| Shanghai |
RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 07:04 AM UTC
1) Yes, Zhouzhuang is very touristy, crowded but it is my prefernce for the scenery and compactness. Join a guided tour or hire an English speaking guide when you are there. The famous local pork and chicken are over-rated - oily and salty.
2) If you have time to get organized and adjust welll to time zone, generally better to do your adventure early, have your day trip the first weekend. The second weekend is always your back up and you can spend more time shopping. There are many places in Shanghai worthy of visiting, the Museum is worthy and don't forget to try the famous xiaolongbao and Yuyuan Garden.
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| Shanghai |
RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 07:38 AM UTC
I think the first weekend, you should visit Hangzhou,spend two days there. it's so close to shanghai. The west lake and the tour sites dotted in the mountain of west part of hangzhou will make you forget all the troublesome things.
Besides Zhouzhuang, you can also choose Xitang, Wuzhen to be your watertown tour destination. Of course, zhouzhuang the most famous, but in my eyes, these three watertown is just same.
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| Shanghai |
RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 07:53 AM UTC
we were in Shanhai following a group tour.
They brought us to QiBao which is an hour away from Shanghai. This is a new water town and just opened for tourism a couple of years back.
Hangzhou is beautiful and should not be missed.
When to go? Its all depends on the date and weather. (avoid the golden weekend if possible).
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 07:59 AM UTC
Is there a way to get from Pudong airport to Hangzhou direct? If no, is there a place in Shanghai where it's safe and I can leave some things first before going to Hangzhou?
Of the 3 watertowns that you mentioned, which is the most accessible from Shanghai? How long is the journey, how much and how often does the train go?
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 07:59 AM UTC
When is the golden weekend?
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 08:01 AM UTC
golden holiday
From Oct 1 to 7
and May 1 to 7
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 08:07 AM UTC
there is shuttle bus running directly from pudong airport to hangzhou(please look from my hangzhou travel page)
for the 3 water towns, no any train pass it, you can take bus at the Shanghai Stadium(metro line 1). there are tour bus run to the 3 town. I think the Xitang is the closest.
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 09:03 AM UTC
Do you know how long the journey is and how much it costs?
Is this meeting point at the PVG airport hard to find?
Can I buy the ticket on the bus?
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 09:25 AM UTC
it takes 3hr and about 120yuan, you can buy the ticket on bus,(not necessary to buy in advance). You'd better ask the airport officer/staff to show you the station.
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 09:29 AM UTC
What is the name of the stop/station? Or I can just say shuttle to Hangzhou?
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 09:40 AM UTC
From Pudong Int'l airport to Hangzhou:
10:30,12:00, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:00
place: the parking lot on the second floor opposite to No.15 Gate of int'l airport
You didn't read my page;))
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Tue September 12, 2006 02:05 PM UTC
I did :) but you said to ask the staff to show me the station so I asked which station in case they dont get me.
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Wed September 13, 2006 04:57 AM UTC
Yes, there're direct airport shuttles to Hangzhou.
I've been to almost all the water villages around Shanghai, some even more than once! My favourites so far are Xitang (http://www.xitang.com.cn ; where Mission Impossible 3 was filmed), Tongli (http://www.tongli.net ; where there's an awesome Museum of Sex Culture), Luzhi (http://www.luzhi.cn) and Zhujiajiao.
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Wed September 13, 2006 04:58 AM UTC
And yes, I've been to Zhouzhuang, and it wasn't as good as some of the others that I've been to. Too touristy and crowded.
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Wed September 13, 2006 05:19 AM UTC
Thanks for the input. How does one get to Xitang, Tongli etc? Far?
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Thu September 14, 2006 01:24 AM UTC
There're transport instructions on the websites that I provided.
Basically, it's a combination of train and bus, or bus.
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Thu September 14, 2006 03:28 AM UTC
Is it possible to do Xitang, Zhouzhuang (or Tongli) and Hangzhou in one weekend? Any connections between them? I will get in either Sat morning or afternoon. And need to go in for work on Monday afternoon in Shanghai.
Also I will have to carry my business things with me and am worried its not safe/convenient in the smaller towns or along the way. Any thoughts on this?
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Fri September 15, 2006 04:09 AM UTC
I dont think its feasible no...I have been from Shanghai to Hangzhou and to fully appreciate Hangzhou, you need to stay at least one night there. Then to go to Xitang, you may need to go back to Shanghai first Im not sure. You could see yourelf doing a lot of toing and froing.
I was part of the team that made Mission Impossible 3 in Xitang, so i would definitely recommend it as a place to visit..a great little village. And if you pass a kodak shop, look for the photos hanging on the wall outside..you'll see me in a crowd next to Tom Cruise!
As for carrying your things..it will be a pain if you were to take them out with you everyday..why not leave them in the hotel, in the safe?
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Fri September 15, 2006 04:50 AM UTC
I was definitely thinking of staying one night in Hangzhou before going to Xitang. As for my things, I was thinking if I could put it in SH instead of lugging everything to the little towns.
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Fri September 15, 2006 04:58 AM UTC
But then you would be leaving at pudong airport if youre taking the direct bus to hangzhou, and that would be even more of a pain to have to go back to Pudong airport upon returning from xitang. And plus, i dont know if they have any lockers at the airport anyway! You need a shanghai expert for this question!
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Fri September 15, 2006 09:11 AM UTC
Goodness, no!!! Hangzhou would warrant a full weekend by itself. I guess you could combine it with Xitang, but not with Xitang AND Zhouzhuang/Tongli! :( You'd be spending the entire weekend in transit just getting from place to place.
Don't know what to advise for the last 2 replies (sunset_gal and sugarpuff), you two have got me confused...
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| Shanghai |
RE: RE: 2 weekends Posted: Fri September 15, 2006 09:21 AM UTC
Fortunately, i do not need the advise, as I too would be highly confused!!!
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