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Time for the train routine. Victoria Plaza Hotel concierge wrote down the name of the Hangzhou train station and instructions for the taxi driver to drop us off on the 2nd level in Chinese. That level is where the soft-seat bullet train waiting room is. On another piece of paper (also in Chinese), the name of our Shanghai hotel, address and telephone number.
HINT: Try to always do this so when your taxi driver gets lost...and he will get lost...he can use his cell phone to call for directions. We watched CCTV-9 most of the time in China, usually the only station in English. One interesting show featured Beijing taxi drivers who are attending compulsory "Taxi English" school for two-hours a day in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.
 on the Hangzhou to Shanghai bullet train
Continue reading "Training to Shanghai, China and Cheap Shopping" »
One last day in Shanghai and we headed out very early to visit "The Bund," Yu Gardens and stop by the Four Seasons to visit Lisa Low, Director of Public Relations. The United Airlines Shanghai to Chicago flight didn't leave until 4:00 pm today which gave enough time to accomplish everything...we hoped.
The Four Seasons was within walking distance and Lisa told us about a new area, Taikang Road, filled with restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. I mentioned before that there is always a new area to explore. Thanks, Lisa, and we hope to reconnect on the next trip to Shanghai and discover even more with Lisa's help. If you appreciate the finest in luxury and service, stay at The Four Seasons. And if you can't afford a luxury hotel, splurge just once and still book yourself into The Four Seasons. An island of tranquility and service. FYI: We pay our own way and all my reviews are completely unbiased. No comps for this reviewer!
Continue reading "Finishing Up Shanghai: The Four Seasons, Bund and Yu Gardens" »
I have so many favorite places in Shanghai to visit every time and then Shanghai razes another city block, erects giant skyscrapers and I can no longer find the old favorites. NOTE: Almost every guidebook, map or local information you may read is outdated as soon as it is printed! Entire city blocks change overnight. China has the manpower to bring 3,000 construction workers in from the country, build temporary housing for them, and then erect a new giant skyscraper within 4-6 months. All the information below is from a local:
- China is expected to overtake the U.S. as the world's largest economy in 10 years. (No kidding...as if a deaf, dumb, blind person couldn't figure that out.)
- A fifth of China's exports pass through Shanghai.
- China produces and consumes one-third of the world's steel. Every city visited this trip, including the countryside appears to be just one huge crane city.
 Shanghai then...
Continue reading "Dongtai Lu and Xintiandi/Xin Tian Di Tourist Information, Shanghai, China" »
The absolute latest in China's gay community is called a "murse." Usually, a huge Coach purse with fits definite requirements. It has to be large, the bigger the better- shiny and decorated and definitely a brand name. It's an epidemic in the Shanghai community and right now, if you carry a murse, you're shouting out... "I'm gay"!... But what's going to happen when this catches on with metrosexuals (you know it will) and every man carries a murse? I'm confident the forward thinking gay fashionistas of Shanghai will come up with something else.
There are also a few gay places for partying that had the greatest descriptions. Frangipani serves Fruit in a Suit, and the Red Station had a girls night out geared toward non-breeders of the female variety. What a way with words...
Continue reading "The Gay Man's "Murse" (A Purse) and Other China Favorites" »
Landed in Shanghai, took a taxi from the airport to our hotel. IMPORTANT: Don't listen to touts who offer taxi service! Exit the airport door showing "taxis," get in line and wait your turn. It should run about $21 for a 45-minute trip. There are also buses that take you to downtown Shanghai for less and the wonderful Maglev train that only takes 8 minutes. Unfortunately, it didn't stop anywhere near our hotel. You'd have to take a taxi from the end point.
My idea of heaven is ending a semi-difficult trip (or not) in a deluxe 5***** hotel and you can't ask for a hotel more wonderful than Four Seasons...the ultimate in luxury and service. What a treat to be in a hotel with people waiting to welcome us in English, toilets that flush (goodbye squat and public toilets), steaming hot water, a cushy bed with fluffy pillows, fruit in the room, and body lotion. Yes...I'm shallow... Nirvana for me and ex-Marine's idea of heaven is CNN, ESPN (to see what the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox were doing) and newspapers in English.
Shanghai city view from our room
Continue reading "In Shanghai, China For A Third Visit - Heaven...I'm In Heaven..." »
This return visit to Shanghai gave us a chance to explore some new areas and revisit favorites. There is always something new to see and do in this constantly upward-mobile and growing City. Our Shanghai guide, Billy was our best guide during the entire trip. Very savvy, great English and personable. First stop was the Shanghai Art Museum situated on the People's Square. We spent a few hours looking at the contemporary art being exhibited by famous Chinese painters and barely touched on the collection of 12,000 bronzes, ceramics, jade, furniture, minority art, etc. The Museum was definitely worth more time than we had to spend, but there was quite a bit on the touring agenda...
Lunch time and over to Dong Tai Lu and dumplings in the Yu Yuan Gardens. Billy got us a small table, ordered these little dumplings filled with meat and delicious juices, served with vinegar for dipping. Yummy...and even picky ex-Marine snarfed them down. You can watch the dumplings being made through a glass window. The cooks wrap ground pork and sort of gelatin-soup into a thin dough wrapper, resembling a ravoli. It is steamed and served to you, usually 10 at a time (very cheap), you dip the dumpling into some vinegar and bite, carefully into it. Try not to burn your mouth as it is extremely hot..not spicy...just hot
Continue reading "A Stop in Shanghai, China After The Silk Road" »
Our first visit to Shanghai in 1989 was light-years removed from this visit. At that time, you were only allowed to tour with a State Guide shepherding you around. Shopping was reserved for the "Friendship Store," and it was strictly forbidden to wander off on your own.
Cosmopolitan Shanghai 2005 was a revelation. Magnificent skyscraper after skyscraper, each architecturally different, unique making a brilliant light show in the evening....expressways....wonderful hotels and delicious restaurants....shopping malls...homes that ranged upwards to millions of US$ that could have been found in America....a surreal experience. If you have been watching Discovery Atlas on cable television, you may have seen the recent two-hour segment on China which showcased Shanghai beautifully as well as Xintiandi, recommended below.
Shanghai Map of Center
Continue reading "Shanghai Visiting and Touring" »
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