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| Hip and happening Shanghai |
 FAST-PACED and exciting, Shanghai is a combination of old-world charm and modern marvels. Hosting the Expo 2010, Shanghai Rolex Masters 2010 and HSBC Championship Golf Tournament from May to November this year, now is the perfect time to visit!The city is divided by the Huangpu River, with Pu Xi area in the west, and Pu Dong area in the east. Here are some essential places to visit: The Bund is located in Pu Xi, at the edge of the Huangpu River. Originally a British settlement, the area houses 52 buildings with obviously European design. To the east, you get a view of the new Shanghai skyline, comprised of the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower and the Jin Mao Tower, which looks like a modern-day pagoda. We suggest you first take a stroll on Nanjing Walk Street during the early evening; then, proceed to the Bund to catch the mini light show from across the water which starts at sunset and ends at 10 p.m. daily. After taking in the sights of modern Shanghai, go to Yu Yuan Garden for some souvenirs and traditional Chinese trinkets. Walking into Yu Yuan is like stepping into an old kung fu movie. But closer inspection will reveal Mc- Donald’s, KFC, Starbucks and Dairy Queen integrated into the old architecture. After shopping, walk along the zigzag bridge across the koi pond for some traditional Shanghainese food at Lu Buo Lang restaurant. Xintiandi and Taikang Lu in the old French concession are perfect places to dine and purchase paintings, prints and specialty items. Have tea or coffee alfresco and watch the crowd. Also, check out the small independent art stores, galleries and jewelry and craft stores. Plaza 66 on Nanjing Xi Lu is the premier shopping mall located in the Jing An district. Here you will find the shops of Louis Vuitton and Hermes, as well as other luxury brands. Across the street in Golden Eagle Square is Gucci’s flagship store, Burberry and Coach. Down the street, going towards Jing An Temple, are the Salvatore Ferragamo store at the Shanghai Center, Marc Jacobs and the Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel. Here are some things to remember as you go about this dynamic city: Bring a taxi card. Most hotels in Shanghai provide their guests with bilingual taxi cards for the cab drivers to read. These cards have simple instructions, such as “Please take me to my hotel.” Be ready to haggle. When shopping around the local markets, expect the sellers to bloat prices. Purchasing the items at about 25%-50% of the original quote is the general practice. Be ready to use a squat toilet. It is not uncommon to encounter squat toilets, especially in older areas. Westernized seat toilets are also available, but mostly in new buildings. Catch an acrobat show. There are two choices of acrobat shows, one being more traditional Chinese and the other more updated, like a Chinese Cirque du Soleil. The shows are normally staged daily in the evening. Spend a day out of town. Suzhou and Hangzhou are the neighboring towns outside of the city. Visit a silk factory, where you can touch the silk worms and unwind their cocoons into thread, or watch a show performed over the West Lake. This 2010 is a very special year for Shanghai! Witness the historical events and call Griffin Sierra at 898-2451 to 57 or email sales@griffinsierra. com.ph. Look for Mitzi, Allan or Shiena. Also ask about specials on domestic weekend getaways for Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Legaspi City, Laoag and Palawan! Comments (0)
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