Haaaave You Met...WT: Shanghai

For quick readers:

- Went to Shanghai over the weekend, despite typhoon reports. Made it back safely!
- My first time in China! Very busy and a lot of tourists
- Practiced my Mandarin, I got better throughout the trip!!!!
- Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung = Happiness & Delicious
- Nanjing road is a great place, beautiful view at the Bund
- Taxi drivers are crazy!!!! Pedestrians don't exist to them
- Felt that we successfully conquered Shanghai in 2 days

For detailed readers:

Over this past weekend, I went to Shanghai, my first time in China! It was reported that there were typhoons in Shanghai so I was a little scared to go, but nature's rain and wind won't stop me.

My adventure to Shanghai started once I got to the airport. We were happily eating at KFC when we realized that we had 30 minutes to get to our gate. Little did we know that we had to go through a series of stations before boarding the plane. First, it was 2 passport checks, baggage security, and a TRAM TO OUR TERMINAL. The whole time, we were running so hard; unfortunately I had shin-splints on both of my legs so I was lagging. Nonetheless, we made it to our gate just as they were closing the doors. This is kind of disgusting but I was sweating hardcore on the plane...

Upon arrival at the Pudong airport, all the buses stopped running so we didn't really know how to get to our hotel. This airport service offered to drive us to our hotel for 450 RMB and claimed that they were the only service available to us and taxis were more expensive. Not only did we later realized that they tricked us (taxis were cheaper), they made us wait around for 45 minutes for them to get a van to pick us up. Big mistake...

We went to the hotel and slept, getting ready for a fun-filled day tomorrow. The reason why I was excited for Shanghai were the Xiao Long Baos; they are small dumplings with soup-like juice in them. We took a taxi to Yuyuan Garden and immediately went into a Xiao Long Bao restaurant. To our surprise, the first xiao long bao we tried were utterly disgusting. They were hard and DID NOT have the juice in them! I was very disappointed that we went to this restaurant, what can I say, it said "tourist landmark" next to the store name.

To clean the bitter taste of Xiao Long Bao in our mouths, we decided to line up for this famous Xiao Long Bao shop. It was an extremely long line; we waited for almost an hour. Logically speaking, if so many people we waiting in line for this place, the xiao long bao MUST be good. It turned out decent: not the best, but definitely not the worst. After the food, we went into the Garden.

It was recommended that Nanjing Road is a must in Shanghai so that's where we went after. Just a note, taxi drivers in Shanghai are CRAZY! They drive like there's no tomorrow...pedestrians are basically invisible to them and at times when the places were crowded, the taxi would be inches away from hitting someone. Very scary.

Nanjing Road is basically an area for shopping; endless shopping. While we were walking, we were approached by a gentleman who wanted to sell us fake designer bags, watches, clothes, etc. We ended up visiting one of the "secret" shop out of curiosity. It was definitely unexpected to see that the hidden passage way to the shop was through a shelf door in an art gallery. Behind these doors, in order to survive, you must master the skills of bargaining. I will blog about my philosophy of bargaining later on, but to cut a long story short, bargaining did happen.

We basically stayed around the area for the remainder of the day. FUN FUN FUN!

The next morning, we really craved good Xiao Long Bao, so we searched the Lonely Planet's guide to Shanghai and found that there was a Din Tai Fung nearby. According to Cliff, it is very good, so we were all excited to go. We took a taxi, but the taxi driver didn't know what we were talking about so he dropped us off on our requested street. To cut a long story short again, we ended up at a Din Tai Fung that happened to be in the area by chance. The actual Din Tai Fung we were looking for was in another area, Xintiandi. Din Tai Fung = heaven! So goood!

After the voluptuous meal, we went to Xintiandi and to the Bund. The Bund reminded me of Hong Kong's Victoria's Bay, a river and tall buildings. It was a nice area to take pictures. We wanted to go to Pearl Tower, but we ran out of time and had to go to the airport. The Pearl Tower would have sealed the deal for me in Shanghai, but we missed out. There was a roller coaster in that tower! Too bad...nonetheless, Shanghai is a great city, and I got first hand view on its booming developments.

Side note: I was able to practice my mandarin in Shanghai! It is difficult to get around without knowing the language so it was great practice for me. Thanks Mom for those Saturday morning Chinese classes; it was useful after all.

Here are the pictures:

On the way to Yuyuan Garden. Yea, It was raining a bit...

Very nice architecture, the alley before Yuyuan Garden

In Yuyuan Garden

Delicious Xia Long Bao...so we initially thought...these were HORRIBLE!

The FAMOUS Xiao Long Bao store with a LONG line

We waited so long for these; they were "ok"

A lot of fish!!!

In the Garden, "Garden of ten thousand flowers." I did not see a single flower!

Coca-Cola is everywhere! In the afternoon picture...

At night picture

Nanjing Road

Din Tai Fung...by chance. Xiao Long Bao, so good!! They have it in the States, go eat there!

I look like a little kid at a candy store...literally

Xintaindi, it's a place for nightlife so going there in the afternoon was a mistake

The actual Din Tai Fung we were looking for, in Xintiandi

Underground Tunnel to cross the Huangpu River, flashy lights with weird music

Advertisers Attention! A moving digital screen. It works, everyone was watching it. Imagine this showing movie trailers or TV spots in a highly-congested area.