Things we've learned in our travel to Shanghai

#1 Shanghai is beautiful and you need a very good camera.
#2 Hold on to your camera tightly. Do not leave it in a holster or camera clip to your pants. Practice making a weird face and shouting something that sounds German or Russian so when a nice couple of college students approach you, asking to practice their English, you can use that weird face and shout the nonsense you've practiced. Unfortunately we didn't think of this until after our camera was stolen. They are good and quick so just be careful and have fun with it.
#3 Study some books on Shanghai. Some I would highly recommend is Frommer's Shanghai and Culture Shock Shanghai". You can get a lot of info from the web but we found it very helpful to have these books with us in our backpack, to refer to for restaurants or sites to see next.
#4 Be prepared for the type of weather they are having at the time you visit. Don't count on buying clothes there unless you are a size 4 or under.
#5 Unless you are a size 4 or smaller prepare yourself to feel like a giant Amazon. The Chinese are generally very small people compared to the average American. We think it is the way they eat, which is very healthy. Although I don't think it's because they are health conscious since more people smoke in China than anywhere else in the world. One in every three people will probably be lit up.
#6 Be prepared for cigarette smoke everywhere you go. At first I thought I was going to have a real hard time with this since I'm allergic to cigarette smoke but I almost appreciated it since it covered up the sewer smells that would pop up, any and everywhere. (Hey, 20+ million people smell!)
#7 When you get into a taxi you should have something that shows where you want to go in Chinese. Supposedly the taxi drivers don't understand English but I've had a few experiences that I would argue that point. Anyway, show them where you want to go, have a map ready to try to follow how they are getting there and on the front dashboard in front of the passenger seat there should be a sign with their name and number. TAKE A PICTURE OF IT! If you don't see that, don't take that taxi. Make sure they start the meter when you go and ALWAYS GET A RECEIPT! The normal fare for around 3 miles would be about 10 RMB. We got charged 100 because we weren't aware of the info I just gave you....


#8 Be prepared as a foreigner to be approached by salespeople wanting to sell you a watch or bag. Those two things are the most often offered. Mao, sounds like mayo, means NO. Practice that and zia zia which sort of sounds like she she. That means Thank you.
#9 Those books I mentioned plus Fodor's Shanghai, all give you phrases to practice. Do it!
#10 Use these books to help you plan what to see. Frommer's is great because it shows you what to see if you only have 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, etc. There are also car, bus, boat and walking tours. Check with the concierge at your hotel.
#11 Use a backpack and keep bottled water with you.
#12 Get a massage as soon as you get there and if you are there for more than a few days get another one before you leave. I paid $22 for and hour and a half, for a Chinese deep tissue massage. Your feet and back will love it and I felt more comfortable getting one at Green Massage than I have at most places here in the states. It's a great deal and feels wonderful!


#13 More to come when I think of them, which I do all the time!