Best of Shanghai on a Budget
Description:
Shanghai is not a small or a cheap city, but in three days it is possible to see the city's highlights and still have a little cash left over for souvenirs. Fortunately Shanghai has a world class metro system, the locals love to bargain, and the best Shanghainese cuisine can be found in small shops and stalls along the street. Note also that the basements of almost all of the city's malls feature excellent food courts with a mix of Western and Chinese food at cheap prices. Most malls also have chain restaurants on the higher floors.
Author: Jennifer
Day 1 - Shanghai
Your first day in Beijing is the most ambitious of the three. Get up and leave the hotel early to catch locals practicing their tai chi in People's Park, just across the street. When you've worked up an appetite, check out Huanghe Lu or any of the other streets running north of the park for fried dumplings, steamed baozi, scallion pancakes or any other number of delicious breakfast options for sale on the street. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the historical Chinese art at the Shanghai Museum and Shanghai's modern development at the Urban Planning Hall. For lunch, pop into the food court or one of the chain restaurants at the Raffles City Mall just across the street. Then head down Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, taking in the frenzy of Shanghai's consumer culture. Don't be surprised if you are frequently approached with offers for Rolex watches and Gucci bags. Walk all the way to the Bund and snap a few pictures of the futuristic Pudong skyline. Then take the Bund Tourist Tunnel over to the Oriental Pearl Tower. The top offers 360 degree views of Shanghai and the basement houses a comprehensive museum of Shanghai history. In the evening take the Line 1 subway from People's Square to Hengshan Lu. Dine at Shanghai staple Simply Thai and then head to Zapata's infamous Wednesday Ladies' Night.
1
Morning Tai Chi
Location:
view in google mapsZhongshan Dong Lu
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist Information)2
People's Square
Location:
view in google mapsRen Min Street
200003 Shanghai, China
2
Jing Xuan Blind Man's Massage
Location:
view in google maps674 Yi Shan Lu
200233 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6483 43182
Buckingham Bowling Hall
Location:
view in google maps825 Ding Xi Road
200052 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6281 99882
Ton Hall Gallery
Location:
view in google maps162 Maoming South Road
2nd Floor
200020 Shanghai,
Phone:
86 21 6415 0227 / 86 21 6473 73192
O'Malley's Irish Pub
Location:
view in google maps42 Tao Jiang Road
Between Heng Shan Road and Wu Lu Mu Qi Road
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6474 4553 (Reservations) / 86 21 6474 45332
Blue Frog
Location:
view in google maps207-23 Maoming Nan Lu
(Between Fuxing Zhong Lu and Yong Jia Lu)
200020 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6445 66342
Dongbei Ren
Location:
view in google maps1 Shanxi Nan Road
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5228 98982
Whisk
Location:
view in google maps1250 Huaihai Lu
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5404 77702
Melrose Pizza
Location:
view in google maps838 Hengshan Lu
200030 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6445 83182
Shanghai Ren Jia
Location:
view in google maps41 Yunnan Zhong Lu
by Yan An Lu
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6351 3060 x5313
Renmin Park
Location:
view in google maps231 Nanjing Road West
200003 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6327 16944
Huanghe Lu
Location:
view in google mapsHuanghe Road
People's Square
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6350 3718 (Tourist Information)5
Shanghai Museum
Location:
view in google maps201 Renmin Da Dao
People's Sq., Huangpu District
200003 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6372 35006
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Location:
view in google mapsRenmin Da Dao 100
Huangpu (northeast of the Shanghai Museum; entrance on east side)
200003 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 021/6372-20777
Nanjing Road
Location:
view in google mapsNanjing Central Road
200002 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist Information)8
Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Location:
view in google maps1 Shiji Dadao
Lu Jia Zui Road
200120 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5879 18889
Simply Thai
Location:
view in google maps5 Dongpíng Lù, Unit C
between Héngshan Lù and Yuèyáng Lù
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6445 9551 / 86 21 6326 208810
Zapatas
Location:
view in google maps5 Hengshan Lu
Near Dongping Lu
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6474 616611
Jin Jiang YMCA Hotel
Location:
view in google maps123 Xi Zang South Road
200021 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6326 1040Day 2 - Shanghai
On day two in Shanghai, grab a cab to Yu Gardens. Today this area is more a souvenir shopping madhouse than a relaxing garden retreat. Fortunately it is also home to some of Shanghai's best snack food and famous xiaolongbao soup dumplings. Just join the long line of visitors waiting for a taste. Explore the alleyways and openings for a bit and then sit down for lunch at the new branch of famed Taiwanese eatery DinTaiFung just to the west of the complex. In the afternoon, head up to the area just south of Suzhou Creek. First stop by Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple and then head to ShanghART gallery and the Moganshan Lu area. This is the heart of Shanghai's contemporary art scene. In the evening, enjoy the savory flavors of Nepali cuisine and then hit the lanes. Orden is the perfect place to chill out and drink some cheap beers. Later hit Time Passage for -- what else -- more cheap brews.
1
Yu Gardens
Location:
view in google mapsZhongshan South Road & Renmen Road
200000 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6355 50322
DinTaiFung
Location:
view in google maps12-20 Shuicheng Road
Peace Square (near Hongqiao Road)
200336 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6208 41883
Jade Buddha Temple
Location:
view in google mapsAnyuan Lu 170
Putuo (northwest Shanghai, west of Jiangning Lu, 6 long blocks north of Beijing Xi Lu)
Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist Information)4
ShanghART
Location:
view in google maps50 Moganshan Road
Building 16 & 18
200020 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6359 3923 / 86 21 5382 04185
Nepali Kitchen
Location:
view in google maps4 Lane 819, Julu Lu
west of Fumin Lu
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5404 62816
Orden Bowling Company
Location:
view in google maps10 Hengshan Lu
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6474 66667
Time Passage
Location:
view in google maps183, Lane 1038 Huashan Lu
200050 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6240 2588Day 3 - Shanghai
You've worked hard on the first two days of your trip, so begin Friday with a bit of splurge -- brunch at Sasha's. This exquisite old Shanghai mansion turned restaurant is the perfect place to start your walking tour of Shanghai's French Concession area. Shopping paradise Huaihai Road runs east to west through this district but turning off onto side streets will reveal a more interesting selection of clothing boutiques and art galleries. Be sure to bargain hard if something catches your eye. When your feet are tired, stop for a massage and then headed up to Nanjing West Road for a cheap bite at Always Cafe. Both Western and Chinese options are available. Then walk the rest of the way back to People's Square. Along the way you'll pass two important landmarks. First, stop on Wujiang Lu Snack Street, on the south side of the road, for one last splurge on Shanghainese street food like fried dumplings, chicken wings, squid balls and mango smoothies. Then continue to the intersection of Nanjing Road and Chengdu Road. On the north side of the street you'll find one of Shanghai's largest fakes markets. Perfect for stocking up on souvenirs and buying an extra suitcase to lug home all your loot. Again, be sure to bargain hard. In the evening, enjoy one last meal of Shanghainese cuisine at local favorite Bao Lu and check out the live jazz offerings at La Bella or Cotton Club. If jazz isn't your thing, Mural is a reliable choice for cheap drinks and a young, fun crowd.
1
Sasha's
Location:
view in google maps11 Dongping Lu
Corner of Heng Shan Lu
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6474 66282
Huai Hai Road
Location:
view in google mapsHai Hai Road & Shirmen er Road
200001 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6333 2226 (Tourist Information)3
Funing Point Pressure Massage Center of Blind People
Location:
view in google maps597 Fu Xing Lu
200020 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6437 83784
Fuxing Park
Location:
view in google mapsGaolan Lu 2
Luwan (west entrance Gaolan Lu, north entrance Yandang Lu, southeast entrance Chongqing Nan Lu off Fuxing Zhong Lu)
200135 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 5386 1069 / 86 21 6372 06625
Always Cafe
Location:
view in google maps1528 Nanjing Xi Lu
200004 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6247 83336
Bao Lu
Location:
view in google maps2721 Fumin Lu
North of Changle Lu, 1 block east of Changshu Lu
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6279 28277
La Bella Cafe
Location:
view in google maps127 Yongfu Lu
Near Fuxing Xi Lu
200040 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6433 63818
Cotton Club
Location:
view in google mapsFùxing Xi Lù 8
Huáihai Zhong Lù
200031 Shanghai, China
Phone:
86 21 6437 71109
Mural Bar
Location:
view in google maps697 Yongjia Road
East of Hengshan Lu, Xuhui
Shanghai, China
Phone:
82 21 6433 5023