Travel to Shanghai – Episode 609

Hear about travel to Shanghai, China as the Amateur Traveler talks to Charissa who is an American living in the city.

Carissa says, “My husband has a job here. We’ve lived here for the past 5 and a half years. I’ve had two kids while here, and they’re are in local schools, so we’ve tried to learn the culture and the language as much as we can.”

“When people come to China, they often go to Beijing and Xian, and sometimes they skip Shanghai, but I want to pitch it as a city that’s unique in China because it is so modern, not as historical as some of the other cities. It still has its share of history. It’s ultra-modern. It gives you a picture of China of the future, the Asia of the future. I really like the history of the early 20th century when it was known as the ‘Paris of the East’. It was very international at that time when the rest of China was more closed off to the west.”

Carissa starts us in the very modern district of Pudong with its skyscrapers. It includes the new area that is the usual picture of the Shanghai skyline. The iconic Pearl Tower with the ball at the top is in Pudong. In the bottom of the tower is a Shanghai History Museum which she recommends more than the tower itself. The tallest building is the Shanghai Tower.  She recommends the bar on the 80th floor of the Jin Mao Tower for a nighttime view of the city.

For the oldest, although touristy, part of the city, you can visit the Yu Gardens, which are from the Ming Dynasty. There is a well-known tea house there and lots of stores for tourists to shop in. There are also some nice restaurants in that area.

Carissa also recommends you visit a park, and her favorite is Fuxing Park. Walking around in a park in China will expose you to the local culture. You will find old women doing their exercises or children in the play areas. Nearby is one of the few areas that preserve the old Shikumen style of architecture. You can get lost in the little alleys with restaurants and art galleries.

Nearby Shanghai are some beautiful cities built around canals. These are easy to reach on high-speed trains.

Shanghai is a large city with 24 million people, but it is a very safe city. It is easy to get around on the subway or in cabs, but make sure you have the address of where you are going in Chinese. There are museums and a wild animal park. There is shopping and lots and lots of people watching in Shanghai.

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Show Notes

Shanghai
Shanghai Travel Guide
Pudong
Oriental Pearl Tower
Shanghai History Museum
Shanghai Tower
Jin Mao Tower
Shanghai World Financial Center
Shanghai Pudong Airport
Shanghai Maglev Train
Puxi
The Bund
Yu Garden
People’s Square
Nanjing Road
Shanghai French Concession
Fuxing Park
Shikumen
Tianzifiang
Tomorrow Square
DiDi
Pinyin
Three Weekend Trips from Shanghai
Zhujiajiao
Suzhou
Hangzhou
Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Botanical Garden
Soong Ching-ling Memorial Residence
Shanghai Wild Animal Park
Hengshan Road
Chongming Island
Xiaolongbao
Intrepid Travel China – Review of China Highlights Tour (Beijing, Xian, Suzhou, Shanghai)

Community

Jeff writes about Travel to Denmark – Episode 606:

Another memorable episode taking me back to my youth.  My Great-grandfather came from Denmark.  What always makes me smile is the mention of Lego Land.  In 1977, my parents would not take me to Lego Land.  We went to Rebild National Park instead.  Rebild is Denmark’s “first” national park.  It’s a memorial to Danish Americans and includes a replica of Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin.  I always felt cheated.  Needless to say, I got to Lego Land in California some 20 years later!

Patrick writes:

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Amateur Traveler Trips
Amateur Traveler Trip – 2018 – to Prague, Krakow and Budapest
Amateur Traveler Trip – 2019 – Africa, Kruger to Victoria Falls