Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Shanghai - October 2011
I visited Shanghai for 4 days. While I did write a detailed itinerary I'm not going to share it because Shanghai is relatively easy to get around in. A 25 RMB (US$ 4) taxi ride will get you half-way across the city, although if you don't speak any Mandarin / Shanghainese you will get along fine with the Metro trains. All the stations have English signage.
Also note, when using Google Maps, the road map and the satellite imagery are misaligned (as will be your placemarks) due to Chinese government restrictions. For English translations "Road" and "Lu" are equivalent, and so are "People's" and "Renmin", also "Nanjing", "NJ" and "Nanking", and "Zhong" means "Middle". You will find many inconsistencies between phonetic, literal, and popular translations of place names.
Here is a rundown of the places I visited (prices in RMB):
People's (Renmin) Park area
The park itself is not spectacular, and for those looking for fresh air, you will find lots of smokers. Around the park edges are the Shanghai Art Museum 上海美術舘 and Shanghai Museum. Both close at about 4 or 5pm.
When we went to the Shanghai Art Museum it was free entry but most of the museum was closed. I don't know if this was due to a lack of funds or some renovation. A small room showcased works by Chinese artists, and an upper gallery had an exhibition of some contemporary foreign artists.
To the South of the park is People's Square and the Shanghai Museum which is more modern and extensive. It has several floors divided into several themes, as well as a visiting exhibition. You will find calligraphy, paintings, furniture, ceramics, fabrics, sculpture, reconstructed scenes, and antiques among other things.
Also in the area is MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Shanghai which we didn't visit because it was showing an exhibition of Pixar Animation.
East of People's Park is a shopping area.
Raffles City 來福士廣場 is a modern style mall. In fact, there are many of the same chains stores for fashion you will find in Hong Kong. It strikes me that Shanghai people don't really need to go to Hong Kong for shopping.
Nanjing East Road area
NJ East Road is quite long, but the pedestrian only section starts from the East side of People's park on Xizang Zhong Lu.
Yong’an (Wing On) Department Store has a long history of operation and sells some traditional retail products and food stuffs.
The Double Happiness shop 紅雙喜 sells some Chinese sporting goods as well as the competition standard ping pong balls and badminton shuttle cocks.
There is a dwindling Expo souvenir shop selling items leftover from the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
The Scissors Shop 張小泉刀剪總店 sells locally produced traditional scissors and knives. Perhaps interesting only for a look unless you want to spend some serious cash.
Yes, there is an Apple Store.
Additionally you will find some fashion chain stores such as GAP, GAP Kids, ZARA, Uniqlo, and the local chain called 'Me & City'.
The Bund Area
The Bund is the famous waterfront area with historic buildings using Western architecture. This area is mostly for sightseeing although I guess you can get some fine dining and fancy drinks.
If you continue East from Nanjing East Road you will reach The Bund. You will pass the Peace Hotel, which is where Christian Bale sent morse code by torch light which 'started' the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in the Spielberg 80's movie classic "Empire of the Sun".
It is now 2013 October: I was going the write about the different areas in Shanghai but now two years have passed and it has escaped my memory how to organize this post.
The album is here.
Also note, when using Google Maps, the road map and the satellite imagery are misaligned (as will be your placemarks) due to Chinese government restrictions. For English translations "Road" and "Lu" are equivalent, and so are "People's" and "Renmin", also "Nanjing", "NJ" and "Nanking", and "Zhong" means "Middle". You will find many inconsistencies between phonetic, literal, and popular translations of place names.
Here is a rundown of the places I visited (prices in RMB):
People's (Renmin) Park area
The park itself is not spectacular, and for those looking for fresh air, you will find lots of smokers. Around the park edges are the Shanghai Art Museum 上海美術舘 and Shanghai Museum. Both close at about 4 or 5pm.
When we went to the Shanghai Art Museum it was free entry but most of the museum was closed. I don't know if this was due to a lack of funds or some renovation. A small room showcased works by Chinese artists, and an upper gallery had an exhibition of some contemporary foreign artists.
To the South of the park is People's Square and the Shanghai Museum which is more modern and extensive. It has several floors divided into several themes, as well as a visiting exhibition. You will find calligraphy, paintings, furniture, ceramics, fabrics, sculpture, reconstructed scenes, and antiques among other things.
Also in the area is MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Shanghai which we didn't visit because it was showing an exhibition of Pixar Animation.
East of People's Park is a shopping area.
Raffles City 來福士廣場 is a modern style mall. In fact, there are many of the same chains stores for fashion you will find in Hong Kong. It strikes me that Shanghai people don't really need to go to Hong Kong for shopping.
Nanjing East Road area
NJ East Road is quite long, but the pedestrian only section starts from the East side of People's park on Xizang Zhong Lu.
Yong’an (Wing On) Department Store has a long history of operation and sells some traditional retail products and food stuffs.
The Double Happiness shop 紅雙喜 sells some Chinese sporting goods as well as the competition standard ping pong balls and badminton shuttle cocks.
There is a dwindling Expo souvenir shop selling items leftover from the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
The Scissors Shop 張小泉刀剪總店 sells locally produced traditional scissors and knives. Perhaps interesting only for a look unless you want to spend some serious cash.
Yes, there is an Apple Store.
Additionally you will find some fashion chain stores such as GAP, GAP Kids, ZARA, Uniqlo, and the local chain called 'Me & City'.
The Bund Area
The Bund is the famous waterfront area with historic buildings using Western architecture. This area is mostly for sightseeing although I guess you can get some fine dining and fancy drinks.
If you continue East from Nanjing East Road you will reach The Bund. You will pass the Peace Hotel, which is where Christian Bale sent morse code by torch light which 'started' the Japanese invasion of Shanghai in the Spielberg 80's movie classic "Empire of the Sun".
It is now 2013 October: I was going the write about the different areas in Shanghai but now two years have passed and it has escaped my memory how to organize this post.
The album is here.
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