What can I EAT and where is the most "in" place to eat it? What can I BUY that is expensive and interesting and trophy-like that I can "show and tell" with when I return? What can I quickly SEE that is noteworthy among the 1% so that I can talk about it when I get back. The travel articles of the NYT do a great job of providing quick answers to such YUCK questions for the rich but ignorant cretins among its readership to whom it typically panders so well. It wasn't always this way at the NYT, but times have (sadly) changed.
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I went to Shanghai and enjoyed the old Radisson Blu Shanghai New World. Spacious rooms and excellent location near the Bund; good value for money.
French Concession had a lot of charm but got pick-pocketed by a very skilled running young man. Was quite astounding and this is just a word of warning to other travelers!
Except for the Shanghai Tower, I went very different ways. And just looking at some of the Buddhist temples in Shanghai gives a very different impression, with actual city substance. People who live there, people who visit, not just people who go shopping or deluxe sightseeing - and the usual China oddities. Getting farther out is still highly recommended, if not the easiest thing to do. China is considerably more than Shanghai...
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I was not a big fan of Shanghai after my visit a couple years ago, but visiting "Flair," the rooftop bar on the top of the Ritz Carlton in Pudong, was incredible.
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30 years ago, the Huangpu River was almost black, the air was tinged with cigarette smoke, but after Beijing's foul air it seemed like paradise to this American. A thousand people politely standing on a street corner. This American got lost walking with his wife. Lo and behold, an elderly Chinese gentleman, with perfect Oxonian English, got us back on the right path with a curiosity about us and flawless manners. Always, loved the pace and vibe of
the place, but I wonder if I'd like it now with all those new high rises on the other side of the Bund. Thanks for a great article.
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This iteration of "36 Hours in..." epitomizes the fatuousness of the entire genre. It's essentially a boiler-plated guide to luxury travel to yet another exotic-sounding destination, permitting the well-heeled or expense-accounted traveler to cherish the illusion of "experiencing" a foreign city, enjoying international-style luxury (Michelin-starred restaurants and great shopping!) while getting just enough of a taste of local culture (in a museum), and taking in a panoramic view of other skyscrapers from a high-rise cocktail lounge, to say you've been there.
Shanghai is so much more interesting a city than this, even for a short visit. The casual visitor would be better advised to start at any market and just walk and look. And the casual reader would at least have the benefit of a reporter's evocative description of how Chinese people actually live. (And, yes, I briefly lived there.)
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I agree, having visited Shanghai twice. I liked exploring and hearing jazz in a real hole in the wall, not extravagant place, where sipping a beer or San Peligrino was all that was expected--no cover charge.
But, frankly, I love Taiwan. It seems not to be a major American tourist destination, compared to the mainland. Taipei is such a good base to see a lot via daytrips. Next time (hopefully I will get back), I plan to go into the countryside. I found the people incredibly friendly. Of course Taipei is minuscule compared to Shanghai and each has its unique features and lifestyles. But Taipei warms my heart much more than Shanghai. Not to mention the Taiwanese love baseball includingnthe Baltimore Orioles!
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