Korean Job Discussion Forums

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

I'm thinking of going to Shanghai before the holidays in February.

My hagwon is giving me the entire week off instead of just the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that everyone else is getting. So I figure if I buy plane tickets to Shanghai for the Saturday before the holidays (February 2nd), then come back on Tuesday morning (February 5th), the prices won't be very high and it won't be overbooked or anything.

Is this logic correct?

How to I buy tickets? How much am I looking at paying? Would you recommend it?

...and about the trip itself, where in Shanghai should I stay? Is there a good tourist information website? Thanks.

SeoulShakin · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

There is a travel forum, made especially for posts like this. Perhaps you would get more responses if you posted this there.

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:32 pm Post subject:

i found shanghai not bad, but beijing was way more fun! lots of things to do and see, more traditional feel to the city too

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/index.html
the city guides here are really good, and it has some links to hotels

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

maeil · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Haebangchon

I would definitely, definitely second the recommendation to visit Beijing over Shanghai. Shanghai is a large city. Just, city. Beijing is also a large city, but there are many beautiful places outside the city that are easy to get to and very worth seeing. It's also remarkably easy to get around on bike.

As far as tickets, good luck... those holidays tend to be booked heavily in advance. I go through a wonderful travel agent by the name of Kang, Sung-Eun. She is remarkably professional and good at what she does. She will explain to you why some prices are higher than others, how different airlines work, etc. If you look at the "Travel Agents" thread in the travel forum, you'll find other people have recommended her as well.

She's at Top Travel. The number is 02-738-3563. You can ask for her in English. If she's not available, they'll tell you to call back in 10 minutes.

Woden · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Location: Eurasia

I'm going to Shanghai for NYE and I got a ticket for 418,000 Won...maybe I could've got cheaper but I didn't get one on one of the online Korean sites because I wanted to be sure of the Visa situation, so I went through an agent...Kangsan Travel, in Busan. They were good...

...my mate is running a club out in Shanghai and I reckon for nightlife in Shanghai is better, but that is just my humble, biased, and inexperienced opinion...

SeoulShakin · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I haven't been to Shanghai, but I can definitely agree with those who have suggested Beijing! I loved it when I went, and had a really great time.

oilme · Joined: 10 Dec 2007

both shanghai and beijing are obviously great cities. shanghai is more ritzy and cosmopolitan than beijing which is culturally richer. i loved both. either way, the trip will be enjoyable. however, if you don't have a ticket yet i'd say you are spending your vacation here unfortunately.

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

oilme · Joined: 10 Dec 2007

sorry i thought you wanted to go during christmas.

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

I'm flying out to Shanghai a week tomorrow for Xmas, then taking the train up to Beijing (If anyone can offer me any advice/tips/cost/what the food is like on the 10-hour train etc on this it'd be appreciated) on the 26th for 3-days before flying back down to Shang for another 3-days.

Think we paid about 420,000 total for our flights (leaving via Pusan, returning in through Daegu) and we used a place in Daegu, although I cant remember the name of the place.

Think it takes about 10-days for the Visa to be processed, although quicker if you live near the Embassy and can pop in in person.

Can anyone suggest the best section of the Great Wall to visit? I notice there a few popular spots, but just wanted to know from those with first hand experience.

buster brown · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul

I've made the Shanghai-Beijing trip a couple of times in both directions. There's a dining car where you can order food. There's nothing special about it...typical jacked-up prices for sub-standard fare, although the prices weren't exhorbitant. I've also been to several spots on the Great Wall: Badaling, Juyong Pass, Mutianyu and Simatai. Badaling and Mutianyu are easy to get to and not so difficult to walk; however, they're normally crowded and you have to run the gauntlet of vendors. Juyong Pass is really steep and narrow (It was cloudy the day I visited there, so I can't comment on the scenery). Simatai is the place I would go back to if I only had one chance to see the wall. If you don't want to hike up, you can take the cable car up the mountain to the wall.

If you're going to Shanghai, you can see alot of things in the city, but the previous posters are correct in their descriptions. There are tons more scenic places in and around Beijing. Good luck and have a good trip.