China Travel Forum

I am led to believe (via another forumite who posted this info as a warning and then it magically disappeared!) that at present the Bund area in Shanghai is undergoing major renovation work. I believe this is in anticipation of the Shanghai Expo.

Does anyone know when the Shanghai expo is on?
And How long this work is likely to go on for?
And will it (hopefully) be finished by September?

The work is apparently centred around the Bund, The Peace Hotel and interferes greatly with any photo opportunities in that area, especially over the river to Pudong.

Ellyse, I am sure you know the answer to this one! Or perhaps someone else out there who lives in Shanghai.

PS A warning tip with photos can be found in the Shanghai page of this person, please email me if you want details.

Ive just googled Shanghai Expo

Unfortunately it is on May to October 2010 so Im pretty sure that there will be a lot of work going on between now and then, I was hoping it would be all over and done with by September, but looks like it wont! Damn....

Yes, I posted a report and some photos of the very extensive work being done on the Bund and other parts of Shanghai in preparation for Expo 2010. As I looked around Shanghai today, I saw even more changes taking place. It seems they are putting a new paint job on all of the buildings that front on major roads or are near landmarks. If you are coming to see the Bund, you won't be able to walk on the riverfront until late fall, I think. Look at the pictures on my tip and judge for yourself.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/1e4db/f4fc8/8/?o=2

Thanx Ray for the link to your tip. I guess we travellers have absolutely no control over what building work happens in a city once we are booked. However, it may deter some people from going there if not already booked ... at least until after all the work is done, which by the sounds of it may not be for many many months.
I myself am not too deterred ... one lost photo shoot will inevitably create another one somewhere else.

Lindy, I think if we can't walk along the pedestrian walk at Huangpu park to take photos of across the river, there is always the river cruise which will take you smack dab in front of the pearl tower et al. and we can take photos from there. That's my 'Plan B' in case I can't sneak onto the pedestrian walk by the tip of Huangpu Park...

Yep Sandi, that sounds like a good "Plan B" (there always has to be a "Plan B" in life!) As I said, one lost photo opportunity will always create another one.

Not long till we go now, Im down to 59 sleeps! I have the worst flu ever at the moment, so Im hoping to get it all out of my system before September!

Isn't it, like, winter over there right now down under?? Poor you! Yes, I'm going to research the boat cruise. Apparently, it's cheap and you can still get a good photo of the pudong area (which is what I'm aiming to do), although I confess I'm greatly downheartened by all the construction happening when I'm there...and I can't do anything about it! Ah well...if you find out anything more on the pedestrian walk construction, please post it here on this thread so I can get the update too! I'll post another thread closer to September, see if anything new comes up.

Yes Sandi, it sure is Winter, although where we live, we are lucky to have a quite mild winter. Probably coldest days are 10 degrees if that, today it is about 16 and sunny. No snow here, although sometimes on the mountain there is. Although, one day last Winter we built a snowman in our front yard!!! It was amazing, a large fall of snow in Balgownie - youd have never thunk it!!!

I have a friend living in Shanghai, I might email him and ask for the low-down on the Bund building work closer to September.

Sorry, currently in Singapore with not much in the way of Net access.
I'm pretty sure that the renovation and reconstruction will still be around in September.
Other than the cruise, I think another good vantage point for the Bund would be Riverside Promenade (in Pudong, along the river). I also remembered getting good photos of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower from Riverside Promenade as well as the area around Oriental Riverside Hotel.

There is a tunnel under the road to cross from Nanjing road to the river walk. Touts were bothering people to take a river boat. I didn't understand what their problem was until I got out of the tunnel and found the barrier.

What is the average rate to jump on one of these boats and have a tour of the river in front of the pudong section (hopefully in the early evening when the lights go on?). Any particular spot I need to be to get a good deal (and a safe cruise!)?

I think all those cruise boats are much the same, honestly. I think they cost around 70 RMB for an hour-long cruise.