111op

Hi, I've been really lazy in terms of doing homework. How's the Four Seasons in Shanghai location-wise?

http://www.fourseasons.com/shanghai/..._to_hotel.html

Would staying in the Bund be better?

I've not decided what to do yet as I've not really done the research, but this hotel is a possibility because of some specials.

Thanks.

rkkwan

It's NW of downtown Shanghai, but it's still very central. Many of the top hotels are there (or in Pudong). Unless you have special reasons to stay in the Bund, I don't see that'd be better.

111op

So basically in terms of shopping and eating, Four Seasons is fine? As I said, I've no idea really -- I guess I've heard of M on the Bund (assume that's on the Bund), but that's about it.

Thanks again.

Maybe the pendulum is swinging towards no Beijing again. Three nights for two nights at Four Seasons doesn't seem that unappealing.

111op

By the way, do you know how long the walk is to the Bund and to other areas of interest?

I think that the hotel web page says 10 minutes to Shanghai Museum.

rkkwan

Shanghai is a large city, and I don't think you should be thinking of walking to sites too much. I think it's about 4km or 2miles from the Bund to the Four Seasons. It'll be a pretty long walk with dozens of streets to cross. Or I think 2 subway stops plus some more walking.

BTW, there are many areas of Shanghai with shops and restaurants. In fact, I believe the most are in the old French Concession along Huai Hai Road, which is not too far from the Four Seasons.

111op

Thanks. For whatever reason I seem to be fixated on the Bund. But I bought Time Out Shanghai yesterday and I'll take a look over the weekend so I can get a better sense of the parts of the city.

Neil_Oz

For the record my city map shows that there's a Shimen Yi Lu (Shimen 1 Road*, which the Four Seasons appears to be on). The next stop heading east is Renmingongyuan, at Renmin Park near the art museum; and the next is at Henan Zhong Lu (Henan Central Road*), only a few blocks from the Bund.

(* translation not guaranteed!)

As rkkwan indicates, it's a fair hike by Shanks' Pony. I do recommend doing some walking in Shanghai - always the best way to get the feel of a place - but it can be time-consuming.

Stevan

We are recently back from Shanghai. Stayed 5 days at a wonderful low rise [2 storied high] hotel Rui Jin in the French Concession. It was set in acres of beautiful gardens in the middle of Shanghai.They give you a card with Chinese characters of all the places you may want to go to.
Taxis are very cheap. We taxied and walked all around the French Concession and down to the Bund.

Five days was not enough. Pudong is ghastly unless you like acres of characterless high rises. The sex museum there tho is great. Get a train/tram affair which goes under the river through a tunnel full of whizzing colour and fibre optics. Amazing.

Make sure you have the name of the hotel in Chinese characters before you get into your first taxi or you will not be understood.

We also hired a driver for the day with another couple we met at the hotel and went to one of the canal villages. Not expensive.

111op

Thanks. In the end I asked my mom to pick, and she wants to go to Beijing. So it looks like we'll split the four days between the two cities. A lot of traveling, I know, but then, I suspect that we'll return to China again at one point.