Suzy's Adventures
Shanghai Delight
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Do you love New York City?
Well, we've discovered a city that's Manhattan and more.
You must visit Shanghai, China at some point in your life. It's a city that melds yesterday and tomorrow. If you thought the Western world was leading the way, you'll leave Shanghai with quite a different impression.
So, change those summer plans or start saving for a trip of a lifetime.
In the 1930's, Shanghai earned a reputation as the most entertaining city in the world. Like the Las Vegas of today, the former Colonial outpost had become a haven for bad guys and those looking for a good time. The Communists cancelled the party in 1949 until the 1990s when the Party allowed Shanghai to reemerge with the goal of becoming the commercial center of Asia.
Suzy's Weekend Itinerary:
Upon arriving at the J.W. Marriott Hotel (a step up from the domestic chain), we were swept upwards to the 38th-floor lobby. With brilliant 360-degree views, the vista and sheer humanity is breathtaking. More than 17 million people inhabit Shanghai (that compares to nine million in Manhattan). It takes two elevators to get to our rooms on the 56th floor.
No rest for the weary, we immediately make a reservation at Jean-Georges for lunch. The internationally-recognized chef now has a chic outpost on the "Bund", one of the most famous streets in China. The prix-fixe lunch keeps us on budget but feeling fancy. Jean-Georges has views of the "Pudong", the business district with soaring skyscrapers that are more art than architecture. After this sampling of French fare, it's the perfect time for long walk along the Bund and the Huangpu River, appreciating both the colonial architecture as well as the skyline of tomorrow.
We perused the shops on Nanking Street back to our hotel, getting a better understanding of how many people really live here... the streets are jam-packed, literal throngs of humanity. We picked up a couple of items at Uniqlo, the Japanese J.Crew and sipped a green tea latte at Starbucks - the most conspicuous foreign presence in Shanghai. Needing a pick-me-up, we hurried back for spa appointments before a late dinner.
When in China, get a massage -- at the popular foot massage palaces or at a dedicated spa. The Mandara Spa in the J.W. Marriott was luxuriating and rejuvenating ... Green tea at check-in ... A power shower set up by the masseuse ... A rose-milk bath and massage for the feet ... More tea ... And oh, yeah, the treatment we came for -- an hour of aromatherapy massage.
For dinner, we headed to Crystal Jade, a restaurant in Xin Tiandi, which is an upscale cultural mall where the money of East meets West. We went in search of Shanghai's best "xiaolongbao" or dumplings with broth. "Soup dumplings" resemble the ones we eat in America but imagine a lighter pastry that you bite that top off and enjoy the soup before devouring the rest of the shell. Note to self: let them cool off before biting. Several glasses of wine later, we jumped into a cab -- the cheapest thing in Shanghai. On average, our trips cost $2!
Sunday was all about seeing the historic Shanghai. We hired a tour guide and a van to lead us to the most picturesque spots like China's most famous Buddhist temple and the Dong Thai Road Antiques Market, a shopper's dream for fabulous chotchkis like mahjongg boards, chess sets and Communist memorabilia. Be ready to bargain!
We wandered around the old district and visited the Yu Gardens, where the Bill Gates of centuries ago created an outdoor palace of Zen. Finally, we stopped for a tea ceremony that was all Galpal -- sampling the best of China's teas from Oolong to Black to Green and specialty sips that cure all of your ills. Magnificent! Then it was time to segueway to the present and we stopped at Plaza 66, home to the greatest conglomeration of Western designer shops we had ever seen. We moved from Tod's to Gucci to D&G. And yes, the biggest LV store in the entire world. Sigh...
For our final night in China -- we had spent the previous week in Beijing -- we showered and headed cross the river to Pudong and the Grand Hyatt Hotel, which boasts the highest bar in the world. Cloud9 is located on the 89th floor. By the time your ears pop and you've taken three elevators to reach Cloud9, you need a stiff drink. We felt nearly dizzy -- and it wasn't the espresso martini. The view at dusk is spectacular. And so are the drink prices! From there, we headed to a down home joint to enjoy a final night of Chinese comfort food -- dumplings, noodles and veggies -- at Shanghai Uncle, a restaurant recommended by our lovely guide, David. We cheered on a Chinese wedding reception -- the bride in red! -- and choked on the celebratory cigarettes.
The next time someone suggests a getaway to Paris, London or Rome, think globally. Tell them you'll meet 'em in Shanghai.
Well, we've discovered a city that's Manhattan and more.
You must visit Shanghai, China at some point in your life. It's a city that melds yesterday and tomorrow. If you thought the Western world was leading the way, you'll leave Shanghai with quite a different impression.
So, change those summer plans or start saving for a trip of a lifetime.
In the 1930's, Shanghai earned a reputation as the most entertaining city in the world. Like the Las Vegas of today, the former Colonial outpost had become a haven for bad guys and those looking for a good time. The Communists cancelled the party in 1949 until the 1990s when the Party allowed Shanghai to reemerge with the goal of becoming the commercial center of Asia.
Suzy's Weekend Itinerary:
Upon arriving at the J.W. Marriott Hotel (a step up from the domestic chain), we were swept upwards to the 38th-floor lobby. With brilliant 360-degree views, the vista and sheer humanity is breathtaking. More than 17 million people inhabit Shanghai (that compares to nine million in Manhattan). It takes two elevators to get to our rooms on the 56th floor.
No rest for the weary, we immediately make a reservation at Jean-Georges for lunch. The internationally-recognized chef now has a chic outpost on the "Bund", one of the most famous streets in China. The prix-fixe lunch keeps us on budget but feeling fancy. Jean-Georges has views of the "Pudong", the business district with soaring skyscrapers that are more art than architecture. After this sampling of French fare, it's the perfect time for long walk along the Bund and the Huangpu River, appreciating both the colonial architecture as well as the skyline of tomorrow.
We perused the shops on Nanking Street back to our hotel, getting a better understanding of how many people really live here... the streets are jam-packed, literal throngs of humanity. We picked up a couple of items at Uniqlo, the Japanese J.Crew and sipped a green tea latte at Starbucks - the most conspicuous foreign presence in Shanghai. Needing a pick-me-up, we hurried back for spa appointments before a late dinner.
When in China, get a massage -- at the popular foot massage palaces or at a dedicated spa. The Mandara Spa in the J.W. Marriott was luxuriating and rejuvenating ... Green tea at check-in ... A power shower set up by the masseuse ... A rose-milk bath and massage for the feet ... More tea ... And oh, yeah, the treatment we came for -- an hour of aromatherapy massage.
For dinner, we headed to Crystal Jade, a restaurant in Xin Tiandi, which is an upscale cultural mall where the money of East meets West. We went in search of Shanghai's best "xiaolongbao" or dumplings with broth. "Soup dumplings" resemble the ones we eat in America but imagine a lighter pastry that you bite that top off and enjoy the soup before devouring the rest of the shell. Note to self: let them cool off before biting. Several glasses of wine later, we jumped into a cab -- the cheapest thing in Shanghai. On average, our trips cost $2!
Sunday was all about seeing the historic Shanghai. We hired a tour guide and a van to lead us to the most picturesque spots like China's most famous Buddhist temple and the Dong Thai Road Antiques Market, a shopper's dream for fabulous chotchkis like mahjongg boards, chess sets and Communist memorabilia. Be ready to bargain!
We wandered around the old district and visited the Yu Gardens, where the Bill Gates of centuries ago created an outdoor palace of Zen. Finally, we stopped for a tea ceremony that was all Galpal -- sampling the best of China's teas from Oolong to Black to Green and specialty sips that cure all of your ills. Magnificent! Then it was time to segueway to the present and we stopped at Plaza 66, home to the greatest conglomeration of Western designer shops we had ever seen. We moved from Tod's to Gucci to D&G. And yes, the biggest LV store in the entire world. Sigh...
For our final night in China -- we had spent the previous week in Beijing -- we showered and headed cross the river to Pudong and the Grand Hyatt Hotel, which boasts the highest bar in the world. Cloud9 is located on the 89th floor. By the time your ears pop and you've taken three elevators to reach Cloud9, you need a stiff drink. We felt nearly dizzy -- and it wasn't the espresso martini. The view at dusk is spectacular. And so are the drink prices! From there, we headed to a down home joint to enjoy a final night of Chinese comfort food -- dumplings, noodles and veggies -- at Shanghai Uncle, a restaurant recommended by our lovely guide, David. We cheered on a Chinese wedding reception -- the bride in red! -- and choked on the celebratory cigarettes.
The next time someone suggests a getaway to Paris, London or Rome, think globally. Tell them you'll meet 'em in Shanghai.
