Shanghai next month?
Jan 5th, 2007, 11:15 AM
#1
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Shanghai next month?
I am thinking of joining my husband on a business trip to Shanghai. Although we lived in Asia for awhile, I never made it to Shanghai, unfortunately. Since I would have to make many arrangements for our children, etc., I am wondering if it will be worth the long trip in the winter??
Jan 5th, 2007, 12:24 PM
#3
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Winter is pretty mild in Shanghai, compared to some parts of China.
Keep in mind that Chinese New Year is Feb 18, 2007. Some places may be closed, and it may seem like all 1.3 billion people are at the train station.
Keep in mind that Chinese New Year is Feb 18, 2007. Some places may be closed, and it may seem like all 1.3 billion people are at the train station.
Jan 7th, 2007, 08:37 AM
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Thanks for your replies-and encouragement! You are probably right; I should just try to make it work!
We would leave the end of January and be back in early Feb, so it's a quick trip, maybe a week. We lived in Hong Kong for a couple years, but I really haven't seen much of China since I usually stayed home with the children.
My concerns are: leaving our school age children for a week, the length of the plane trip from the East Coast(usually we only had to fly to from the West Coast of the US, and it is "only" 15 hours, rather than 20 plus hours) and jet-lag, weather. We are no longer accustomed to cold (under 40 degrees Farenheit) weather!
We would leave the end of January and be back in early Feb, so it's a quick trip, maybe a week. We lived in Hong Kong for a couple years, but I really haven't seen much of China since I usually stayed home with the children.
My concerns are: leaving our school age children for a week, the length of the plane trip from the East Coast(usually we only had to fly to from the West Coast of the US, and it is "only" 15 hours, rather than 20 plus hours) and jet-lag, weather. We are no longer accustomed to cold (under 40 degrees Farenheit) weather!
Jan 8th, 2007, 07:18 PM
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While I am not a huge fan of Shanghai, I certainly wouldn’t turn down an essentially “free” week there, esp as you have never been. It has some fantastic modern architecture (I call it the Jetson’s city), an excellent museum, the “preserved” Xiantiandi area, some wonderful restaurants, good shopping, and you could go to the ancient silk city of Suzhou for a day or overnight. It has some bad air pollution and can be cold, but if you are dressed for it, is certainly bearable, as you aren’t going to be outdoors for a whole lot of it beyond walking along the Bund and some of the few remaining old areas.
If you have time you could also get to Beijing for a few days if you have not bee there, where there is a ton of stuff to do and where there would be virtually no crowds in winter and pre-Chinese New Year.
You could also stop over in Hong Kong just to see it again and of course for the great Jan weather (70s and sunny today).
I think your kids might actually be OK with your being gone for a week...jet lag can be made much more palatable by (i) business class seats and (ii) massages at any of the spas in any of the hotels in Shanghai.
If you have time you could also get to Beijing for a few days if you have not bee there, where there is a ton of stuff to do and where there would be virtually no crowds in winter and pre-Chinese New Year.
You could also stop over in Hong Kong just to see it again and of course for the great Jan weather (70s and sunny today).
I think your kids might actually be OK with your being gone for a week...jet lag can be made much more palatable by (i) business class seats and (ii) massages at any of the spas in any of the hotels in Shanghai.
Jan 9th, 2007, 11:06 PM
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The flight is a long one, to be certain. If this is an option, business class makes it tolerable.
Shanghai is a very modern city, getting more like Hong Kong each day. It would be a shame if you came all the way to China and could only see Shanghai.
Suggestions if you do decide make the trip:
*Suzhou is just an hour away by train.
*Yuyuan - great market for Chinese-style gifts, highly recommended
*An evening walk on the Bund (on the Pudong side). It is MUCH less crowded here any you will not be constantly pestered by people trying to sell you their junk. You also get the great views of the old English buildings on the other side of the river.
Have your husband mention to the company he is planning to visit in China that you are joining him. It may seem strange to mention this, but often the companies in China will provide an individual escort for foreign guests (like you) while your husband is working to accompany you around the city, help with language, etc.
Avoid the time around Chinese New Year if at all possible.
Best of Luck!
Shanghai is a very modern city, getting more like Hong Kong each day. It would be a shame if you came all the way to China and could only see Shanghai.
Suggestions if you do decide make the trip:
*Suzhou is just an hour away by train.
*Yuyuan - great market for Chinese-style gifts, highly recommended
*An evening walk on the Bund (on the Pudong side). It is MUCH less crowded here any you will not be constantly pestered by people trying to sell you their junk. You also get the great views of the old English buildings on the other side of the river.
Have your husband mention to the company he is planning to visit in China that you are joining him. It may seem strange to mention this, but often the companies in China will provide an individual escort for foreign guests (like you) while your husband is working to accompany you around the city, help with language, etc.
Avoid the time around Chinese New Year if at all possible.
Best of Luck!
Jan 9th, 2007, 11:40 PM
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If you have not already done so, you will need to obtain a PRC visa. You will need to arrange for this pronto, as it takes some time to process.
You can find downloadable forms on the Chinese Embassy website at www.china-embassy.org. On the main page, click on "Visa and Passport" on the left, and read and follow the various instructions. You want a tourist visa, which is an L visa. You have to bring the application in person to the embassy in Washington or the nearest consulate to you (cities are below), you can also have someone else bring it for you, i.e. you can pay an agent who specializes in obtaining visas to bring the application to the embassy or consulate. The embassy/consulate will then mail your passport back to you with the visa attached, or you can go back and collect it after the requisite number of days.
Chinese Embassy
2201 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202/338-6688)
Consulates General: Chicago (312/803-0098), Houston (713/524-4311), Los Angeles (213/807-8018), New York (212/330-7409) or San Francisco (415/563-4857).
You can find downloadable forms on the Chinese Embassy website at www.china-embassy.org. On the main page, click on "Visa and Passport" on the left, and read and follow the various instructions. You want a tourist visa, which is an L visa. You have to bring the application in person to the embassy in Washington or the nearest consulate to you (cities are below), you can also have someone else bring it for you, i.e. you can pay an agent who specializes in obtaining visas to bring the application to the embassy or consulate. The embassy/consulate will then mail your passport back to you with the visa attached, or you can go back and collect it after the requisite number of days.
Chinese Embassy
2201 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202/338-6688)
Consulates General: Chicago (312/803-0098), Houston (713/524-4311), Los Angeles (213/807-8018), New York (212/330-7409) or San Francisco (415/563-4857).
Jan 10th, 2007, 06:03 AM
#8
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Thanks Cicerone,
I can't believe I didn't think about the Visa issue; when we lived in Hong Kong, as you well know, it was simple to get a Visa quickly but I haven't been back since we left last June after two years. We now live in Atlanta so it may be difficult to obtain a China Visa on short notice! Atlanta is no Hong Kong, I'm afraid, though we do have lovely blue skies here.
Your advice is absolutely priceless and dead-on, Cicerone. I have read your posts before and you are always amazingly articulate and helpful. If I am able to go this time, I would love to see Suzhou and that would be something I could do even if my husband has to work most of the time.
However, since the cost of a business class ticket would be 5-7,000 and we can only be there a week, (plus two full travel days) I am beginning to think it may be best to wait for another time when we could take extra time to explore some other cities, or visit Tokyo on the way.
Baaj: Thank you also for your excellent advice and ideas. I'm sure my husband's firm would provide help if we ask and I might not have thought of it had you not suggest it. Hopefully, I'll be able to get to Shanghai (and Beijing) sometime soon, and use your advice, even if it doesn't work out for this month.
Thank you so much!
I can't believe I didn't think about the Visa issue; when we lived in Hong Kong, as you well know, it was simple to get a Visa quickly but I haven't been back since we left last June after two years. We now live in Atlanta so it may be difficult to obtain a China Visa on short notice! Atlanta is no Hong Kong, I'm afraid, though we do have lovely blue skies here.
Your advice is absolutely priceless and dead-on, Cicerone. I have read your posts before and you are always amazingly articulate and helpful. If I am able to go this time, I would love to see Suzhou and that would be something I could do even if my husband has to work most of the time.
However, since the cost of a business class ticket would be 5-7,000 and we can only be there a week, (plus two full travel days) I am beginning to think it may be best to wait for another time when we could take extra time to explore some other cities, or visit Tokyo on the way.
Baaj: Thank you also for your excellent advice and ideas. I'm sure my husband's firm would provide help if we ask and I might not have thought of it had you not suggest it. Hopefully, I'll be able to get to Shanghai (and Beijing) sometime soon, and use your advice, even if it doesn't work out for this month.
Thank you so much!
Jan 10th, 2007, 02:08 PM
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dlai: Excellent news! If you want to save, you can buy an econ ticket and take turns sleeping in busi class if you don't mind not sitting together for the entire trip.
Happy travels and let us know your experiences.
Happy travels and let us know your experiences.
