Escape from Beijing - Shanghai

I have always said that I really like to travel, and now I get to check another place off my list.  I have just returned from my 3 day trip to Shanghai!  I went with three other friends of mine from Tsinghua.  While most people take the high speed train to Shanghai, we ended up taking a flight because it was surprisingly cheaper at 927rmb vs. 1100 rmb (~$150 vs. $180).  However, in retrospect it might have been better to take the train.  We got cheaper tickets because we flew a lesser known airline so the service was a bit slower and whatnot.  But $30 saved is still good, right? =)  Just as a warning, I forgot my camera on the trip this time :(((  So all my pictures are from my phone and they aren't the greatest quality... you'll get the idea haha.

Shanghai is known as the big financial city in China.  It's known as a good shopping place (but expensiveeee compared to elsewhere), a good place to go out, and as an area that is one of the more international/modern cities in China (ex: skyscrapers, TONS of expats).  Being in Shanghai, I saw much more non-Asian people (expats) than I ever have in China.  It definitely gave the city a different feel.  One thing that I found a little odd was that even though there were many expats in Shanghai, the expats I saw weren't necessarily integrated into the Asian society.  Many times the expats I saw together were of the same race versus groups of expats and asians together.  Just something I noticed.

One of many shopping areas

A reallllly pretty park in Shanghai.  We don't see these ever in Beijing :(

skyscrapers

More shopping!

Of course, since we were in the financial city of China, there were a lot of skyscrapers!  My friends and I got to go up the Jin Mao tower which is the second highest building in mainland China.  The building has 88 floors and we got to go all the way to the 87th floor.  It took us 3 different elevators to get us all the way up!  My ears popped a crazy amount of times haha.  The Hyatt owns the top 30 floors of the Jin Mao tower and on the 87th floor they have a restaurant/ bar.  My friends and I enjoyed a glass of wine and the nice view =)

Jin Mao tower

Drinking wine is so much classier on the 87th floor ;)

Going out in Shanghai was really different from Beijing as well.  We went to two different club/bars.  The first one was called M1NT and it's known for having sharks!  Except I was really disappointed when I saw the sharks :(  For some reason, I was picturing a huge shark tank in the middle of the dance floor with a really big shark inside :P Instead, they had mini 1-2ft long sharks in a separate hallway leading up to the dance floor.  Sigh... not the same.  My expectations were too high haha.  The second one we went to was called M2.  Surprisingly, I didn't like going out as much in Shanghai.  The crowd in Shanghai is a lot older, I'd guess average age in the 30s, which made it feel a little weird clubbing with people who were that much older.  I also felt like the music just wasn't as good as Beijing has.  I was surprised because I had heard so many people say Shanghai was the best city to go out in China. 

Overall, I liked the feel of Shanghai better than Beijing.  The city actually had parks! and trees! and omg no squatting toilets!  The things you come to appreciate once you come to China.  Unless I was in a traditional area in Shanghai, it definitely felt more like any other big city like Chicago.  One area called The Bund I swear was almost a replica of Michigan Ave. in Chicago.  We went during the day and then at night because we had heard it was worth it to see it at both times.  They looked sooo different from each other, and I would say much prettier at night with all the lights lit up!  

The Bund: Day view

The Bund: Night view

Even though I liked the city of Shanghai, I was excited to come back to Beijing. Beijing feels like home now and I was actually excited to come back to Tsinghua!  Even though it took some adjusting in the first month or so, I've really started to like this city and I will be really sad when I have to leave.

One thing that does make me a little sad being here is how little attention the whole Christmas season gets here.  Back in the states, you can tell Christmas is coming all around you after Oct. 31st.  Not so in China :/  I love the time leading up to the Christmas season.  All the music, the decorations, the foooood... so whenever I see any little Christmas related things in China it makes me happy.  While Beijing really doesn't have anything, Shanghai did!!  Maybe it's more because it's such an international city?  Either way, it made me =)

Starbucks holiday cups!