Shanghai Shi Travel Forum

I only been to beijing once. Now a friend going to shanghai for 9 nites with his family and asking my help for what to do. He is not keen to travel all the way to Biejing and want to spend all 9 nites in and around shanghai.

I request the great elleyse or someone else to please pen down some activities for a family for this many days in shanghai and surroundings.
thanks a lot

Hi Makazi

I've lived in China for the past 7 years, the last 4 of which have been in Shanghai, so hopefully I can help a little.

You didn't say the ages of your children, or when they will be coming to Shanghai. That matters, as Shanghai can be a tiring and hot place.

Recommended for children:

1. Pudong - top of Pearl Orient TV tower for panaoramic city views. This is the futuristic looking needle tower that is often in pictures of Shanghai. Make sure to go on a clear day.

2. Shanghai Zoo - it's near Hongqiao, not a bad place to spend an afternoon as long as it's not too hot

3. Dino Beach water park - Shanghai's man-made beach. (less than enthusiastic review here: http://shanghaiexpatlife.blogspot.com/2007/08/dino-beach.html But the review is written by a mother. Kids like it more!)


Outside of Shanghai

1. A trip to Hangzhou is a common and safe recommendation. It's a 2 hour train ride from Shanghai and worth it. Hangzhou is famous for its picturesque West Lake. Personally I think Hangzhou and the Lake are overrated, but there are more cultural things to do in Hangzhou than in Shanghai. Any guidebook can guide you to those.

2. Go to a watertown, like Zhujiajiao or Zhouzhuang. These are villages that are navigated by canals. They are worth three quarters of a day. Take a boat ride and have lunch there. Child friendly.

Hope this gets you started.

Crewrower

Thanks a lot crew. i really appriciate that. the kids are of age 8, 10, 12 & 16. pretty grown up i guess.

Shanghai is good for three days since it is not particularly historic and doesn't show much tradition of China. Then get the heck over to Beijing. If you take a poll of Chinese as to which of these two cities they most recommend to foreign visitors, I think it would be 10 to one Beijing.

I would hate to think these kids will have only one visit to China and spend it in the modern clothe shopping capitol of China. Send them to Beijing whether they want it or not. They simply mustn't waste 9 day in Shanghai.

Travel is a great thing for children. Agree that Beijing is an important place to go, but time in Shanghai would surely not be "wasted". In some respects, there is more history to be discovered in Shanghai. Examples include the Jewish quarter, and hisotry of the Communist party. You can visit small museums and houses of people like Zhou Enlai. There is less of this by comparision in Beijing.

Look on http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/China/shanghai.htm for some kid-friendly activities in Shanghai.
Seriously though, what are the kids and parents more interested in, for sightseeing? I don't know what to suggest otherwise!