Shanghai, China
BUT MOSTLY: EAT. WALK. EAT. REPEAT.
- More about your Oliver Guide: John Leary
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: 5 DAYS
to & from
United has nonstop flights from San Francisco, but the planes are older 747s that as of now (June 2017) are not as modern as much of the rest of their fleet (e.g., no personal video screens in economy). (United flies Dreamliners from LAX, which are great). On the positive side, United from San Francisco can be cheaper than some of the other carriers, and because we flew on a Wednesday, the flight was only about 1/3 full, so all three of us had a row to ourselves.
Upon arriving at the airport in Pudong, there’s a taxi line for relatively cheap cabs, or you can take the high-speed “maglev” train to its station in another part of Pudong, and there, the taxi line is usually shorter. Plus, you got to ride on a train that goes nearly 250 mph!
Where to Stay
- All the major hotel chains have hotels in Shanghai, but book carefully - if you are traveling for pleasure, you will want to stay on the "Puxi" side of the river, not the "Pudong" side. The Puli, Shangri-la, Portman Ritz Carlton, and Four Seasons all operate hotels that are not far from the Former French Concession (FFC) where the best bars, restaurants and sightseeing reside.
- If you want to stay near Shanghai's Bund (their scenic riverfront), the Westin, Peninsula, or Waldorf Astoria is a good choice. The "Hyatt on the Bund" is actually on the "North Bund," but their Vue bar on the top floor may have the best view of the Bund in the entire city.
- Because the competition is relatively fierce in Shanghai, each of these hotels usually costs far less than you would pay somewhere like Hong Kong or Tokyo (or even San Francisco). For a good local option, the Donghu Hotel on Donghu Road is a beautiful recently renovated hotel located in a quiet garden in the middle of one of Shanghai's streets for nightlife.