Korean Job Discussion Forums

[is so delicious]

Going to Shanghai for New Years (do they even celebrate it there, or is it boring compared to Chinese New Years??). Just wondering if I had any thoughts on what to do, where to stay... Not too big on touristy stuff- more going to see a friend and get loaded and meet women (Quite the culture vulture, I am), but I wouldn't mind seeing some cool stuff for a day or two. I think just walking around among the huge skyscrapers sounds fun... being from New York, I think that would assuage what homesickness I have.

How much English is spoken there? What do things cost? Can I find a room in a cool neighborhood for under $50 a night?? What do taxis/food/drink cost? How's the nightlife? And the ladies? Is it very easy to get around?

Etc. If you're bored, write... I'll google all this, but it's fun to hear from people who've spent time there.

[bobbyhanlon]

from what you've written, i think i can safely say that you're going to love it.
the standard of english is good compared to korea, and the price level is low (except in westerner-targeted places like xintiandi). and it is embarrassingly easy to meet women.

for 'cool stuff', you can go up the dongfang minzhu tower (the one with the red blobs on it), look at yu yuan gardens, walk along the bund/waitan, take afternoon tea at the ruijin hotel, go to the fake market, see the craziness of nanjing road, and have a drink in the bar at jinmao tower (amazing views all round).

anyway you've made a great choice to go there. for a short trip, you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere more fun.

[Murakano]

[guava]

I recommend the Blue Mountain Hostel
No.1A 1072 Nong, Quxi Road, Luwan District

Regarding the Bund area, beware of being approached with offers of any kind. A lot of professionals are located there.

[Sector7G]

Can any of you tell me how long it usually takes to get a visa for China if I am here in Korea(U.S. citizen)? Specifically, am I already too late for last week of December?

Also, would going through a travel agency expedite it any?

[guava]

[D.D.]

I live in Shanghai and there is lots of Hotels so under 50$ . Just get a hotel along line 2 of the subway and you will be fine. I stayed in a place that was in an old nice hotel for 22 bucks a night called the Dau Hua hotel. You can get single rooms in most hostels for 180 rmb which is less that 30 U.S. There are lots of Hotels called Hotel 168 or 268 around the city for about 219 Rmb. Just dont expect a hotel you know the name of like Holiday Inn to be Cheap.

Lot's to do in Shanghai if you are into partying. Windows is a chain of bars that serve up cheap drinks and english speaking women. Other expat bars like Big Bamboo can be like 45 Rmb a beer and a high end clubs like Bar Rouge can be 100 rmb a beer.

If you want a quick Chinese visa arrive in Hong Kong but don't clear customs but take a boat to She Kou , China and get a visa 90 day double entry for about 100 U.S. Dollars instantly on the spot. No waiting for 5 days like in Hong Kong. Make sure you arrive during the day and have two pictures of yourself. Once in Shekou with your visa you can go to the Shenzhen airport and fly anywhere in China for about 170 bucks. Or you can take a boat to Zhuhai or Macau.

It's good to stay around People's square in Shanghai and drink beer at the older looking Chinese restaurants as Shanghai has high expat prices. Element fresh chains searve a great breakfast if you want a western breakfast for around 10 bucks.

So many people speak English here these days and expats are everywhere along subway line 2. For good chinese food always walk about 2 blocks away from the expensive areas and food prices drop to about 10 rmb a dish and beer drops to 5-10 rmb a big bottle.

[Sector7G]

[Sector7G]

Looks like I am going to make a quick jaunt to Shanghai myself.

First, I was resigned to staying in Korea over the holidays after trips back to USA and even Thailand were just a little more costly than I wanted to spend(I'm trying to pay off some debt).

But even after I found a round trip fare including 3 nights hotel to Shanghai for 199,000 won, a usually knowledgeable co-worker told me visas to China take a month to get. Because he used to live there, at first I accepted without checking.

Thanks to this thread, I went to an agency and got a visa in 7 days(due to a weekend), at a charge of 130,000.

Shanghai, here I come!

[Old Gil]

The Mingtown E tour hostel is great. NOT the Mingtown People's Square (same ownership but E tour is better). Etour is actually closer to People's Square than the "People's Square" branch so it gets confusing. You can get a room for about 40 or a bunk for about 10.

Shanghai is great, but going out is not cheap.

[Panda]

Have fun in Shanghai!

Meeting women is great, but don't talk to any girls who approach you for English practice as they declare, they will later invite you to drink tea and rob you of all you have ( including your Calvin Klein underwear)

[Sector7G]

[Sector7G]

[Old Gil]