FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: Shanghai travel

  • Shop Up a Storm on Shanghai’s Fuxing Road

    The Chinese city of Shanghai is made for tourists who want to shop ’til they drop.

    Most of them will flock to the well-known shopping strips on Nanjing Road, Yuyuan Shopping City, and Huaihai Road. But you'll find more interesting souvenirs and save some money for the rest of your Shanghai trip if you take the path less traveled and explore the under-appreciated Fuxing Road. Start your shopping trip at the junction of Ulumuqi and Fuxing Roads, and travel west down Fuxing. That might seem daunting in a foreign speaking country, but Shanghai's street signs are translated into English, and they happily give compass directions as well! If you're unsure how to get there, simply hail a taxi and tell the driver you want to visit "Woo-loo-moo-chee loo, foo-shing loo." The word lu, which sounds like loo, is the Mandarin word for road. Make sure to leave at least two to three hours to explore the stores at your leisure. The last thing you want to do is rush down this beautiful leafy part of China! It's easy to miss your first stop, the Skylight Tibetan Gallery, as it's tucked away down a couple of steps from the road. Look out for the distinctive yellow building, which sells gorgeous Tibetan goods including handmade silver, coral, and turquoise jewelry and cotton apparel. You won't be able to bargain here but the prices are relatively affordable, particularly for the quality of the merchandise. Then cross the road to visit Shanghai Trio's workshop on Lane #37. Here you'll find traditional Chinese textiles including purses, duvet covers, and clothes. Again there's no bargaining, but older lines are often discounted. Everyone loves to take home a T-shirt from their travels, and Urban Tribe is a great place to find one. Travel a few minutes down Fuxing Road to find the store which features hand-dyed cotton tees alongside photos of Asian landscapes, unique silver jewelry, and quirky pottery. Recharge your batteries with a cup of Chinese tea in the garden at the store's rear.Global Travel Image Keep walking west on Fuxing Road to find SQ Décor. It's a small store with plenty of attitude known for its modern interpretations of traditional Chinese crafts. Think brightly colored porcelain, funky glassware, and even the Chinese ancestor painting printed on throw-pillow cases! Turn left and you'll come to your final destination, Le Passage Fuxing. This revamped art deco building is now home to a couple more shops and the café Ginger. Chowing down on its Chinese take on tapas is a great way to end a busy day of shopping!

  • Chinese Treasures at Shanghai Museum – Free Display of Asian Artifacts

    The Shanghai Museum houses one of the most exciting and largest collections of artifacts in China, and best of all, entry is free.

    The museum is a wonderful place for tourists to immerse themselves in Chinese culture, thanks to the stunning displays of calligraphy, and porcelain, bronze, and jade artworks. It’s easy to spend at least half a day exploring all four floors of this treasure trove, although parents may find they have trouble keeping children interested for that long.

    While the building is stroller-friendly, it doesn't have the kid-friendly exhibitions we see in so many of the world's museum. If you have little ones, prepare for a few complaints. The audio tour costs a few yuan, but it's an investment worth making to get the most from your visit. The tour will highlight some of the most important artifacts on display and detail the background of these key pieces. While you're thinking about additional costs, traveling exhibitions often stop at the museum. These are also affordable at around 20 yuan, but don't feel pressured to see them, particularly if your time or budget is limited. The permanent collection is certainly vast enough to occupy frugal travelers. The Shanghai Museum is located at #201 Renmin Avenue in Shanghai, at the southern end of People's Square. You can take the subway to People's Square and follow the signs, or tell your taxi driver to take you to "Shanghai boh-oo-gwan." It opens daily between 9 am and 5 pm.

  • Stay at Shanghai’s PuLi Hotel and Spa, China’s First Luxury Urban Resort

    Ordinarily tourists have to travel to the coast or rural areas to enjoy the serenity of resort style accommodation.


    But new resorts, like Shanghai's PuLi Hotel and Spa, are looking to change all that. Located in the heart of bustling Shanghai, the PuLi Hotel and Spa is China's first luxury urban resort. There are 209 standard rooms and 20 suites located across the resort's 26 floors. It's just a short walk from Shanghai's business and entertainment districts, shopping malls and tourist attractions. However, once you're safely inside the resort's walls, it's easy to forget about the hustle and bustle outside. A meal at the hotel's restaurant Jing'An is a great way to relax at the end of the day. It offers a seasonal menu of Western dishes complemented by traditional Asian fare. The 120-seat restaurant is named after its views of nearby JingAn Park. You can enjoy lunch or dinner there, or a few cheeky cocktails at the attached Long Bar.China Provinces map If that hasn't calmed you, consider a soak in the Jacuzzi or a treatment at the city's first Anantara spa. The spa's treatments are a real experience as they use ancient techniques from China, Thailand, and India. Emphasis is placed on the beneficial powers of natural products including moisturizing avocado, purifying ginger, and healing volcanic stone. Personally I can't imagine wanting to work up a sweat with all this pampering around, but if you do you can work out at the state of the art fitness center. There's high tech gym equipment, a sauna and steam room, and lap pool. A night at the PuLi Hotel and Spa doesn't come cheaply, with rates starting from $500 US a night. However, if you want to come away from your vacation in China feeling truly relaxed, it may be money well spent.