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Popular Tourist Traps | Other Tourist Traps Tips | All Tips (71) Yuyuan Garden area
This is not 100% a tourist trap. But it is a must see!
Chinese style bazaar area! Within the area is located the Yuyuan Garden itself.
Unique atmosphere! Like a different world from the rest of Shanghai. Full of tiny shops and few bigger department store (or only one with many entrance?). The area represents classical Chinese architecture with its tea house and other beautiful buildings.
Possible to find Chinese items, like wooden acupressure sandals, silk bathrobes, shirts, Chinese paintings etc. But also western style women/men clothes, jackets, shoes... you name it.
Good place for shopping but remember to bargain!
Address: 132 Anren Street
Open time: 9:00-17:00
Means of Communication: Public buses 64, 24, 11, and 926
A MUST-GO-place when in Shanghai! Leave a Comment
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Although I think (or hope) most Shanghai taxi drivers are relatively honest. Be wary, some tend to take the scenic route with foreigners, that is anyone that doesn't speak Shanghaiese. Although, this happens even to the locals.
To quote GI Joe, 'knowing is half the battle' so know or ask what the local rate should be, especially from the airports.
Taxi from Pudong Int'l to the city center is about 150 RMB. Taxi to Hongqiao Airport about 40 RMB. And never go with the touts offering their services at the airports...they'll quote you 2-4x the going rate. Instead wait at the taxi quene.
If you do get trapped, insist on an electronic ticketed receipt from the meter (not a hand written receipt). That way you can trace the taxi, fare paid, time, etc.
If the taxi driver refuses, you have the right to NOT PAY the fare.
Shuttle bus to Pudong Int`l ?E30 RMB from most city center hotels. If not sure, go to a large reputable hotel and ask about shuttle bus services. Leave a Comment
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While walking down the pedestrian street, Nanjing Rd., a young Chinese woman began walking next to me and explained that she was a student, wanted to practice her english, and could she walk along with me. After a few hundred meters, she suggested having "coffee" and she knew about a great coffee shop on the 7th floor overlooking the stage, near the Howard Johnson Hotel, on Nanjing Rd.. Well, once up in the restaurant, a couple of "coffees" ended up with a bill of over 800RMB! When I protested, a couple of large Chinese blocked the elevator until I signed a credit card slip and added another 10% for using a "foreign" credit card. I'm American, but there was an Aussie in the restaurant having the same experience.
I really felt there was no alternative but to sign the charge slip and get out. I'll protest the charge with the credit card company, but I don't know if that will be successful.
I should have insisted on going to Starbucks!
Just don't go. The place was named S.U.N.D.A.Y., and is located above a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet.
If someone suggests going up to S.U.N.D.A.Y., suggest instead talking to the police. Leave a Comment
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The bars and restaurants of Xintiandi are where rich, expat business people hang out at night. Don't join them, unless you have money to burn. A beer will set you back $10.
But, if you want to drink your money to the accompaniment of a blonde-haired, Chinese girl, rock band, this is the place for you!
The only reasonably-priced place, I could find in Xintiandi was a little Japanese fastfood restaurant: soft drinks only. Leave a Comment
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IT seems to me, these people are hanging around the well known tourist areas, trying to sell anything they can. IF you want to purchase something, always remember to bargain. IF you are not interested in what these people are selling, DON'T say a word, don't smile, don't laugh, or make eye contact....anything that will attract their attention. They can be quite aggressive, and are very persistent. They will stand in your way and pull at your clothes, if they think you have the slightest interest in what they are selling. Personally, didn't have it happen to me, but have observed other people in situations. Just keep on walking....eventually they will stop hounding you and move on to their next victim. Leave a Comment
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You may be approached by "pretty ladies" asking you for the time... "Excuse me sir, what is time?".... in the streets of Shanghai. They will introduce themselves and invite you for a drink or a meal somewhere. Dont be fooled thinking that its your attractive good looks that made these women suddenly interested in you (unless you look like Brad Pitt) .... it more like your wallet!! They would probably bring you a shady bar nearby charging atrocious prices. These girls get a nice tip/comission from the owners of these dodgy places. You'd probably end up paying 40 US Dollars or more for a cup of coffee or a glass of beer.
Be wary of local ladies approaching you in Shanghai appearing very friendly, eagerly trying to make conversation. They're probably working girls or trying to do some con job on you. Just smile and say no thanks... unless you have some serious $cash$ to waste. Believe me, some of these ladies are really attractive. One of my Japanese buddies got "trapped" by such ladies, called me via his mobile phone for help. My other buddies and I had to fish him out of a shady bar trying to charge him something like 200 US Dollars for a round of beer (5 glasses)... that's like 40 dollars for a glass of beer!!. 4 of us spent 1 hour to looking for the bar somewhere along Nanjing Rd and finally found it. Knowing that it was a scam we told the owner of the bar that we are not paying for the drinks and the 5 of us just walked out and hopped on the first cab we saw back to the hotel.
Remember it was superiority in numbers (5 grown men) and some aggresive attitude that saved my buddy from this scam. We took a risk by just walkig out. So i suggest that you exercise some common sense when approcahed by nice looking ladies in Shanghai. Leave a Comment
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This is a hugely popular market with the tourists.
Granted, it's a sprawling place with plenty of stalls, but the merchandise start to look the same after a while.
It can also be quite difficult to navigate, as the market is built like a maze, with streets crossing each other. If you find something unique you like, suggest you try to get it at the shop where you first spotted it, because you may not be able to get back to the same shop after you move on.
Also, beware that most of the "branded" items here are imitation goods, even those sold in the little alley "warehouses" that the touts lure you to.
Bargain like there's no tomorrow. Stalls here charge tourist rates that can be brought down 20-40%, depending on your negotiation skills.
If you like Chinoiserie homeware, you can pick up some pretty tissue-box covers, chopsticks etc, at lower prices than you would normally get back at home.
Lastly, bathrooms are not readily available, so try not to develop an urge while you're there. If you must go, there is a little bistro on the border of the market, and you can always grab a drink and rest your legs after exploring this sprawling place. Leave a Comment
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The Shanghai "Bar Girls" can be found at certain bars that are frequented by expatriates.
The premise is this: THEY WANT YOUR MONEY. They will sit down next to you, ask you if you will buy them a drink, and will offer to get you a drink at the same time. When they return, they won't have a drink and you won't have change.
They are there to MAKE MONEY for the bar and for themselves. After one drink, Mao politely excused himself and went to a bar without "Bar Girls".
What a joke.
If you want to look at the merchandise without buying a drink, simply politely decline to buy any of the "Bar Girls" drinks. After several "no's" word within the "Bar Girl's on duty" will travel fast and they will leave you alone.
There are sooooooooooooo many great bars and dance clubs in Shanghai where you can meet real, normal women, why in the hell would anyone want to go to one of these places? I just don't get it. Leave a Comment
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I paid 45RMB for a so-called 'special' package which included a cable car ride in the Sightseeing Tunnel, a visit to 'Marine Wonderland' and to experience a 'Virtual world of Sounds'. The 'Marine Wonderland' was all but a few aquariums with some very limited species of marine creatures. The 'Virtual world of Sounds' was even more pathetic...basically, you go into a room where you sit down, put on earphones and the lights will be switched off so that you experience complete darkness. Then you listen to some pre-recorded sound effects (people walking, tea being poured etc) which are supposed to stir up your imaginations so that you feel that these things are actually happening just around you. But it's a miserable attempt...and i felt so cheated (as well as other locals who were with me)! The cable car was just as bad...it just traveled through this tunnel which had been decorated with pretty cheesy lightings which were supposed to simulate effects such as traveling through space, volcanic eruptions..but failed miserably!
Avoid at all costs!!!
I took the Sightseeing Tunnel just to get across the Huangpu river. If you are like me just wanting to cross the river, you should just take the Yan An Road Tunnel which is free of charge too! Leave a Comment
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Never pay full price for anything when shopping. Start off offering half what they are asking and negotiate from there. Don't worry about speaking the language, all vendors have a calculator that they kindly pull out and punch away on. Happy shopping. Leave a Comment
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