shanghai - 上海
tourism
1. maglev train - fastest train in the world between pudong airport (pvg) to city - goes to 430 km/h - not an unbelievable experience but worth saying u did it - 50 rmb one way
2. the bund + pearl tower - symbol of shanghai
3. people square + nanjing east road - shanghai's version of times squares
4. taikang road - nice shops and bars
5. 50 moganshan road - modern art district
6. moca - museum of contemporary art - http://www.mocashanghai.org/
hostels
1. mingtown hiker international - run down backpacker hostel with a real cool alternative vibe - http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-shanghai-hiker-yh-024607.en.htm (favorite)
2. le tour traveler's rest youth hostel - nice,clean and decent hostel in a great location and nice roof top terrace - http://www.letourshanghai.com/ (red link one on the right)
shopping
1. eye glass market - great place to get a second pair of eyeglasses - medical check + pair construction made in 1 hour - should cost around 100-150 rmb a pair - located on the 5th floor of a building across shanghai north train staion.
2. fake markets:
a. 580 nanjing west lu - most central market, provides a sufficient variety for the average tourist. the prices will be slightly higher
b. science and technology museum - probably the best fake market in shanghai - much larger variety - prices are low - decent setting
c. qipu lu - clothes and fashion - crazy cheap and messy but has everything (if you find the right 5 story building!)
3. fabric market - make your own suit (200 rmb) or dress(150 rmb) - 399 liujiabang road 陆家浜399号
4. antique market - don't believe that it's all original - prices are very high compared to other places in china - dongtai rd near fuxingdong rd - 东台路近复兴东路
5. painters street - most locals don't know of this street - remakes of art peices oil/paint over canvas - you can also order a specific painting to be copied for you - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/4397/painters_street_shanghai
6. yuyuan garden - has a 3 story building right north of yuyuan garden that has a great variety of small stuff to buy as presents back home
restaurants
1. noodles bull - fusion chinese - great ambiance - the 5mm noodles are real good. http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/4068/noodle_bull_shanghai
2. charmant - taiwanese - get the shaved ice dessert - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/2865/charmant_shanghai
2. harbin dumplings - hole in the wall with best dumplings i ever ordered 3-6 rmb for 6 of them - 645 jiangou lu (close to gao'an lu) 建国路645号近高安
4. di shui dong - hunan cuisine - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/2848/Di_Shui_Dong_shanghai
5. nepali kitchen - get the cheese balls - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/859/nepali_kitchen_(julu)_shanghai
6. tairyo - japanese teppanyaki - higher end all you can eat for 150 rmb - make reservations -http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/272/tairyo_teppanyaki_/_dongping_road_shanghai
7. hewei - all u can eat japanese - authentic japanese feel - make reservations - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining/japanese/has/hewei/
8. pizza togo - 18 rmb beef burrito is great deal - as long as you don't expect a real burrito - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/4685/togo_shanghai
9. punjabi - Indian - all u can eat for 85 rmb - http://www.punjabichina.com/punjabichina/
10. mountain city bbq fish - 山城烤鱼 (shanchengkaoyu) - fresh bbq fish - 186 shanxinan lu close to nanjingdong lu -山西南路186号近南京东路 (21) 63222475
11. master kang noodle shop - one of the best noodles dishes in town - 988 huaihai lu 2/F
12. blue frog - good deal - monday nights burgers are 2 for 1 (80 rmb for both), happy hour for drinks(also 2 for 1) before 8pm - http://www.bluefrog.com.cn/
13. pinnicle peak - best burger in town 78 - 88 rmb - http://www.pinnaclepeaksteakhouse.com/
14. new age veggie - best veggie place in shanghai - happycow also has bunch of other recommendations for veggie action - http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=12787
15. new york pizza- great pizza for 118 rmb (enough for 2 ppl)- http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining/pizza/has/new-york-style-pizza/
16. yuanyu42 - 原域42 - all you can eat hotpot 56 rmb per person (2 hours)- http://www.dianping.com/shop/3512506
17. lost heaven - higher-end decent priced sichuanese food - http://www.lostheaven.com.cn/
18. sea-food bbq street - great food experience with friends - shouning lu, xizangnan lu - 寿宁路靠近西藏南路
19. carls jr - best fastfood burger in shanghai- http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining/american/has/carls-jr/
20. 1221 - a bit pricey but real good food - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining/shanghai/has/1221/
and...try the street food!
bars and clubs
mainstream locations
1. anatu - bar in the lighthouse on the bund - best view in shanghai - day or night - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/3020/atanu_bar_shanghai
2. bar rouge - dance club - high-end - great view of the bund at night - http://www.bar-rouge-shanghai.com/
3. m1nt - very high-end dance club on the weekends - cool sharks - need a reservation (or nice breasts) - http://www.m1nt.com.cn/
4. mesa & manifesto - higher end fun pickup bar - http://www.mesa-manifesto.com/
5. windows - down-to-earth chain of expat sports bars with very decent prices (15 rmb a drink) - http://www.windowsbars.com/video.asp
windows scoreboard has pool tables, darts, shuffle board etc;
windows underground is a sleazier version with a larger dance floor;
windows too is something in between and more centrally located
6. constellation - high-end whiskey bar (pricey) - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/constellation-no-2/
7. zapatas- very popular dance bar and outside lounge, active almost every day of the week (wed lady's nite - free drinks) - http://zapatas-shanghai.com/
8. kiitos - quiet, secluded authentic japanese bar - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/kiitos/
9. el coctel - spanish high end bar- http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/el-coctel/
live music
1. jz club - best jazz club in shanghai - http://www.jzclub.cn/
2. yuyintang - rock concerts - http://www.yuyintang.org/
3. mao live house - alternative - http://www.maolive-sh.com/
4. shanghai oriental art center - classical music - http://en.shoac.com.cn/
5. brown sugar - higher-end dance club with live music - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/live_music/has/brown-sugar/
6. house of blues & jazz - blues and jazz house on the bund - http://www.houseofbluesandjazz.com/
7. mural - salsa nights on mondays with live band - great vibe and a lot of fun - http://www.muralbar.com/
8. beedees - local musician hangout, amatuer rock music and jam sessions - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/beedees/
alternative locations
1. shelter - underground dance club - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/3174/the_shelter_shanghai (favorite)
2. ying yang club - a very laid back and relaxed bar/cafe- http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/yin-yang/
3. c's - dive club - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/c-s-bar/
4. not me- dance bar - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/nightlife/bars/has/not-me/
5. dada - dance bar - http://www.smartshanghai.com/venue/4589/dada_shanghai
dragon club - after partying club- 6am to 9am - http://www.dragonclub.com.cn/
general perks
- baijiu - chinese white wine - 50-70% alcohol - must try
- ktv - if you like karaoke - you must experience this with a large group of local chinese
- dollar dvds - buying fake dvds for 5-7 rmb a disc- best deals are the tv series
- massages - should cost around 100-150 rmb for an oil massage - expensive compared to the rest of china - but higher quality places
- tea cup + tea - check out a tea store and try some of the different types
- caligraphy materials - can be bought in stores on fuzhou road right off people's square
- chinese paintings
- fake watches - good immitations for 125-150 rmb a watch.
- silk
more information
1. city weekend - http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/
2. smart shanghai - http://www.smartshanghai.com/