<p>Going to Shanghai for business in a few weeks and will have a free day. Sights to see, things to do? Any travel suggestions? Is it worth hiring a tour guide or can I get around by myself?</p>
<p>The people I am doing business with are VERY used to dealing with Americans (90% of their business is with Americans), but are there any customs, etc. I should keep in mind?</p>
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<p>Although I’d make some inquiries for recommended tour guides, if you develop a good rapport with your Chinese business associates, you may not need to hire a tour guide yourself as one is likely to be provided for you. Either one of the associates themselves or someone appointed to do so on their behalf. </p>
<p>In fact, this may be done as part of their effort to build a longer-term business network. If you’re amenable to that, it may help you along in your business dealings and in finding a personalized tour guide.</p>
<p>As for customs, I’d defer to others with more current experience, but my general impressions from being in China and having had dealings with Mainland business people at work and in extended family social gatherings is that they’re much more likely to be understanding and forgiving of Westerners who make a few minor faux pas out of well-meaning ignorance…especially those who don’t “look Chinese/East Asian”. </p>
<p>On the flipside, if one does “look Chinese/East Asian” they do tend to be a bit harsh until they realize one’s not a native-born Chinese like me(American-Born Chinese) or someone who’s Korean or Japanese.</p>
<p>Live there for 16 years love that city 
u can get everything u want there</p>
<p>When I was on Nanjing Road, I got to see a very interesting knockoff goods crackdown. I still laugh because my aunt was still trying to haggle off this dude who was trying to flee the scene before the cops got him.</p>
<p>Anyways, for shopping, the Yuyuan and Nanjing road are great areas for shopping/sightseeing. </p>
<p>Maybe take a ride on the maglev if you are going through the airport and you want one of the world’s fastest trains to take you to the subway network (or vice versa).</p>
<p>Definitely visit the pearl tower. It’s a very scenic view.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about customs too much. They’ll probably be super nice and try to help you with whatever you need.</p>
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<p>Ahh, yes. </p>
<p>I learned my haggling skills in China in places like Nanjing Road. Still comes in handy when negotiating prices on CL or in rental/business contracts with landlords/vendors.</p>
<p>You’ll be amazed at how many people speak English. The old areas - the Bund, the French Concession, some of the shopping areas, etc. - are the places that still have character. The big day trips are Suzhou, which isn’t far, and Hangzhou. Suzhou is very pretty. </p>
<p>They like business cards, as you likely know. Hand them over nicely, ideally with two hands so it’s face up because it’s your name and your name is supposed to be valuable. My brother, who is there fairly often, has his translated on one side. (He also has a card that says “no tiny dried shrimp please” for street meals.) I’m not sure how much this is true for women, but asking what we see as personal questions is normal. You don’t have to answer in detail or very truthfully, just show interest. And if you’re stuck for conversation, ask about business. You can ask anyone how their business is doing. One of my kids, who understands Mandarin, would hear people around her saying things about her - some really rude - but mostly stuff like “go practice English with American - or white or sometimes blonde - sister”. Less likely to occur in Shanghai but people may literally step in front of you and go “Hello!” </p>
<p>I’m sure you know not to stick your chopsticks in your bowl, especially straight up. If you go to a Chinese funeral, you light incense and stick it in a bowl like that so you’re conjuring up a death. The rest of eating stuff I think is pretty old-fashioned, like don’t eat everything because that says your host hasn’t ordered enough. I don’t think younger people notice like that. </p>
<p>And as cobrat says, it’s not only that they forgive Westerners but they sometimes retain a cultural superiority that says we’re not able to be up to snuff. We sometimes do the same. </p>
<p>Since it’s business, I assume you’re checking about gifts now. That’s still a thing. And I assume you know about basics like the numbers 4 and 9 - which sound similar to words for death - versus 8 which sounds similar to prosperity (and is why my phone number is loaded with 8’s and why the 818 area code in CA has so many Chinese-Americans now). </p>
<p>It’s nothing you can’t look up in 5 minutes.</p>
<p>As for a guide, I’d play that by ear because you never know if the person actually speaks real English or knows anything about the city or cares about anything. I don’t know if that’s true when engaged through a top hotel or a Western company but service industries in China are a real mixed bag.</p>
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<p>Actually, only 4 sounds similar to the word for death in Mandarin. The superstition for 4 is such that 4th floor apartments/rooms of some buildings in both Chinas could be rented for much less than other floors. While it’s not taken as seriously by folks in my generation or younger…especially those with some education, it’s still a factor. </p>
<p>9 sounds similar to “long-lasting” which can have positive connotations and has been used extensively for positive/historical things like the 9 rank system in the Imperial Chinese Civil Service. I’d be interested to hear where you got the idea 9 sounds similar to “death” as that’s not the case for Mandarin.</p>
<p>It’s been a while, but I enjoyed my brief visit to Shanghai a few years ago.</p>
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<li><p>Stayed at the Peace Hotel (Heping Fandian) in the Bund, a classic old art deco hotel, lovingly restored, and a window into Shanghai’s past. Even if you don’t stay there, it’s worth visiting. Nice cafe and restaurant and a lively jazz club onsite.</p></li>
<li><p>The Bund. Lovely promenade along the river, great for an evening walk through the heart of colonial Shanghai with a handsome old skyline, street vendors, and families out for an evening stroll, with the glass and steel towers of the new Shanghai Pudong district looming across the river.</p></li>
<li><p>Yu Yuan Garden (Garden of Contentment) is a classical Chinese garden, an idyllic island of calm and beauty in the middle of the city.</p></li>
<li><p>Shanghai Museum in People’s Square in the Huangpu district is a world-class collection of the finest art and artifacts from ancient China through each of the Dynasties. There’s nothing like it in China or elsewhere; much of the good stuff was carted off by European powers, the Japanese, Nationalists, or looters, and much of that dispersed through international markets. Much of the best of what’s left in mainland China is in this museum. This is a real treasure, a window into China’s soul.</p></li>
<li><p>Fuxing Park is a quiet green oasis in the old French concession of central Shanghai where the locals come to recreate, exercise, play cards and board games, fly kites. You’ll feel you know something of the life of the people of Shanghai if you spend an hour or two here.</p></li>
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<p>Soup dumplings (Xiaolongbao)!</p>
<p>I heartily second bclintock’s and the Cardinal’s recommendations!
***Also may I suggest reading Shanghai Girls on the way over? I just love reading novels set in the places I travel to!</p>
<p>I don’t remember where I got 9 … so I texted an old friend who teaches Chinese and she said I made it up in my head.</p>
<p>Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe at the Shanghai Center Theatre is great! Definitely check into the protocol of giving gifts. When the businessmen from Shanghai visited us, they brought gifts in fancy velvet boxes. There used to be some gifts inappropriate (Watches- I can’t remember the reason.) I negotiated Shanghai on my own with an 18 month old in tow. The hotel concierge hailed the taxi and wrote down where we were going. Always kept a hotel business card with me that said “take me back to hotel…”. Everyone was INCREDIBLY nice and loved to practice their English.</p>
<p>I would get a guide. It is one of the more English friendly cities in China but if you have just one day you don’t want to waste half of it figuring out which direction to go.</p>
<p>Shanghai is much easier to navigate than other places in China because the streets are marked with names in both Chinese and western alphabets–one can get around with a map fairly well. </p>
<p>To add to bc’s recs:</p>
<p>The history museum at the base of the Pearl Tower was interesting, and describes the British occupation, etc. from a distinctly Chinese point of view.</p>
<p>The circus was fun. I came away thinking that Circ du Soleil wasn’t as original as I thought.</p>
<p>Everything bclintonk suggested. (I really liked the Peace Hotel.)
It’s really really crowded but the Old City is a good touristy thing to do.<br>
Try Old Town God Temple Snack Street or Wujiang Road - for street snacks.
Hangzhou is a nice day trip - good place for silks.</p>
<p>I agree with cobrat. They are very forgiving of foreigners but the Shanghainese are tough on Chinese people who do not speak their dialect (it doesn’t matter where you’re born). Sometimes they relent if they know you’re an overseas Chinese.</p>
<p>Thank you all.</p>
<p>^^As a gift, you cannot give some one a clock, not watches, in Chinese, giving a clock is phonetically similar to see his death.</p>
<p>Even I had only two days stay in Shanghai, I do love the Peace Hotel. The breakfast room view over the river is breath taking. But I think two days are the maximum for sightseeing in Shanghai, it is a big city and that is all.</p>
<p>I really liked the Tourist Tunnel ride under the river! Also, watching all the boats at night. Most are beautifully lit up.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, my youngest d is moving to Shanghai in December so I am fascinated by everything about the city. Please, come back here and tell me about your impressions. Have a great trip!</p>
<p>I returned to Shanghai a few years ago after first seeing it in the dark ages, otherwise known as the early '80’s. When first there, I slept on the carpeted floor of a massive closet in the Peace Hotel, all rooms in the city being booked for the Pan Asian games. Budget travelers stayed in the Peace in that era. </p>
<p>Last time, I stayed with my S, teaching English post college. Wander the streets out of tourist areas. Far more of life is lived on the streets in China than in the USA. </p>
<p>When tired of wandering, watch the sunset from the 87th floor of the Hyatt in Pudong, while having a drink and snack or dessert. [Cloud</a> 9](<a href=“http://www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/Cloud9.html]Cloud”>http://www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/Cloud9.html)</p>
<p>Onward, S had a great time and still loves Shanghai!</p>