Happier Abroad Forum Community

I've been to SH four times now, my favorite city.

Try Pudong (east side). You can stay at Oriental Riverside Hotel (convention hotel) right on the river. Clean and the staff speaks okay English to help you with cabbie. There is a nice walk on the river and space and quiet at night (rare in SH), yet you can hop a taxi for $2 and be in Puxi side in a few. Food movies karaoke etc is a block away at Super Brand Mall. You are right by Pearl Tower and theatre.

Also on Pudong side hit Xinyang fake market in science center. Century park is great in the summer.

On Puxi side hit Yuyaun market and eat xio long bow, SH is a great eating city. Take a girl to South Beauty they have branches everywhere, fancy but cheap compared to USA prices. Try South Beauty 811 branch in a 1930s mansion. Nanjing Lu for massive shopping street.

The clubs are on Puxi side and are dazzling. Try Barbarossa which is an Arabian palace thing. Make friends with local girls who will take u to the good ones.

The girls are all hot and sophisticated, for China. You can order a young hottie to your room like pizzas if you are into that. But there are so many good normal girls no real need for that except kicks.

Breakfast $1-5.
Dinner $5-8, I did a fancy dinner for 2 for $15 w drinks
Handbag $15
DVD $1
Taxi $2
Massage $15/hr

Anyhow maybe that guide helps newbies get started.

I don't know what you like about Shanghai. I was there twice and I can honestly say its the worst city I've ever been to, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. The buildings in Pudong are pretty cool looking and the maglev train is fun but other than that the place is a dump. I've never seen pollution that bad before, visibility is about 1 km.

It should be noted that Shanghai city and Shanghaiese people are disliked by other chinese ethnic groups. In addition, Shanghai women have the highest divorce rate in China, that should tell you something. I advise anyone going Shanghai to only date chinese women that are not from jiangsu province. Most of the women working at low wage jobs such as cashiers will be from other provinces.

I've been told that Beijing is a much nicer city with nicer people and a better climate(low humidity) but I haven't been able to confirm that.

Pokemon wrote: I've been told that Beijing is a much nicer city with nicer people and a better climate(low humidity) but I haven't been able to confirm that.

Depends on time of the year and dust storms. If you walk around Beijing, then go back to your hotel or apartment and wipe your face/nose with a wet white towel, you'd see black marks on the towel.

My aunt lived in Shanghai for couple years and acquired a strong dislike for the locals. For Taiwanese going to China, the people to watch out for is other Taiwanese who went to China earlier and failed in business -- these guys now target new arrivals to swindle money out of them. When dealing with mainlanders, Taiwanese usually have their guard up. But when it comes to other Taiwanese they let their guard down with disastrous financial results.

Yuk I really didn't like Beijing too much, dirty, less advanced, plainer food, the people are nice but not as fun/hot as the shanghainese. I just go for vacation, nightclubs, shopping...maybe it sucks to live there, but fun for a trip.

I really didn't like Shanghai or Beijing much. It was nice enough to visit but not somewhere i'd actually like to live.
My preference would be a 2nd or possibly 3rd tier city. 4th tier would simply lack the conveniences i can't live without.

I'm planning my retirement already....already got some property and a place in China, but actually retiring won't be for a long while.

BTW, if you live in ANY city in China, chances are, public vegetation is scarce or nonexistent. Any time you blow your nose, it's always black gunk. That's just city life. I had the same black gunk living in New York City.