Korean Job Discussion Forums

YAHF · Joined: 21 Dec 2006

Spending Chuseok in Shangha, as korean bank card is an unknown, how easy (or possibble) to chang won to rmb? Also any cool recommendations for 2 mature ladies to hang out at?
Visited Beijing in 2000, 'fakes' were of poor quality. Has the situation improved or is BKK still the best?
Thanks in advance.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

We got some RMB before we went, but we were also able to take money out at ATMs using our US bank cards. Bank of China always worked.

It was our first time to shanghai, and we really enjoyed shopping and eating our way through 3 days! Definitly spend an evening (or two) in Xintiandi. It should be mentioend in any guide book. There is a great inner courtyard area/ped zone with nice restos with outdoor seating. It's a little bit pricey for china but on par with Korean prices.

Also, we relaly enjoyed eating the lunch set (dinner is very pricey, but lunch is like 100-140RMB depending on the set) at Kathleen's, which is on top of the art museum (old brick building) in People's Square. again, should be in your guidebook.
In the same park is a moroccan place with a veranda over a pond. EXCELLENT food and a great happy hour from 5-8 when any glass drinks (cocktails, draft beer, glasses of wine) are half price. We ate 2 meals, an appetizer, and probably had 5 drinks each for less than 600RMB. Pretty good deal if you want a nice meal.

Definitly check out Yuyuan garden for fun souvenir, galleries, and chinesey things to be. Nanjing Road for regular shopping.

In Pearl City on Nanjing road (close to people's square), there is a store called Ling Ling on the second floor. Great place for jewelry shopping. They can make you pretty much anything as they have strings and strings of beads, stones, etc.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

articulate_ink · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject:

Good recommendations so far. I'll be there too, second trip, but I've wired money back to my US bank account and I'll take RMB with me. If you've got an account in your home country, there's probably still time to send some back. It's not the cheapest option, but it's better than relying on only one source of funds.

SweetLou · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: mt. bu

i lived in shanghai for a year and it was next to impossible to change won to rmb. i'd suggest changing your money at incheon airport. you'll take about a 10% hit on the rate (7RMB / 1000 won as opposed to around Cool

, but the peace of mind will be worth it.

if you have a us-based bank card, those can be used at most atm machines (esp. those at bank of china, as another poster may have pointed out).

re: the fakes, they are still ubiquitous but a bit harder to find now that xiangyang market has closed. your best bet is to check out the underground shopping center at the science and technology museum subway station -- most of the vendors have moved out there.

as for food recommendations, a weekend spent in shanghai without taking in one of the bund-side hotel brunches would be a travesty. between 200-400RMB for an extremely well-prepared brunch and free-flow champagne, cocktails, etc. the westin was my favorite of the bunch.

shanghai's a cool place -- enjoy.