Pulsating Shanghai

Shanghai, Hu for short, literally meaning “Above the Sea”, is an international metropolis and the most populous city in the People’s Republic of China, drawing more and more attention from all over the world. Situated on the Huangpu river, a tributary of Yangtze river, where the Yangtze River empties into the East China Sea. Shanghai serves as a global city, exerting influence over commerce, finance, culture, art, fashion, research, entertainment, international trade, science and technology center of East China. Also it is a popular tourist destination, visitors can sense the pulsating development of modern China. In addition to its modernization, Shanghai's multicultural flair endows Shanghai with a unique glamour. Shanghai oozes an atmosphere of vitality, and a dynamic which can rival New York in the United States and Paris of France in terms of modernity. Shanghai is the  largest 'city proper’ in the world followed by Mumbai. Here, one finds a perfect blend of cultures, the modern and the traditional , and the western and the oriental. New skyscrapers and old Shikumen lanes together draw the skyline of Shanghai. Western customs and Chinese traditions intertwined, form Shanghai's culture, making a visitor's stay truly memorable. Shanghai city centre consists of two main regions, Pudong and Puxi, being separated by the winding Huangpu River. Around Shanghai, many striking landmarks dominate areas of the city and are hard to miss. Those particularly appealing to tourists include the Oriental Pearl TV Tower - one of the tallest structures in the whole of Asia and featuring an exhibition area on the ground level and Jinmao Tower - China's highest building, offering superb views of the city from its 88th-floor observation deck.

 

Some General Information

Country : People’s Republic of China

Official Language : Mandarin Chinese

Religion : Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism

Currency : Renminbi (RMB / CNY)

Time Zone : + 8 hours GMT

Temperature : Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate and experiences four distinct seasons. In winter, cold northerly winds from Siberia can cause night temperatures to drop below freezing. Summers are hot and humid though temperatures rarely exceed 35°C, occasional downpours or freak thunderstorms can be expected. The city is also susceptible to typhoons in summer.

Sightseeing : Shanghai is fun to tour. Some sights that must be visited are The Bund and City Gold Temple, Oriental Pearl Tower, Yuyan Garden, Jinmao Tower, Aquaria 21 Shanghai, Dino Neach, Fuxing park, Jinjiang Amusement park, Shanghai Botanical Garden, Temple of the town God and lots more to do.

 

Getting There

Shanghai is one of China's main travel hubs and getting in from pretty much anywhere is easy. Shanghai has two main airports, with Pudong the main international gateway and Hongqiao serving mostly domestic flights, so be sure to check which one your flight is leaving from. Transfer between the two takes about 1 hour by taxi or nearly 2 hours by metro. Pudong airport is one of several airports serving destinations to Taiwan.

Pudong International Airport (PVG)

A modern facility, which only opened in 1999 to become Shanghai's primary international airport, Pudong is 40 km east of the city. It has become a significant hub for both Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, who operate Asian, European and transatlantic flights. Arrivals are on the first floor and departures are on the third. The Ramada Pudong Airport Hotel is situated on-site at the airport and provides facilities for both companies and individual business travellers. The airport has all the features expected to be found in a major international hub. There are 2 gigantic terminals and a free shuttle bus service connects the 2. The main departures areas at the airport contain a selection of shops and places to eat. For the best selection of shops, head to the mall on the third floor, while for dining in Shanghai Pudong Airport, the Greeting Halls offer the most popular options, serving a range of cuisines. The airport has several banks, bureaux de change, as well as a post office, ATMs, telephones and Internet access. Left-luggage is available in both terminals. A lost and found office can be found between Gates 8 and 9 in International Arrivals. There are baby change/feeding rooms. There is a pharmacy in the shopping mall, on the third floor, and nursing rooms in both terminals. Transit beds are available on an hourly basis. There are disabled toilets as well as lifts and ramps to provide easy access for disabled travellers. Passengers requiring wheelchairs and special assistance should inform their airline prior to travel. Depending on your final destination, it may be the quickest thing to do -  use the Maglev train. Maglev trains are magnetic levitation trains and one of the fastest in the world. The Maglev station is between Terminals 1 and 2 along the second floor walkway that connects them. Note that between the baggage claim and the Maglev station, people may tell you the Maglev is "broken" or "shut down because of weather" but they may just be trying to get you into their taxi. Pay them no attention, upon arriving at the station you will see the trains are running.

Address : Shanghai PuDong International Airport

Pudong New Area, 900 Qihang Road, Shanghai 201202, China

Tel : (021) 9608 1388 (flight information only) or 3848 4500

Website : http://www.shanghaiairport.com

 

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

Being the first civilian airport in Shanghai, Hongqiao International Airport is more than eighty years old. After a series of renovations it has become one of the three international air transit centers in China. 91 airlines currently fly from the airport to both domestic and international cities. Shanghai’s Hongqiao, serves domestic flights, the only exceptions being Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei. It is situated in the western outskirts of Shanghai, about 13 kilometres from downtown area. Terminal 1 has VIP lounges, waiting halls, baggage transfer belts. Terminal 2 was completed and ready for use only in March 2010. Hongqiao Airport has its runways in the middle and terminal buildings on two sides. It is a waste of time to walk from one to another if you go to the wrong terminal. There are free shuttle buses running between terminals. The shuttle bus runs every a few minutes and it takes 15 minutes between T1 and T2.

Address : Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

200 Yingbin 2 Road, Shanghai, China

Tel: (021) 5260 4620 or 6268 8899

Website: www.shanghaiairport.com

 

Tourist Information

The main travel agencies and 'Service Centres' around Shanghai are able to book flights, train tickets and assist with finding available accommodation. Particularly helpful is the Nanjing Donglu Tourist Office situated along Nanjing Donglu, where metro maps can be found in many different languages. Here are some useful contact details.

Tourist Hotline - Shanghai, China, CN
Tel: +86 021 6252 0000 (English language service)

Shanghai Tourist Information Centres

Nanjing Donglu Tourist Office: 561 Nanjing Donglu, Shanghai, China, CN
Tel: +86 021 5353 1117

Jiujiaochang Lu Tourist Office: Jiujiaochang Lu (close to the Temple of the Gods), Shanghai, China, CN
Tel: +86 021 6355 5032

Hongqiao Airport Kiosk: Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai, China, CN

 

Travel Tips

1. To prevent the possibility of spoiling your trip to Shanghai with diarrhoea or even sickness, never drink the tap water. It is worth considering that tap water may be present in uncooked foods and drinks, such as watered-down fruit drinks, ice cubes or salads. Tap water in Shanghai is only safe to drink after boiling or other effective forms of sterilisation.

2. Shanghai is full of people looking to make a quick buck. The most common scam involves people persuading you to go with them for a tea ceremony, which is often so pleasant until several hundred dollars appear on your credit-card bill. "Art students" who pressure you into buying work is another common scam. Avoiding such scams is as easy as refusing all unsolicited services—be it from taxi or pedicab drivers, tour guides, or potential "friends."

3. Shanghai traffic is as crazy as it looks. Crossing streets can be an extreme sport. Drivers rarely give pedestrians the right-of-way and don't even look for pedestrians when making a right turn on a red light. Cyclists have less power but are just as aggressive.

4. Shanghai's severely polluted air can bring on, or aggravate, respiratory problems. If you have asthma, take the cue from locals, who wear surgical masks, a scarf or bandana as protection.

5. Distribute your cash, credit cards, IDs, and other valuables between a deep front pocket, an inside jacket or vest pocket, and a hidden money pouch. Don't reach for the money pouch once you're in public.