Shanghai

[genie47]

Appears I'll be going to Shanghai for a week end of this month with some colleagues.

At least can prepare me for what to expect when I have to go there alone in November.

Means gotta settle a data sim fast.

I intend to get a data sim and then put it in my mifi device.

Is it feasible?

You have to deal with the GFW of China. A lot of services will not be available. Most notably Google and FB.

So comes the next decision. Go with their local SIM and subscribe to a VPN or use our current mobile provider's data roaming which is expensive but is not blocked by the GFW.

 

[beanstalk6]

Thanks for the info and advice!

Try to convince yourself that they have licked the problem with fake bottled water.

 

[lcpteck]

In regards to data SIMs, if your roaming plan has reasonable rates which you can accept, then use that so you don't have to deal with the hassle.

For my StarHub roaming plan (RoamEasy I think), it's $10 per day for 100MB, which is more than I could use in a day.

 

[Eviltrap]

Just came back to Singapore from Shanghai on Saturday morning. Took the overnight flight.

Came back with a cold. Is it necessary to get flu jabs when going to Shanghai?

This trip didn't get to explore the city. Was staying in Holiday Inn Kangqiao, so every day is go office, and then go back hotel watch Star Movies.

Also Skype with family using the hotel's wifi, and surf FB and use google with a roaming SIM card I bought from Critical888.

Next trip gonna stay in the city. So will use those times to explore.

Learned new things for this trip. The terms they use are vastly different from us, so will need some getting used to. Plus my mandarin not very good, so the 2 way communication can be problematic too.

Next trip gonna be 3 weeks. Hope can survive well.

 

[lcpteck]

It's good to travel to China, really improves your mandarin. Taiwan too.

 

[natlow]

Anyone been to watch the Shanghai Circus World? Is it good? Which is the best way to get tickets? Thanks.

 

[dilphinus]

Anyone been to watch the Shanghai Circus World? Is it good? Which is the best way to get tickets? Thanks.

I went this year. It's good. Not as good as cirque du soleil though.

You can buy the tickets online, at the box office, or there'll be people selling (at a cheaper price) not official at the box office too. They will bring you to the entrance ensure the tickets are valid before you pass them the cash. I bought from the box office as the seating was better.

ERA Aerobatics

 

[natlow]

I went this year. It's good. Not as good as cirque du soleil though.

You can buy the tickets online, at the box office, or there'll be people selling (at a cheaper price) not official at the box office too. They will bring you to the entrance ensure the tickets are valid before you pass them the cash. I bought from the box office as the seating was better.

ERA Aerobatics

Thanks for the inputs and nice pics. I will go for the show then and skip the Huangpu river cruise.

 

[triplynr]

Appears I'll be going to Shanghai for a week end of this month with some colleagues.

At least can prepare me for what to expect when I have to go there alone in November.

Means gotta settle a data sim fast.

I intend to get a data sim and then put it in my mifi device.

Is it feasible?

Definitely. I bought a data-only SIM card from a street vendor; my mandarin is very poor so I had a hard time asking and making sure the shop owner gave me what I wanted. He activated everything for me and put it into my phone. Definitely made life a lot easier.

 

[bin8lee]

It's good to travel to China, really improves your mandarin. Taiwan too.

ya~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[genie47]

In regards to data SIMs, if your roaming plan has reasonable rates which you can accept, then use that so you don't have to deal with the hassle.

For my StarHub roaming plan (RoamEasy I think), it's $10 per day for 100MB, which is more than I could use in a day.

Well, $10 a day is bad if you were there for 16 days like me.

I bought the Cross Border King SIM card. No need VPN. Bought SGD35. Reload another SGD35. Can use in Macau, HK and Taiwan.

 

[blueparadise14]

Anybody tried ordering stuff from Taobao and had it shipped to their hotel? How long is the lead time? And do you only order from places with "Shanghai" marked as the location?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Hisashiburi]

Ive ordered from taobao to a shipping warehouse in China and the delivery times were fast.
Only 2 days on average n they came from different parts of China.

Their postal service seems quite efficient but i do not know how they would deliver to a hotel.

 

[genie47]

Ive ordered from taobao to a shipping warehouse in China and the delivery times were fast.
Only 2 days on average n they came from different parts of China.

Their postal service seems quite efficient but i do not know how they would deliver to a hotel.

Should put in address as:

Hold for you name (hotel reservation number: xxxxxx)
Address of hotel

I think it should work. Post or delivery companies most important need to know address not person. Hotel only want to know name of person and his reservation number.

Put together and it should work.

 

[blueparadise14]

Sharing my experience... It is possible to get Taobao delivery to your hotel. Put your name as you used for your hotel reservation. The hotel would check the delivery against the reservation system before accepting the parcel. It may be helpful to put your room number on the address, which I did.

One important point to note is the delivery time. If you are ordering during or after peak sales period, the delivery time may take up to 5 or more days. Out of about 12 items, only 2 came within 2 days. Hence, if you're not staying for too long, you may not receive the parcel before you check out.

 

[hungryfriend]

any recommended one day itinerary for hangzhou?
i only have one day meaning i can get the early train to hz from shanghai and then back to shanghai at night

any must see to cover in one day?

 

[Hisashiburi]

Hangzhou, should go to West Lake.
There are pavilions all around the lake n can be quite scenic.
There are also boat rides on the lake.

If u are into tea, u can visit the longjing tea plantations nearby.

I think there is a high speed train now between Shanghai n Hangzhou.
Maybe u can take that train to save on travel time.

 

[beanstalk6]

For Hangzhou, you must not miss the West Lake. http://www.chinahighlights.com/hangzhou/attraction/ten-scenes-of-west-lake.htm
Don't try to walk the entire perimeter of the lake- you won't have enough time. Focus on the west shore and perhaps cross the causeway in either direction. The north end of the Su Causeway is where the Yue Fei temple is. The south end is where the Nanping Evening Bell is. You can have tea and while your time away in any of the teahouses on the west bank. If you still have time, you can visit Liuhe Pagoda and the Longjing tea plantations outside of Hangzhou, but this will require you to have a chartered taxi. Otherwise visit any of the silk or fabric markets in town.
The earliest train from Hangzhou sets off at 6:30am and it takes about an hour to Hangzhou.

 

[hungryfriend]

For Hangzhou, you must not miss the West Lake. http://www.chinahighlights.com/hangzhou/attraction/ten-scenes-of-west-lake.htm
Don't try to walk the entire perimeter of the lake- you won't have enough time. Focus on the west shore and perhaps cross the causeway in either direction. The north end of the Su Causeway is where the Yue Fei temple is. The south end is where the Nanping Evening Bell is. You can have tea and while your time away in any of the teahouses on the west bank. If you still have time, you can visit Liuhe Pagoda and the Longjing tea plantations outside of Hangzhou, but this will require you to have a chartered taxi. Otherwise visit any of the silk or fabric markets in town.
The earliest train from Hangzhou sets off at 6:30am and it takes about an hour to Hangzhou.

i see that the west side seems more interesting, especially the feilai feng, anything in the east side?
i heard can ride bicycle? shld be able to speed up for me?

 

[beanstalk6]

i see that the west side seems more interesting, especially the feilai feng, anything in the east side?
i heard can ride bicycle? shld be able to speed up for me?

Not so convenient to cycle if you want to be close to the action. It will be inconvenient to cycle on some paths especially with the crowds. You will also have to return the bicycle to where you rented it. Reduces the flexibility that you have, since at some points you may want to wander away from the main path or take a boat ride. I visited Lingyin temple and the Feilai peak. Need time. Leifeng Pagoda is a modern re-construction, although it is on the same site and has its links to the Legend of the White Snake. I preferred LiuHe Pagoda which is the setting for Qianlong's kidnapping in The Book And The Sword.