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shanghai is an amazing place - I'd move there in a heartbeat. Was there in December and again in January. make sure you get to live somewhere in the french concession area, there are some great bars and locations. A big expat scene around there tho mostly corporate bankers and their wives / young kids. Riding surface ranges from good tarmac (with a million cars) or badly potholed streets - there's not much in between. in the summer it's very humid but in winter it's perfect weather (for us).
try to take as much time off to see the interior of the country too. Inland china is incredible for completely different reasons.
Do it!
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i've been it's fucking insane there. absolutely incredible. worked out there for a few weeks a few years back. i loved it.
i didn't see any fixed bikes while i was there, but then there are so many bikes around there must be a few fixed gears. plus shanghaiese are all about trends, so if you start riding a fixed around, there'll be a huged fixed scene within a few months.
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I have mixed feelings about Shanghai.
On the up side, the city itself has a lot of history, and I find it nicer than HK or Taipei (where I'm from). The local dialect sounds a helluva lot nicer than Cantonese. The cost of living is quite low for anybody earning European-level wages.
On the down side, it is, IMHO, a city that's grown too much too quickly. There's a bizarre mix of modernity, wealth, and third-world mentalities. Granted, I look Chinese, speak Mandarin, and I was hanging out with local people when I was there, so I felt that quite keenly. You'll encounter much less of that if you're European-looking and hang out with expats.
That said, I'd be willing to live there on a short-term contract, as long as I'm guaranteed the option of returning to London at the end of the contract.
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you can get a serviced apartment for less than that
I had a 2 bedroom place for £36 here
http://www.newharbourserviceapartments.cn/
good location too.this one is nice too:
http://www.howardjohnsonallsuiteshotel.cn/I would mix it up a bit because you get different views from the hotels.
save a bit on most days and then spoil yourself with a few days at the grand hyatt in the jin mao tower.
it's worth it. -
Don't know too much about hotels :( but I'm Chinese and I'd say that £100 a night is on the pricey side even for Shanghai.
Sohi's idea is a great one. If you stay at a serviced apartment you won't be tempted to eat the overpriced food at hotels. Shanghai (and China in general) has some of the best and cheapest food in the world! Be sure you try the xiaolongbao.
It's very easy to stray in a big city like Shanghai but I'm convinced that the most authentic experience is the one where you spend the least amount of money.
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tell us what the xiaolongbao is ?! before it gets ordered !
It's a small pork bun, a little like a dumpling. It comes steamed and is usually served by the dozen inside a small bamboo steamer basket. You have to pick it up with your chopsticks (gently!) and place it in your spoon before nibbling at the top and drinking the soup inside and finally eating it.
Delicate and involved process but well worth the effort!
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No matter how much someone tries to convince you of the benefits of snake blood or liquor, do yourself a favour and just say no! (Unless of course you want to venture to the dark side.)
Also be careful of the kooks who sell dog meat at their restaurants. It's a real danger, I tell ya. More so in the winter because of its purported 'warming' properties.
I shudder to think of the weird and not so wonderful things my countrymen consider to be delicacies.
dim sung but more fancy and damper ?!
It's exactly that! It's like Norther Chinese dim sum!
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About
Shanghai - anyone been?
Posted by
@jonhings
Just got word there might be a transfer on offer through work for 6 to 9 months. Anyone been? Any experiences to share? Is there a fixed gear scene out there?
Sorry for the off-topic-ness, thought I'd ask you worldly people. Just pretty excited!