Chinese New year is the greatest migration on earth as everyone goes home in Shanghai, those that Shanghai is home, rich enough to go somewhere else. I flew out the last "official" day before holiday last year and will do that again, felt like a empty city, amazing how different from the week before where it is mass of humanity everywhere. Like I said the greatest migration on earth happens at Chinese New Year.

The following week I visited one of the historical cities and OMG wall the wall people all celebrating the end of festival. Couldn't have been more fun packed in like sardines and looking for eats.

I am visiting Shanghai next month from the 2/12-217 so during the new year. I had heard it will be pretty quiet there (relatively). Will most of shops, restaurants, and bars be closed? I'm staying in the Doubletree in the financial area. Is it difficult to get to the bund? Is it walking distance? I'm a walker :)

Great thread!

I wouldn't say that the DoubleTree is in the financial area. It is in Pudong but it's not in Liujiazui. You are near Century Park which does have a good amount of things to do but Liujiazui is about a 5 km walk.

Having lived in Shanghai, it will be somewhat quiet for Shanghai but there will still likely be some crowds. It's a 40 day travel period for Chinese New Year. While I was there, I traveled out back to the US since it's a week holiday. The water towns may be crowded especially now that the Line 9 extension to Zhujiajiao opened a few weeks ago.

While pollution may be "better" than it has been in past years, if you're not used to it it will tax you.

Thanks for the info. I had initially planned on staying at the Hilton, I was notified they are changing to another brand so this is why I'm at the DT.

How far is the bund? Quick taxi?

Yeah, the Hilton Shanghai changed at the beginning of the year. I stayed there back in September when I visited Shanghai.

The Bund is right across the river from Liujiazui. I would go to Liujiazui, see the tall buildings up close, go along the river and take photos of The Bund then head to the Metro and pop across though you can also take a pedestrian tunnel or a taxi. The Bund area is very crowded when it comes to street traffic. If time is not of the essence, I'd just take the metro.

I can't answer to the color coating question. It took us about an hour to get the glasses, once we had chosen, I think? Maybe a little less. Certainly it's a "wait for them" issue, not like clothing where you go back later....

Pick a hotel near a sub-way, with that you are close to almost everything. Almost every subway stop at the juncture of 2 or 3 lines have lots of amenities, some more local than other. If you are close to subway taking it to line 2 and get out at East Nanjing and the Bund is easy walk. Other things like the River Old towns, the Financial Center and a visit to the top of the Financial Building are all subway reachable.

Taxi is much lower cost in China than most other places I've seen. So cheap pretty much shouldn't be a worry for most westerners for the convenience if you can manage the language issue. The quality of the car and safety of the driver is something else all together. Note, I do 40-80KM/3-4 segments a day while I'm here for the past year and half only one near death experience. If you are going to use a taxi from hotel download DiDi. Didi now has English search / input and so easy to use. The challenge is every time I've used Didi the Taxi driver always calls to ask where you are even though the navigation ap says exactly where you are, a cultural thing. At the hotel it helps to have Didi as even there you could wait for a long time for Taxi but with Didi you might only wait 5-10', I've heard some of my co-workers waiting 20' at the hotel. Also at the hotel the attendant can always help you if the taxi driver calls. Now if you are out and about getting a taxi can be a long wait, and again Didi is the way to go. Just text them you are where the ap says.

If you're talking about Transitions type coatings, I don't think those shops can do it. I broke my glasses while in China and had them done at a Red Star Optical and they had to send out to have my lenses coated.

Interesting. Didn't know about those. However, I still would think that they're not available at the Chinese eyeglasses mall. They might, however, be available at the Lenscrafters stores in Shanghai but you'll likely pay a premium for them.

Will I be able to use facetime while in Shanghai? I hope it doesn't sound like a stupid question but I'm not sure what China does or does not block.

Tinder or Bumble? I wouldn't mind finding a wife while I"m there too.

Yes, you'll be able to use FaceTime. It's how I communicated with my family back in the US each week.

Considering Grindr, Scruff, etc. all work in China, I can't see why Tinder or Bumble wouldn't work.

Duplicate

Blue light / LED blocking coating has been available at all the major eyewear malls at all the major Chinese cities for over two years. It is a longer wait as the lenses needs to be coated after cutting and before mounting.

Thanks, yes - that's what I was referring to, didn't know lenscrafter had such a great explanation. I don't mind a longer wait, but think it will still be possible to pick it up within 1-2 days? Would it decrease your bargaining room?