Two days in Shanghai

Shanghai is most populous city in China. It is also important destination for Chinese domestic tourism. There are also many foreign tourists and workers from overseas visible through the city. Shanghai has big regional airport where can fly from many cities in Asia (Beijing airport has more international connections). Other airports with easy access to Shanghai are Nanjing and Hangzhou.

City is extremely huge. Most densely populated area is circled by line 4. Other areas are being built up and still waiting for people to settle from inside China to Shanghai.

Major attractions in city are The Bund, Yuyuan garden, Shanghai Zoo (panda lives there), city's parks (try out iBoats in Centry park - highly recommended) and you (if you enjoy attention)! As far as I know tourist offices are located in Shanghai South railway station, Nanjing road, under Bund etc. There can get free English map in South railway station tourist office, which is pretty good.


Photo: When entering Shanghai International Airport, visitors are greeted with words LOVE in many languages. It very sweet!

Immigration to China is straight forward, because access is only with visas. Right side of immigration card need to be retained for departure. There was be many people offering taxis, when I came out. It somehow entertaining, but I just firmly walked past them.

In airport can buy prepaid SIM card for mobile phone. It costs 150 Chinese monies. Two companies operate in China - China Mobile and China Unicom. With China Mobile can send and receive SMS from abroad, but with China Unicom can call abroad. Both cards can receive calls from abroad. SIM card (from China Mobile)is also useful when getting access to internet in Starbucks (your phone should not be locked on your home operator).


Photo: Shanghai street view, this is Suzhou Creek

Almost all ATM machines can serve VISA or Mastercards, but need to check first if ATM displays logo of VISA or Mastercard. Popular currencies can be changed in banks with ease. Need to show passport and there might be limitation of currency amount (need to keep receipts so can change money back to foreign currency before leaving China). There is also lunch break in banks for about 1 to 2.5 hours, so going that time will result in long wait. 100 and 50 banknote have metallic stripe inside, so it easy to tell if it’s real or not. It looks that virtually any bank can handle Visa card. Some peopel prefer Bank of China, I prefer ICBC.


Photo: Look over Huangpu River, which divides Shanghai into two parts - Puxi and Pudong (pronounced as Pushi and Pudon). This is Pudong side looking towards Puxi

Metro line 2 connects airport to downtown. There is also magnetic levitation line - Maglev for 50 one way. Maglev will cut out boring ride on subway and will connect again with line 2. For ease of use of public transportation, can buy Shanghai metro card for 130 moneys (20-30 is deposit and rest can use). It can be returned before departure from China. Buying single tickets is very slow process. Metro is also fastest way to move around and one ride can be 2-7 RMB. Its also nice to use ferry to cross the river, which you can see in video. Again, you can use this Shanghai metro card to pay for ferry or for taxis, or for Maglev from airport.

There are plenty of budget hotels to choose from, price range from 150 to 300. They provide shower and internet, too. Motel 168 (Motel 268) is one of the best. Need to leave 100-300 deposit, too. I suggest paying with cash for hotel, than credit card and deposit can only be paid in cash. Shanghai is very big city, so hotels in good spots get booked out quickly. They are clean inside.

Nobody comes to China for food, but where to eat anyway ? I think supermarket is best and safiest option. Best and cheapest is Carrefour, followed by Century Mart and Wal-Mart. In other areas, you can find plenty of McDonalds and KFCs, which are extremely popular with locals. Not to forget Burger King, Pizza Hut! For restaurants look at all length of Nanjing road, area around Xujiahui station (Line 1), stores around Lujiazui station (Line 2) etc. Foreigners hang around Xintiandi area, which is area with many bars and restaurants. For drink, can suggest area around Hengshan road station (Line 1), sit outside and watch people pass by on street.


Image: where Shanghai eats

There are several places in underground metro stations, where to buy cheaper products. Usually need to bargain. I managed to bargain 5times off for clothing item. I did not like it, but since I pushed price that much low I bought it. Most of items made from synthetic fibers, which is not what I like. What I can recommend it getting haircut, because it costs about 15 RMB (1.5 EUR) for men. Styling women’s hair is also reasonably priced.

With laptop free internet is available in Starbucks, but need to receive access code on mobile phone. Internet is very slow, almost impossible to use. Postal services are very slow and sometimes unreliable. Sending postcard between China and Japan can take about 3 weeks!

Safety can be some concern, when walking on the street. Cars are allowed to make right turn, when facing red traffic light signal. Pedestrians have to watch out for cars. Its better constantly look around all directions when walking somewhere. Accidents happen seldom as traffic is pretty slow. In China, there is no “pedal till the metal” culture and I never saw drivers getting angry etc.

There might be no or limited emergency medical services (ambulance). Need to call or flag down taxi to go to hospital in emergencies. Prepayment is required in any medical institution.

Other locations to explore outside Shanghai could be Suzhou and Nanjing. Nanjing has more feel of "real" China. Hangzhou is easy to reach too and very popular for domestic tourists, but might not be so interesting for foreigners.


Video: Shanghai view from The Bund, waterfront area. Many people from China take photos with those tall buildings in background.


Picture: Street view Shanghai


Picture: Street corner vendor

Some words you might need:
Zhe shi shenme ? (Che she shenma) – what is this ?
Duo shao qian? (Duo shao chien) – how much ?
Laowai - that’s you – foreigner!
Mei you qian (mei you chien) – I have no money
Mei yisi (mei isi) – its boring/I am bored
Xie xie (shieshie) – thank you

Around Pusan – Busan

This is Pusan – city in Korea’s southern part. City has 3.6 million inhabitants and has amazing natural features - mountains and sea right in the middle of city. The name of city might be confusing – in Korea it is spelled in English as Busan, but China and Japan it is spelled as Pushan or Pusan, respectively.

I have arrived by both airplane and ferry. There are good tourist information offices in airport and ferry terminal. Ferry terminal from Japan is right next to downtown. Pusan has subway system in town, so it’s easy to move around.


Image: Look from the port

Over couple of days, I visited several places. Near to main train station is Chinatown. It doesn’t really look like Chinatown apart from Chinese style gate. Inside mostly shops selling clothes and signs with Uzbekistan and Russian flags. While walking there some entirely Korean looking ladies said something in Russian to me.

Hotels are reasonably priced. I choose to stay at youth hostel first, but then moved to hotel. Price difference was really minor. I found hotels very comfortable and hospitality level was good.

Food is a bit spicy and has seafood elements in it. Some dishes seem to be influenced by Japanese cuisine as well. I tried some traditional looking eateries and can say that it’s a bit tastier in Seoul than Pusan. There are many small shops as well as eateries in department stores. Most of shopping goods like clothes imported from China, as China is really very close. I could not find many things made in Korea.

City has subway system. Lines are long and take longer time to move from one corner of city to another. It’s easy to anywhere, where heart wants.

There are several beaches. Haeundae is most famous in Korea. I preferred Gwangalli beach which is closer to city center. On the beach are lockers and showers. Water is a bit cold somehow. Songdo beach is in another side of city. There is more foreigners and touristy place with winder sand area on beach. When walking from Songdo beach there is nice view from Namhang bride. On the bridge can cross into Yeongdo island. Many people choose to walk this bridge.


Image: Look from Namhang bridge

Two temples in city are famous for foreigners – Beomeosa temple and Haedong Yonggungsa temple. Beomeosa is easy to reach by subway and bus. There is also hiking trail which starts near temple. Hiking trail can lead to Geumjeongsan mountain (801 m), from there splendid view over city.


Image: Geumjeongsanseong fortress


Image: North gate, Geumjeongsanseong fortress


Video: some views around city


Image: Moon is shining bright over the city

Flying in Asia, ranking of my preferences

I am not frequent flier, but I always try some new airline. Flying in Asia is different from flying in European countries. First of all airplanes are bigger with more passengers and ticket prices are more expensive. It also seldom possible to check-in online as not many airlines and airports provide this kind of services. Yet, Asian airports are better connected with cities by subways and trains as they handle more people.

I came up with my personal preferences of the best airlines flying in Asia. Every time I try to use different airline, so now I can compare. What I value the most is ease of use – that seats are wide enough and soft, easy booking of tickets and check-in, smooth operation etc. What I don’t care is the food offered in flight. I am not flying to eat, but to get from point A to point B and airplane food is not healthy anyway. I also never tried airlines from Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia.

Top airline which I liked the best was Delta (former Northwest). Just for one reason – that their seats are pretty wide. Other airlines which come to my preferred list are Malaysia airlines and Thai airways. One can see that Malaysia airline is trying hard to win the customer – they bring bread and drinks after short intervals. I am not really into their food, but still I appreciate the service.


Image: This screen will tell where Makkah is, Malaysia Airlines

Not the best, but good experience was with ANA, Air China and China Eastern Airways. ANA is cheapest and I am using it often. ANA seats are narrow and also surface is hard, so it’s difficult to sit. Sometimes ANA is concerned about my visa of the destination country, even border control is not into their business scope. China Eastern Airways I liked slightly better than Air China, just China Eastern Airways don’t have booking system in English, just in Chinese and seats are narrow. Air China has online booking system in English.


Image: Boarding Air China jet. It was already 5th or 7th passport check in the airport. I am 130% sure that only those with right tickets got on the plane.

Next airlines which also provide good experience were KLM and Lufthansa. With KLM sometimes I flew old airplanes (on local routes), yet they have most liberal prices. One time we went out to airplane and other passengers were questioning among themselves if that aircraft will fly. But then flight crew was cheerful and if they were in such good mode, it seemed ok. Hope they can upgrade someday. Lufthansa has newer airplanes but I seldom can see their stewardesses at job but chatting at the back of airplane. Does Lufthansa need stewardesses at all ?

Airlines were experience was not so fully enjoyable were Cathay Pacific and SAS. Cathay Pacific operates around/from China. It was interesting that some passengers were walking around while airline took off. I was surprised and it was intense moment to see people opening luggage compartment, while airplane rises from ground. SAS flies to Copenhagen and has very strict luggage rules up till grams and what are they doing with things passengers have to leave in airport in hassle ?

Another thing which I noticed is that when trying to book Asiana airways or Korean air, is that it’s not possible to book flight earlier than 5 days before departure... System just don’t allow to book and says that day is too soon. I don’t know what I will be doing after 5 days really and I am not planning that far.

I mean its very subjective, other passengers might have different experiences. After all what’s most important for passengers is time.


Video: here I am enjoying flight out of Nagoya airport