First time China trip
 

My husband and I will be going to Shanghai the end of April. We should have about seven days in country and would like recommendations on where else we should plan to visit while we are there.Do we have time to see two or three other cities and what should they be?

Roberta, <BR> <BR>If you will be going back to China often there are several alternatives. If not I'd suggest spending most of your time in Beijing with possibly a day side trip to Hangzhou or Suzhou.

Roberta, <BR> <BR>I am an American who has been living in Shanghai for 2 years. We LOVE Shanghai, and there is a lot to see and do here, but there are definitely other places you should go if you have 7 days. Are you "stuck" in Shanghai for the whole time for business? If so, you can take a day trip to Suzhou (I'd recommend that over Hangzhou), and I would HIGHLY recommend you extend your trip for at least 3 days in Beijing. <BR> <BR>Have you been to China before, are you likely to return, or will this probably be your big China trip? It would be a shame to come all the way to China and not see the Great Wall, and the Xian Warriors merit a visit, too. <BR> <BR>Not knowing your full situation, I would recommend 2-3 days in Shanghai, one night & one day in Xian, and the rest of the time in Beijing. If you want to post more details about your priorities & situation, I'd be happy to answer any other questions (hotels, sites, etc).

Thanks for the info. Michael and Andrea. We are coming for business and we don't know how flexible our schedule will be. We definitely want to get to Beijing and also heard that we should try to get to Xi-An. Andrea, what sights should we definitely see in Shanghai? We don't know when we will get a chance to go back, so we don't want to miss the important sights. We should know more about our trip next week but I am pretty sure we will not have more than 7 or 8 days. Thanks for any help and information.

We were in Shanghai in October, the Shanghai Museum is a definite "must see"! I would return to Shanghai in a heartbeat. Also go to the Children's Palace and the acrobat show, both wonderful. Walk along The Bund and Nanjing road, great experience. The ATM at HSBC Bank on The Bund is excellent, has its own guard, you feel very safe! Have fun!

I agree with Laurie that Shanghai Museum is "must see". Other suggestions are walking alone the Bund at night, have a view at observatory tower of Pearl TV Tower or Hyatt Hotel. Window shopping at Yuyuan and Shanghai Old Street.

I agree with both of the above poster's suggestions. A few more: <BR> <BR>* For acrobats, be sure to go to the show at the Lyceum, a wonderful art deco building from the decadent halcion days of Shanghai <BR> <BR>* You need at least 2 trips to the Bund. For the night excursion to see the lights, the best way to do this is to make a dinner reservation for 8:30 or 9 at one of Shanghai's best restaurants, M on the Bund - if it's warm enough, ask for a table on the patio - it looks out onto the Bund and is STUNNING). But DON'T MISS an early morning excursion to the Bund (6:30 a.m.) - you will find hundreds of Chinese people in small groups doing Tai Chi, ballroom dancing, fan dancing, etc. It's fun to watch, or even join in, as my parents and I did. <BR> <BR>* Nanjing road at night - hundreds of lights and a feast for the eyes <BR> <BR>OK, OK, this is reminding me that I have always been meaning to put together a serious trip report for Shanghai. I promise to do so within the next couple of weeks and I'll post here!

You just won't believe Shanghai. If you have been to New York, it's just like that but Chinese. <BR> <BR>Want to make some $ to fund your vaccation? Bring one extra duffle bag folded in your luggage. Go to the open air market just north of the Bund and look the for the ties. 100% silk ties for a dollar. Yup, that's US $1, or a dozen for $10. Buy about $300 worth, take the duffle bag home, I gurantee you'll be able to sell them at your work or your husbands work for $5-10 apiece. <BR> <BR>We bought a few dozen and gave them out as gifts/souveniers and the folks that didn't get one were trying to offer us $5 or $10 for one. I wish I had bought a thousand. Speak of the Devil, I'm wearing one right now while I type this at work. <BR> <BR>We kept hearing all the Westerners say, "This is communist China?" Communist government yes, but definately a capitalist population.

Definitely take in an acrobat show while in China...one of the highlights of my trip.

For a fantastic view of the Bund and the Huang Pu river at night (the old 'SS Oriana' is moored and illuminated in the river below) take an evening trip to the top of the 88 storey Jing Mao towers in Pudong (on the opposite bank from the bund). From the observation level you can also look down the centre of the building some twenty something floors down into the reception area of the Grand Hyatt . Incredible. Then get the local ferry back across the river for a gentle stroll along the Bund. The atmosphere is magic ! <BR>Another place to visit is the Peace Hotel (corner of Nanjing Road and the Bund. They have a Jazz band, and also a rooftop café for a great panoramic view of the Bund; the river traffic, and the futuristic skyline of Pudong opposite. <BR>Enjoy your visit.