More Shanghai tips - language

Contrary to all that I had read beforehand I found it really easy to get around Shanghai, without having any Mandarin.

I had studiously learnt how to count, but found prices in English and Chinese. Where there could have been confusion at markets, there were calculators.

Metro has fares in English and Chinese.

One thing though, it does help to have addresses written in Chinese if you want to catch a taxi.

Joanne Kee
www.placesandspaces.com.au

Shopping areas in Shanghai

Definitely have your hotel translate these addresses or locations into Chinese before leaving the hotel, as you can then show it to your taxi driver.

Otherwise, you can manage most places without too much problem by catching the metro system.

Shopping area

Hongqiao International Pearl CityHours 10am to 9pm
Hongmei Road and Yan'an Elevated Road
(Near Longxi Rd S metro) but tricky to find because of multiple exits from metro, you need the address written in chinese.
However it is quite well known
Bags, stationery, Chinese stuff, shoes, videos, games, curio shops
2nd floor has jewellery, especially pearls and jade. I am told that the stuff here is real, not fakes.
There is a really good video/dvd/cd shop close by, but outside the complex.

Xintiandi
Hours 10am to 9 or later
Taxis will take you to taxi rank at the complex
(Near Huangpi Rd S metro)

This is another really well known tourist area where shops have been built in an upmarket laneway system. Places like Shanghai Tang, Tony & Guy for hair etc.

Lots of good restaurants, bars and shopping.

If you keep on walking through you will come to a warren of shopping malls
with western brand shops. The first one has restaurants like Crystal Jade, Dai ting Fung and a cinema complex. The next mall through is a really up market mall that is just opening November 2010, very chi, chi.

Taiking road
Hours 10am to 9 or later
Dapuquao metro - though quite confusing getting out in that Shanghai way, it is not obvious where the Taiking Road complex is. It is a warren of laneways, so just walk into the laneways.

Up market craft, pottery, Chinese curios, t-shirts, clothing, jewellery etc. You can find similiar things at the markets for cheaper prices.



If you are in this area don't miss the shop at the Liuli china Museum
25 Taikang Road.

This is a glass museum, exhibitions, building and layout are really worth catching. The shop has some very hip objects of desire. These include beautiful glass sculptures.

www.liulichinamuseum.com

Yuyuan Gardens and bazaar
Hours 10am to 9 or later
Yuyuan Gardens metro.
There are more markets than you can poke a stick at here. From very basic down at heel looking warrens which sell scarves, jewellery, stickers, stationery, sort of like a paddy markets, through to the shopping laneways near Yuyuan Gardens which have souveneirs, chopsticks, clothing etc. I found beautiful business card holders and keyrings for 20 yuan which sold for 120 in the art galleries in town.

People try to sell you bags all over the place, they will often show you pictures and offer to take you to their place. It is generally quite safe to go with them.

There are also household things for sale in one of the warrens of markets and an area that sells gold.

Nanjing Road and Peoples Park
Hours 10am to 9
Peoples Square metro.
This area has No. 1 Department store on Nanjing Road East and West. There are the things you would expect to find in a shopping strip.

There are also underground shops and mini markets that sell things like wigs, toys, scarves, bags, clothes, etc in the labyrinth of retail opportunities that connects to the subway.

Shiliupu Fabric Market
2 Zhonghua Road
Xiaonanmen metro

This is a treasure trove of fabrics and you can have tailor made clothes. A good tip is to take what you want and have it copied.

I paid in advance and had clothese delivered to my hotel and am happy with all my purchases, shirts, cashmere jackets, dresses etc. Though I have a little split in my cashmere jacket that I will have to fix. However my husband is very happy with his tailored shirts. There are also scarves, belts etc downstairs.

Tailoring takes 3-4 days. Shirts cost from 80 yuan, dresses from 200 upwards, cashmere jackets from 600 upwards.

French Concession East
This area also has loads of shops and the streets are interesting to wander.

Benny Peng
For beautiful stationery, photo albums, this is the warehouse location.

Benny Peng
Rm 509, No. 56, Lane 767
Wan Hang Du road
shang Hai 200042 P.R.C.
www.benypeng.com
There are so many shopping areas, you could spend all your time shopping, but that would be a shame, as there are lots of interesting things to see and do. However, it is nice to browse and wander the streets and absorb the different flavours of the various shopping areas.