Going to Shanghai for a week! Excited! But a little nervous.
November 30, 2014 10:16 PM Subscribe
I’m going with my friend who is doing stuff for her PhD. She will be at the university all day and I will be on my own. I need some reassurance about a few things.
1. Lungs: I have a history of chest infections but last major incident (hospitalised for pneumonia) was about 5 years ago. I’m not hugely worried but want to be careful. I have a box of 3M N95 disposable masks and am taking all possibly needed meds with me (asthma inhalers, prednisone & antbiotics).
Can someone tell me how bad the air really is? I’ve looked at the numbers online but what do they really mean? At what number should I stay inside/not walk around much?
2. Staying in touch: I know I can’t facebook. Would Dropbox a good way for me to send pictures to my husband and kids? I am using iPhone4, iOS6. Deliberately not upgrading to iOS7/8 for variety of reasons.
3. Money: When I’ve been to Europe, I’ve always just moved money into my credit card online so it’s in +credit. Then while I am away, I pay for things with credit card or used ATMs to get cash. Will I be able to do the same in China?
4. I’ve never haggled. Tips and reassurance. There was an old Ask that suggested I look on taobao to get an idea of what locals pay for stuff so I’ve been doing that this morning. What else can help making shopping fun and easy? I don’t want to feel harassed and pressured to buy stuff. I want to look like a pro.
5. Yes, I’m going to eat everything. EVERYTHING.
6. Any other tips? I’m already planning on the obvious (Bund, Fuxing park, urban planning museum, shopping). I like art, architecture & food. Very happy walking. Staying on Fenyang Road in French Concession. I don't speak any Chinese.
Thank you!
1. Lungs: I have a history of chest infections but last major incident (hospitalised for pneumonia) was about 5 years ago. I’m not hugely worried but want to be careful. I have a box of 3M N95 disposable masks and am taking all possibly needed meds with me (asthma inhalers, prednisone & antbiotics).
Can someone tell me how bad the air really is? I’ve looked at the numbers online but what do they really mean? At what number should I stay inside/not walk around much?
2. Staying in touch: I know I can’t facebook. Would Dropbox a good way for me to send pictures to my husband and kids? I am using iPhone4, iOS6. Deliberately not upgrading to iOS7/8 for variety of reasons.
3. Money: When I’ve been to Europe, I’ve always just moved money into my credit card online so it’s in +credit. Then while I am away, I pay for things with credit card or used ATMs to get cash. Will I be able to do the same in China?
4. I’ve never haggled. Tips and reassurance. There was an old Ask that suggested I look on taobao to get an idea of what locals pay for stuff so I’ve been doing that this morning. What else can help making shopping fun and easy? I don’t want to feel harassed and pressured to buy stuff. I want to look like a pro.
5. Yes, I’m going to eat everything. EVERYTHING.
6. Any other tips? I’m already planning on the obvious (Bund, Fuxing park, urban planning museum, shopping). I like art, architecture & food. Very happy walking. Staying on Fenyang Road in French Concession. I don't speak any Chinese.
Thank you!
The air right now shouldn't be too bad in Shanghai. It seems to be worse in mid-summer and mid-winter. As for Dropbox, it's blocked too. I suggest getting a VPN account. (I've heard good things about ExpressVPN.) You should be able to use your credit card in Shanghai. Learn how to say "how much?" in Chinese. That will help a little. (Doe shao chien?) And then you can try, "Pian ee dian." Which means "Make it a little cheaper." My phonetics. And if you don't want to further negotiate just say, "Hsieh hsieh" and walk away. Definitely The Bund. It's amazing, especially at night. Have a safe trip.
posted by rmmcclay at 11:41 PM on November 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rmmcclay at 11:41 PM on November 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
You want to go with cash. Pretty much everything is cash only and only occasionally do they allow Chinese debit cards. Some ATMs will allow withdrawal from a foreign card, but I wouldn't count on it.
Haggling is supposed to be fun, but don't sweat it. If you're willing to pay x for something and that's a good deal, then that's a good deal. It doesn't really matter if someone else can get it for less than x. But in general, if you're a foreigner, you can expect to haggle down to 50% to 20% of the merchant's asking price.
I would plan to wait until trip return to share photos. But if you really insist, everybody uses we chat. Download the app on all relevant phones beforehand. Then you can use it to text or share photos. (Koreans use Kakao, which is basically the same thing.)
When we went, the air pollution wasn't so bad, but everybody smokes everywhere. So be prepared for that.
Have fun!
posted by ethidda at 11:59 PM on November 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Haggling is supposed to be fun, but don't sweat it. If you're willing to pay x for something and that's a good deal, then that's a good deal. It doesn't really matter if someone else can get it for less than x. But in general, if you're a foreigner, you can expect to haggle down to 50% to 20% of the merchant's asking price.
I would plan to wait until trip return to share photos. But if you really insist, everybody uses we chat. Download the app on all relevant phones beforehand. Then you can use it to text or share photos. (Koreans use Kakao, which is basically the same thing.)
When we went, the air pollution wasn't so bad, but everybody smokes everywhere. So be prepared for that.
Have fun!
posted by ethidda at 11:59 PM on November 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
Depending on what bank you have, withdrawing with an american debit card isn't that difficult, but there's a service charge and you might want to withdraw large amounts of cash at once. I used my Bank of America card at various Chinese ATMs and didn't have huge issues -- I'd just withdraw several thousand RMB at once. Since you're only there for a week, I'd just carry a lot of cash and exchange at the airport.
Pollution in Shanghai isn't that bad this time of year. Especially with your face masks, you should be fine. Also, a startling amount of time can be spent inside malls in Shanghai, so if the pollution is really bothering you, there are a lot of indoor spaces too.
If you're only there for a week, I'd just carry a few memory cards and wait to get home to share photos. A VPN is a bit of a hassle.
Shanghai has a great subway system. It's very accessible and easy to navigate. Don't be afraid to wander off - it's a fairly westernized city with a lot of foreigners, and many people speak English if you're nervous about getting lost. A phrasebook will get you through a lot of situations. Time Out Shanghai is also a good website for traveling and exploring restaurants/cuisine.
In terms of eating: I was a big fan of ma la tang in China. It's a street food where you pick your own vegetables, meat and noodles and it gets cooked in a big pot of spicy broth. Not the most sanitary food since you are sharing a pot with dozens of other people's selections but you can also get this in more upscale mall eateries.
posted by mmmleaf at 12:39 AM on December 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Pollution in Shanghai isn't that bad this time of year. Especially with your face masks, you should be fine. Also, a startling amount of time can be spent inside malls in Shanghai, so if the pollution is really bothering you, there are a lot of indoor spaces too.
If you're only there for a week, I'd just carry a few memory cards and wait to get home to share photos. A VPN is a bit of a hassle.
Shanghai has a great subway system. It's very accessible and easy to navigate. Don't be afraid to wander off - it's a fairly westernized city with a lot of foreigners, and many people speak English if you're nervous about getting lost. A phrasebook will get you through a lot of situations. Time Out Shanghai is also a good website for traveling and exploring restaurants/cuisine.
In terms of eating: I was a big fan of ma la tang in China. It's a street food where you pick your own vegetables, meat and noodles and it gets cooked in a big pot of spicy broth. Not the most sanitary food since you are sharing a pot with dozens of other people's selections but you can also get this in more upscale mall eateries.
posted by mmmleaf at 12:39 AM on December 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: 1. Lungs: I have a history of chest infections but last major incident (hospitalised for pneumonia) was about 5 years ago. I’m not hugely worried but want to be careful. I have a box of 3M N95 disposable masks and am taking all possibly needed meds with me (asthma inhalers, prednisone & antbiotics).
Can someone tell me how bad the air really is? I’ve looked at the numbers online but what do they really mean? At what number should I stay inside/not walk around much?
It goes in steps of 50:
0-50 = good
50-100 = affects most sensitive people
100-150 = affects sensitive people
150-200 = affects most people
over 200 = stay indoors if possible
over 300 = stay indoors
In terms of how to deal with it, wear a mask outdoors and get on with it. If you need a break from it, take a day or two and go to one of the nearby canal towns, where the air should be a bit cleaner (and are anyway super-awesome).
Also, if possible, drink as much green / ginger tea as possible, and indulge in massages / saunas. The mask will minimise how much pollution you take in, and the tea/massages will help your body cleanse as you go.
2. Staying in touch: I know I can’t facebook. Would Dropbox a good way for me to send pictures to my husband and kids? I am using iPhone4, iOS6. Deliberately not upgrading to iOS7/8 for variety of reasons.
Use a iOS6-friendly VPN supplier. I use https://12vpn.net when in China, and it works like a charm. 12VPN offers everything as pre-configured packages (great for mobile devices) and their rates are reasonable.
If you want data-on-the-go and your phone is unlocked, you can pick up a local SIM at quite a reasonable cost that will include data. This is worth doing if you want to share content in real-time.
3. Money: When I’ve been to Europe, I’ve always just moved money into my credit card online so it’s in +credit. Then while I am away, I pay for things with credit card or used ATMs to get cash. Will I be able to do the same in China?
You won't have any problem at all in Shanghai itself. I've used UK and US debit and credit cards extensively in most places. In terms of cash, if you're with Bank of America, you'll want to use China Construction Banks.
4. I’ve never haggled. Tips and reassurance. There was an old Ask that suggested I look on taobao to get an idea of what locals pay for stuff so I’ve been doing that this morning. What else can help making shopping fun and easy? I don’t want to feel harassed and pressured to buy stuff. I want to look like a pro.
Be ready to walk away. In the Dongtai antique market (for example), the vendors will watch your body language, more than listening to your words. If you focus on an item and are interested, be prepared for them to get into a hard sell. Also, all the vendors communicate as you walk down the street / through the market. If you look at an item in one shop, you'll get down the road and be pitched that same item again.
Basically, if you don't want to buy something and are being pressured to do so, completely ignore the person. Unfortunately, many tourists are intimidated into buying things, which perpetuates the cycle. However, if you go cold and literally ignore the vendors, they'll give up on you.
If you do want to buy something, choose a price and stick to it. Don't worry about what the locals pay so much, as its value to you. If you want to spend $10 on a decorative item, offer $10 and then walk away if it gets into the back-and-forth.
6. Any other tips? I’m already planning on the obvious (Bund, Fuxing park, urban planning museum, shopping). I like art, architecture & food. Very happy walking. Staying on Fenyang Road in French Concession. I don't speak any Chinese.
50 Moganshan Road – art colony / district
Tianzifang – Boutique shops and restaurants in an old village
posted by nickrussell at 12:50 AM on December 1, 2014
Can someone tell me how bad the air really is? I’ve looked at the numbers online but what do they really mean? At what number should I stay inside/not walk around much?
It goes in steps of 50:
0-50 = good
50-100 = affects most sensitive people
100-150 = affects sensitive people
150-200 = affects most people
over 200 = stay indoors if possible
over 300 = stay indoors
In terms of how to deal with it, wear a mask outdoors and get on with it. If you need a break from it, take a day or two and go to one of the nearby canal towns, where the air should be a bit cleaner (and are anyway super-awesome).
Also, if possible, drink as much green / ginger tea as possible, and indulge in massages / saunas. The mask will minimise how much pollution you take in, and the tea/massages will help your body cleanse as you go.
2. Staying in touch: I know I can’t facebook. Would Dropbox a good way for me to send pictures to my husband and kids? I am using iPhone4, iOS6. Deliberately not upgrading to iOS7/8 for variety of reasons.
Use a iOS6-friendly VPN supplier. I use https://12vpn.net when in China, and it works like a charm. 12VPN offers everything as pre-configured packages (great for mobile devices) and their rates are reasonable.
If you want data-on-the-go and your phone is unlocked, you can pick up a local SIM at quite a reasonable cost that will include data. This is worth doing if you want to share content in real-time.
3. Money: When I’ve been to Europe, I’ve always just moved money into my credit card online so it’s in +credit. Then while I am away, I pay for things with credit card or used ATMs to get cash. Will I be able to do the same in China?
You won't have any problem at all in Shanghai itself. I've used UK and US debit and credit cards extensively in most places. In terms of cash, if you're with Bank of America, you'll want to use China Construction Banks.
4. I’ve never haggled. Tips and reassurance. There was an old Ask that suggested I look on taobao to get an idea of what locals pay for stuff so I’ve been doing that this morning. What else can help making shopping fun and easy? I don’t want to feel harassed and pressured to buy stuff. I want to look like a pro.
Be ready to walk away. In the Dongtai antique market (for example), the vendors will watch your body language, more than listening to your words. If you focus on an item and are interested, be prepared for them to get into a hard sell. Also, all the vendors communicate as you walk down the street / through the market. If you look at an item in one shop, you'll get down the road and be pitched that same item again.
Basically, if you don't want to buy something and are being pressured to do so, completely ignore the person. Unfortunately, many tourists are intimidated into buying things, which perpetuates the cycle. However, if you go cold and literally ignore the vendors, they'll give up on you.
If you do want to buy something, choose a price and stick to it. Don't worry about what the locals pay so much, as its value to you. If you want to spend $10 on a decorative item, offer $10 and then walk away if it gets into the back-and-forth.
6. Any other tips? I’m already planning on the obvious (Bund, Fuxing park, urban planning museum, shopping). I like art, architecture & food. Very happy walking. Staying on Fenyang Road in French Concession. I don't speak any Chinese.
50 Moganshan Road – art colony / district
Tianzifang – Boutique shops and restaurants in an old village
posted by nickrussell at 12:50 AM on December 1, 2014
Best answer: ATMs should be OK for getting cash, but unlike some of the other responders, I find that a surprising number of places don't take international credit cards, so have more cash than usual.
Agree with what everyone has said about not worrying about the local price, and paying what you think you would like to for the item. But don't be embarrassed to start the bargaining really low - between 10-30% of the price quoted. Bargain with a smile! Oh, and I don't know if you would do this, but don't bargain everywhere - it's fine in markets but not in a high-end shop, or the corner store.
Have a great time!
posted by ontheradio at 1:16 AM on December 1, 2014
Agree with what everyone has said about not worrying about the local price, and paying what you think you would like to for the item. But don't be embarrassed to start the bargaining really low - between 10-30% of the price quoted. Bargain with a smile! Oh, and I don't know if you would do this, but don't bargain everywhere - it's fine in markets but not in a high-end shop, or the corner store.
Have a great time!
posted by ontheradio at 1:16 AM on December 1, 2014
Best answer: I spent two weeks in Shanghai with my boyfriend about a month ago (we are both Australian and in our 30s). We absolutely loved it! It's a great travel destination, particularly if you love architecture. There are amazing historic buildings everywhere you look and the city is very walkable. Surprisingly so, when you consider that it's a mega-metropolis.
We found the air quality was really variable. Some days were quite clear, on others the smog was so thick you could hardly see the the skyscrapers of Pudong from across the river. (If you're looking to take photos of e.g. the view across the Bund, grab the opportunity when you get a clear day because you might not get another one).
Some tips for things to do:
* We did a really excellent walking tour (of the Art Deco apartments of the French Concession) with these guys: Shanghai Art Deco. I'm not sure when you're going to be in Shanghai but the next tour is on 13 December.
* Tianzifang has lots of cute little boutique shops and I had a lot of fun looking around there. Most items are fixed price so you won't need to haggle. There are a number of more touristy stalls but also quite a few little independent designers selling gorgeous jewellery, leather goods, fans, etc.
* The Jewish Refugees Museum in Hongkou is well worth doing and they have a great English-language tour. Also in Hongkou is a fantastic old Art Deco abbatoir called 1933 which has been turned into a shopping and entertainment precinct. The inside is really cool and atmospheric. The Astor House Hotel in Hongkou is also worth popping into as its halls are lined with interesting old photos and stories.
* You can do a tour of the Peace Hotel for about RMB 100 which is well worth it in my opinion. Its art deco interior is really stunning and you get to see inside the themed suites and ballroom on the tour.
* The Jing-an Sculpture Park has only recently opened and wasn't in any of our guidebooks but it's gorgeous and fun.
* We ate a lot of xiao long bao but the best were at Din Tai Fung which is actually a (Michelin-star) Taiwanese chain. There are several of them in Shanghai.
The only places you'll really need to haggle are the touristy markets like the one in Old Town. (But really, most of the stuff there is crap and you'd be better off going to Tianzifang). Shops, restaurants, etc. are all fixed price.
Dongtai Road antique market has closed down recently although I hear there are some other antique markets still going.
posted by RubyScarlet at 2:43 AM on December 1, 2014
We found the air quality was really variable. Some days were quite clear, on others the smog was so thick you could hardly see the the skyscrapers of Pudong from across the river. (If you're looking to take photos of e.g. the view across the Bund, grab the opportunity when you get a clear day because you might not get another one).
Some tips for things to do:
* We did a really excellent walking tour (of the Art Deco apartments of the French Concession) with these guys: Shanghai Art Deco. I'm not sure when you're going to be in Shanghai but the next tour is on 13 December.
* Tianzifang has lots of cute little boutique shops and I had a lot of fun looking around there. Most items are fixed price so you won't need to haggle. There are a number of more touristy stalls but also quite a few little independent designers selling gorgeous jewellery, leather goods, fans, etc.
* The Jewish Refugees Museum in Hongkou is well worth doing and they have a great English-language tour. Also in Hongkou is a fantastic old Art Deco abbatoir called 1933 which has been turned into a shopping and entertainment precinct. The inside is really cool and atmospheric. The Astor House Hotel in Hongkou is also worth popping into as its halls are lined with interesting old photos and stories.
* You can do a tour of the Peace Hotel for about RMB 100 which is well worth it in my opinion. Its art deco interior is really stunning and you get to see inside the themed suites and ballroom on the tour.
* The Jing-an Sculpture Park has only recently opened and wasn't in any of our guidebooks but it's gorgeous and fun.
* We ate a lot of xiao long bao but the best were at Din Tai Fung which is actually a (Michelin-star) Taiwanese chain. There are several of them in Shanghai.
The only places you'll really need to haggle are the touristy markets like the one in Old Town. (But really, most of the stuff there is crap and you'd be better off going to Tianzifang). Shops, restaurants, etc. are all fixed price.
Dongtai Road antique market has closed down recently although I hear there are some other antique markets still going.
posted by RubyScarlet at 2:43 AM on December 1, 2014
For haggling at markets, you'll often find the seller will pull out a calculator and show you a price. It saves language difficulties. Then you can enter your price on the calculator, or carry your own (or use your phone calculator).
Haggling in China can be loads of fun! But yes, don't start bargaining unless you're genuinely interested.
posted by tracicle at 2:44 AM on December 1, 2014
Haggling in China can be loads of fun! But yes, don't start bargaining unless you're genuinely interested.
posted by tracicle at 2:44 AM on December 1, 2014
I think dropbox is blocked in china. But they have chinese equivalent cloud things.. also google voice is awesome for texting for free
posted by crawltopslow at 9:59 AM on December 1, 2014
posted by crawltopslow at 9:59 AM on December 1, 2014
Response by poster: Thought I'd update and confirm answers to my questions in case it helps someone else in future.
Lungs: I've been watching the numbers on an iphone app every day. It's not terrible even when it gets near 200. My asthma tends to be episodic and flares when I am sick already but if you're well, you should be okay for a short stay. Without a mask, you might feel like you smoked too many cigarettes the night before.
Staying in Touch: When we first landed, we stayed in Fancypants Hotel for two nights. They must be going through a VPN service or something. I had full access to everything and could post to facebook no trouble. The hotel has free wifi in the lobby as well as in the rooms. No password is needed for the particular hotel we stayed at. If you're not staying in one of the big hotels but near one, its worth trying the lobby, especially if you just want to be able to check in once a day. I'm not sure I should name names so memail me if you want to know.
I am now in a much less sumptuous place with patchy wifi and standard Chinese lack of access to web stuff. When wifi is working, I am using WeChat (phone) and iMessage (mac & phone) to send photos and facetime my family. And yes, I have full access to Metafilter!
Money: no trouble using local ATMs. Have done as mmmleaf suggested and just got a lot of cash out at once. First ATM I tried didn't accept my card, second one I tried did. Both were on Nanjing Rd. The one that accepted my Australian Visa Debit card was next to the guy in the little yellow booth who beats the sticky rice with a giant mallet. The one that didn't work was the bank of ATMs next to the m&ms shop.
Haggling: havent done any, haven't needed/wanted to. It's mostly handbags, scarves, fridge magnets. Nothing I want.
Am having a ball. Today is day 2 out & about on my own. Am going to see some Shanghai Biennale. Free entry on Tuesdays to the paying exhibitions at Power Station of Art. Rest of the time it's only 20rmb anyway.
And someone should warn first-time vistiors, especially those who might be a bit timid, about crossing the roads. The traffic signals are serving suggestions only. So much cursing came out my mouth yesterday morning til I got the hang of it! And the metro is excellent. I have a 3 day unlimited ride ticket that cost 45rmb.
Thank you for all the great advice. Happy travels everyone.
posted by stellathon at 7:11 PM on December 8, 2014
Lungs: I've been watching the numbers on an iphone app every day. It's not terrible even when it gets near 200. My asthma tends to be episodic and flares when I am sick already but if you're well, you should be okay for a short stay. Without a mask, you might feel like you smoked too many cigarettes the night before.
Staying in Touch: When we first landed, we stayed in Fancypants Hotel for two nights. They must be going through a VPN service or something. I had full access to everything and could post to facebook no trouble. The hotel has free wifi in the lobby as well as in the rooms. No password is needed for the particular hotel we stayed at. If you're not staying in one of the big hotels but near one, its worth trying the lobby, especially if you just want to be able to check in once a day. I'm not sure I should name names so memail me if you want to know.
I am now in a much less sumptuous place with patchy wifi and standard Chinese lack of access to web stuff. When wifi is working, I am using WeChat (phone) and iMessage (mac & phone) to send photos and facetime my family. And yes, I have full access to Metafilter!
Money: no trouble using local ATMs. Have done as mmmleaf suggested and just got a lot of cash out at once. First ATM I tried didn't accept my card, second one I tried did. Both were on Nanjing Rd. The one that accepted my Australian Visa Debit card was next to the guy in the little yellow booth who beats the sticky rice with a giant mallet. The one that didn't work was the bank of ATMs next to the m&ms shop.
Haggling: havent done any, haven't needed/wanted to. It's mostly handbags, scarves, fridge magnets. Nothing I want.
Am having a ball. Today is day 2 out & about on my own. Am going to see some Shanghai Biennale. Free entry on Tuesdays to the paying exhibitions at Power Station of Art. Rest of the time it's only 20rmb anyway.
And someone should warn first-time vistiors, especially those who might be a bit timid, about crossing the roads. The traffic signals are serving suggestions only. So much cursing came out my mouth yesterday morning til I got the hang of it! And the metro is excellent. I have a 3 day unlimited ride ticket that cost 45rmb.
Thank you for all the great advice. Happy travels everyone.
posted by stellathon at 7:11 PM on December 8, 2014
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Don't start negotiating a price unless you're 100% buying whatever it is.
That's pretty much the golden rule of haggling. Never ever start haggling if you know you're just window shopping.
The other important rule of haggling is not to sweat the local price too much. You're a tourist. They know you're a tourist. You don't want to get completely taken for a ride, but don't stress about small change or take it too personally if the person you're buying from simply won't budge.
posted by Sara C. at 10:51 PM on November 30, 2014 [1 favorite]