00 to 10:00 next morning. I presume that not leaving the city those few hours will be enough to see "something" of Urumqui. Any ideas of public transportation from Kashkar Airport into city as well as Urumqui Airport into city/

Lastly, for a first time visit, is 3 days in PEK and 3 days in Shanghai be enough to "sample" these two immense cities?

Thanks again.

moondog

Oh boy, are you in for a surprise (Worry not, getting into town is really easy.)

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

Most certainly 3 days is sufficient for Shanghai. You can do the 'essential' sights in one day. Where Shanghai takes time is if you want to scratch beneath the surface or have special interests. For example you might be interested in history, antiques, or art deco architecture. Going to various shops or searching out the buildings of a particular architect will take time. Food is another example... so many restaurants that you'd be there days just to try a few of dozens.

But as a first time tourist... looking at the Bund, across the river to Pudong, drive around the former French concession, drink at a couple of bars and select one or two restaurants and a day or so is enough.

MSPeconomist

You can spend time in Shanghai visiting various 20th century historical sites, including homes of famous politicians.

It's also fun to go in search of Chinese art, starting with the art museum and the nearby modern art museum, then the gallery/warehouse area and IIRC a gallery on the Bund.

If you're interested, you can spend most of a day in the Shanghai museum. There are also two urban planning museums, one underground near People's Square and the other in Pudong. There's also the museum (vaguely about the history of the communist party) at the tea shop in Xiandu (spelling?).

Something else to do is to visit the grounds of Shanghai Expo. Some of the exhibits and buildings are still open. At one level, it's modern architecture in a park along the river, but then there are the places that had long lines during the Expo itself.....

moondog

@msp: I'm curious about:
1. The second urban planning museum (BTW, the first one is not underground)
2. The communist party museum inside a tea shop

TennisNoob

Not really about travel but I want to see what FT's opinion is on Tmall, JD, and etc.

Is it safe?
Are buyers protected in anyway? Amazon of course is too protective to the buyer IMO.

travelinmanS

Of course it's safe, those sites are run by two of the largest e commerce companies in the world. Buyers are protected on Tmall and JD.

MSPeconomist

This is what I remember, from my visit around the time of the Chengdu earthquake.

One urban planning museum was in a small old building in Pudong, on the edge of a small park not far from the river. It seemed to rarely be open.

Also on the Pudong side is the touristic but interesting museum of the history of Shanghai in the basement of the ? Tower, very close to the river.

On the Puxi side, the basement museum is close to People's Park (on the river side of the park) in what is apparently a newish government office building with some shops. it's small and covers also the history of Shanghai with some urban planning stuff at the end IIRC.

I think I remember another urban planning (exclusively so, like the first place on the Pudong side) museum above ground in more or less the same area, although I might be thinking of a special exhibit, perhaps near the opera house.

The communist party museum is in the center of Xiandu (spelling?) along what seems to be a side street in a new building designed to look old. It's reasonable size and I remember the exit leading into a fancy looking tea shop that sells tea and tea accessorites as well as serving tea.

I found these places listed in the guide book that I was using at the time, although I remember the concierge staff at the (then) StR not being familiar with some of them. [Because my Chengdu side trip was cancelled, I had excess time in Shanghai on this trip to China and spent the time exploring virtually every museum in the center of the city that I saw referenced.] I don't know whether I still have that guidebook that I purchased in the USA for the trip.

moondog

Msp: thanks for your detailed post. Can you provide info wrt "xiandu"?

travelinmanS

I think she means Xintiandi. There is some sort of communist museum there.

moondog

Ah. Is it a nice place? I live in xtd, but rarely hang out in the area (jingan and xuhui are much nicer/cheaper). But, at least I'm on the proper side of the river.

uanj

Yes, MSP is referring to the small museum that commemorates the founding of the party in Shanghai. Unless you know something of history though, it won't seem very impressive.