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China Attractions

Nepali Kitchen

Nepalese food is similar to Indian cuisine, although a few differences make the gastronomical experience very different.  Most notably, the menu here includes more meat options, and the veggies are not cooked as long as they often are in Indian food.  Otherwise the dishes are cooked wit...

Nepalese food is similar to Indian cuisine, although a few differences make the gastronomical experience very different.  Most notably, the menu here includes more meat options, and the veggies are not cooked as long as they often are in Indian food.  Otherwise the dishes are cooked with similar spices and served in a similar style to Indian food. 

 
Nepali Kitchen is located in a renovated lane house, and the restaurant consumes three floors of this charming building.  We ate on the third floor, which was beautifully decorated with Nepalese art and photographs.  The next time I go, however, I will make a reservation for the second floor – where you sit on pillows on the ground and eat in true Nepalese style.
 
Our meal was delicious.  We particularly liked the “cheese balls” for appetizers, which I found quite similar to Spanish tapas, but were very good nonetheless.  For our main courses, the spinach sauté, wild boar, lamb, and vegetable curry were all big hits.  The bread was also great – heavier than Indian Naan, but otherwise very similar. The meal was perfect, filling, but not too heavy.  Nepali Kitchen also boasts an impressive beer selection, (especially for China), plus a nice staff. Nepali Kitchen is definitely worth a visit.
 
 

Take Metro Line 1 to Changshu road station. Exit onto Changshu road and head north.  Take a right on Julu Lu after about 10 minutes.  Nepali Kitchen is just before the intersection with Fumin Lu.

 

Windows Too

Ahhh… the infamous Windows… Ask just about anyone who has lived in Shanghai for more than a month, and they will undoubtedly know something about Windows, even if they’ve never been there.  Windows is THAT bar in college that required a certain mood in order to go to, but...

Ahhh… the infamous Windows… Ask just about anyone who has lived in Shanghai for more than a month, and they will undoubtedly know something about Windows, even if they’ve never been there.  Windows is THAT bar in college that required a certain mood in order to go to, but when the mood struck, it always made for a a fantastic evening.  
 
The original Windows still stands on Mao Ming Road, the former heart of expat nightlife. When the government “shut down” the wild nights on Mao Ming Road most of the bars opened second locations on Tongren Road near the Ritz Carlton on Nanjing Road.  Windows Too opted for a new location, however, that gave them more a little more room to support the throngs of young people seeking CHEAP drinks and a raging party.  Despite the club’s spacious interior, there is rarely a night when there is room to breathe.  My best advice is to head for the bar and take advantage of the cheap drinks. It should make the atmosphere much less claustrophobic, and the crowd much more entertaining.
 
On weekends there is usually a 30 RMB cover charge, which includes a couple of free drink tickets. The tickets are worth 10 RMB, which is conveniently the price of just about every drink at the bar.  It would be difficult to find a better deal anywhere else in Shanghai.  The crowd is a mix of foreigners and locals. While most people aren’t here looking for the love of their life, there will certainly be plenty of choices of dance partners for the evening.  Wear whatever clothing you won’t mind having beer and liquor spilt all over. Have fun!
 
How to get there:  Take Metro Line 2 to Jingan Temple Station.  Windows is inside the plaza right at the station.

Bar Rouge

A wonderful aspect of Shanghai is that it enables visitors to enjoy it’s nightlife as if they are rock stars.  Here, bars such as Bar Rouge – that in New York City, Paris or Tokyo would cost a fortune to simply enter nevermind drink (and that’s all assuming you lo...

A wonderful aspect of Shanghai is that it enables visitors to enjoy it’s nightlife as if they are rock stars.  Here, bars such as Bar Rouge – that in New York City, Paris or Tokyo would cost a fortune to simply enter nevermind drink (and that’s all assuming you look good enough to be let in to begin with) – are actually accessible to regular people.  
 
Typical for this type of bar, there is a cover charge on the weekends of usually 50 RMB. If you just want to check Bar Rouge out, I recommend doing so during the week.  A weeknight visit will still allow you to get a good feel for the bar’s hip scene, as well as avoiding the “here to be seen” weekend crowds.  The most expensive drink on the menu (besides a bottle of Veuve Clicquot) is the house specialty, the Bar Rouge Martini, for a mere 100 RMB.  Buy this drink and the bartenders will put on a show by lighting the entire bar top on fire and tossing bottles around while mixing the drinks.  The ambiance is definitely French – ’Moulin Rouge-ish’, with great lighting and awesome seating sprawled around the bar, which is situated directly in the center of the action. The seating, however, is reserved for big spenders. Desirable seating requires a hefty minimum that  includes ordering a least several bottles of Champagne. However, even standing, patrons certainly enjoy the scene at Bar Rouge.
 
One of the main reasons Bar Rouge has reached its height of popularity is its fantastic location on the Bund.  The bar’s terrace is enormous and provides an incredible view of Pudong’s bright lights, making it a truly breathtaking spot come summertime.  Even in the winter patrons don their (fur) coats to enjoy the view. No matter what type of scene you enjoy, Bar Rouge is worth checking out once for this reason alone.
  
Bund 18 & Bar Rouge Official Website:
www.resto18.com
  
How to get there:  Take Metro Line 2 to Henan Rd. Station.  Exit onto Nanjing Rd, and then walk east for about 10 minutes. Take a left on the Bund (Zhongshan Dong Yi Rd.), Bund 18 is on the corner.  

Fuzhou Lu

The streets running perpendicular to the Bund are named after cities such as Hankou, Suzhou, Beijing, Jinling and Nanjing. Those running parallel to the Bund are named after Provinces such as Sichuan, Henan and Shandong. These streets are thriving areas of activity each of which offers a sample...
The streets running perpendicular to the Bund are named after cities such as Hankou, Suzhou, Beijing, Jinling and Nanjing. Those running parallel to the Bund are named after Provinces such as Sichuan, Henan and Shandong. These streets are thriving areas of activity each of which offers a sample of a slightly different aspect of Shanghai life. Often dwarfed by the fame of its neighboring sister street Nanjing Lu, Fuzhou Lu is an understated, underrated and often overlooked gem.
 
Starting from the Bund, the street runs down to Peoples Square, home of the Shanghai Museum, the Urban Exhibition Center as well as plethora of restaurants, shops and historical buildings.
 
At the end of the Bund, number 19 houses Ristorante Truffre, an exquisite Italian restaurant with a genuinely romantic atmosphere. With main meals at 180 RMB per plate, the restaurant is certainly at the pricier end of the pasta scale. However, Ristorante serves up authentic cuisine, and that’s the bottom line.
 
Further down at number 37 is the Captain Youth Hostel, a firm favorite and legend amongst budget travelers  in Shanghai. The hostel’s bar, offering cut price beers and the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, is wildly popular amongst both guests at the hostel and a loyal resident clientele. Book rooms or beds early to avoid disappointment.
 
At number 209 is the famous American Club. The club was host to American politicians and traders 200 years ago when Fuzhou Lu was renowned for its entertainment and hospitality.
 
Of course, Fuzhou Lu is now known as a cultural centre by most Shanghai residents, the reason being the street’s innumerable book stores. Travelers passing through who are itching for some new reading material should head for two large bookstores boasting a bountiful selection of English language books. At number 390 is the Foreign Language Bookstore, and at number 465 is City of Books, a gargantuan 7 floor building. Despite its size, City of Books only reserves the corner of one floor, the 7th, for English books. Therefore I much prefer the former with its three floors of foreign language titles. Go to the third floor to find modern novels and magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Hello. The first floor contains mostly souvenirs, books about China, and old classics. The City of Books, however, offers a vast collection of western music CDs that are not pirated, yet still rather affordable. Expect to pay around 25 RMB for an album.
 
Past the bookstores, on the left, is the Beijing Opera theater, which is well worth checking out for professional performances. Further down on the right at the end of Fuzhou Lu is the ever popular Raffles City shopping mall, and its impressive collection of retail outlets for all your shopping needs. The basement includes a Hotdog stand and a Watson’s pharmacy, the Chinese version of Boots, which stocks name brands of shampoo, toothpaste and the like.  Across the road is the magnificent Peoples Square, the cultural and traffic hub of Shanghai. The square also marks the intersection of metro lines 1 and 2.  
 
I am confident that as every person who wanders down Fuzhou Lu will find their own hidden treasures.   

Temple Street Night Market

Temple Street (Yau Ma Tei) is located in the heart of a bustling shopping district, extending from Man Ming lane on the north side to Nanking Street on the south end. It was named after a nearby temple honouring the goddess Tin Hau. More than just a market, Temple Street's unique atmosp...

Temple Street (Yau Ma Tei) is located in the heart of a bustling shopping district, extending from Man Ming lane on the north side to Nanking Street on the south end. It was named after a nearby temple honouring the goddess Tin Hau. More than just a market, Temple Street's unique atmosphere makes it a must-see attraction ideal for exploring, shopping, and people-watching.

Temple Street Night Market

Temple Street Night Market is the liveliest night market in Hong Kong. It opens at 4:00pm, but the best time to visit is about 8:00pm as most stalls open after sunset. A wide range of inexpensive items are available in the market, especially for men. That is why it is also called 'Men's Street' (see also Ladies Market in Tung Choi Street of Mong Kok). Aside from shopping for cheap clothes, watches, pirated CDs and DVDs, and fake labels, you can try face or palm reading by fortune-tellers or watch a Chinese opera performance. If you are into collectibles such as Mao memorabilia, old posters, coins, or opium pipes, you will be able to find these treasures on Public Square Street.

Tip:

Always bargain the price down, even if there is a marked or quoted price (marked price is usually unavailable for items like collectibles), see tips for bartering in China.

On Temple Street, go for the street food vendors instead of the restaurants. Head for either Woo Sung Street, which runs parallel to Temple Street to the east, or to the section of Temple Street north of the temple. There is plenty of 'dai pai dong' (open-air street stall) food ranging from fishballs to full meals. To get some warmth in wintertime, don’t miss the pot-rice ('bowl chai fan') or congee that is cooked and served hot to you.

Tip:

A good way to tackle the night market is to start at the top by taking the MTR to Yau Ma Tei and walk south from Portland Street. This way you will end up near the hotels and bars of Tsim Sha Tsui when you have finished shopping.

Hours:

Daily from 4:00pm to 12:00 mid-night

How to get there:

- At Yau Ma Tei MTR station exit C, walk along Man Ming Lane, turn left, walk along Shanghai Street for three blocks you will reach the Public Square Street.
- At Jordan MTR station exit A, turn right and walk along Jordan Road for three blocks.

Estimated duration of trip:

3 hours including shopping and dinner. 

Also See:
Jade Market and Jade Street
Tin Hau Temple

Jade Market and Jade Street

The Jade Market is located at the junction of Kansu and Battery streets. More than 450 stalls offer the full gamut of varieties and grades of jade inside two covered markets.

Tip: Unless you have advanced or professional knowledge of jade and...

Zentral Healthy Eatery

My home away from home and office, Zentral is my absolute favorite place to eat a healthy meal, sip on a great latte, and enjoy free wireless internet for hours with nothing but smiles from the sweet (and bilingual) wait staff.
 
The menu is a fantastic mix of western dishes t...

My home away from home and office, Zentral is my absolute favorite place to eat a healthy meal, sip on a great latte, and enjoy free wireless internet for hours with nothing but smiles from the sweet (and bilingual) wait staff.
 
The menu is a fantastic mix of western dishes that are sure to please any foreign guest. My favorites are the fresh bread with olive tapenade, the veggie burrito, and the Norwegian smoked salmon sandwich.  For lunch and dinner, Zentral also serves pizzas, pastas and wraps.  Instead of fries, each meal comes with Zentral’s home baked tortilla chips and fresh salsa (yummy and addictive – a big basket is offered as a starter).  A big breakfast menu features omelets (including an option of egg whites only), pancakes, and build-your-own breakfast sandwiches.  The smoothies are also great. My current favorite is the Power Boost, a healthy mix of bananas, milk, yogurt, and protein powder.  For lunch and dinner Zentral also boasts a few imported wines and beers as well as the option to add a shot of vodka to your favorite smoothie…
 
Perhaps the most original aspect of Zentral’s menu is that each item is listed with its calorie, fat, protein and carbohydrates content.  In a town (or an entire country) that loves oil on every dish, this health driven restaurant is greatly appreciated by the health conscious and those that need a break from the heavy local Shanghai cuisine.
 
Zentral offers a fresh ambiance with a non-smoking section in the back along with a cozy corner of couches to lounge on.  A small but nice selection of English books fills the shelves in the corner and adds to the feeling that Zentral would love for you to stay all day. Enjoy!
 
How to get there: Take Metro line 1 to Huangpi Nanlu Exit onto Huangpi Nanlu, and then walk south until you hit Fuxing Lu (about four blocks).  Zentral is on the corner and easy to spot.

Other Locations:
R27-28 Pudong Green Sports & Leisure Center, No.633 Biyun Lu, Shanghai (上海市碧云路633号碧云体育休闲中心R27-28)
Tel: +86 (0)21 5030 6047

No.567, Huangpi Nanlu, (by Fu Xing Zhonglu), Shanghai (上海市黄陂南路567号, 近复兴中路)
Tel: +86 (0)21 6374 5815

Simply Thai

Simply Thai offers an authentic touch of classic Thai cuisine. Having lived in Thailand myself, I feel confident in testifying to their authenticity. The Simply Thai location in Xintiandi has a beautiful outside dining area that pours out onto the street. For those who aren’t fond of the cold, worry not, as there is an ample supply of heated lamps. Inside the lighting is soft and though the restaurant is small, you don’t feel exposed or overheard. The wine selection is impressive, particularly the ’wine of the month’ offerings, which are nothing short of spectacular. I recommend the clay pot roast duck and pineapple rice, or the chicken and coconut soup for those with a spicier palette. Many people take their children to Simply Thai, as there are enough options on the menu to keep their softer palettes happy, not to mention the desserts. Be sure to make a reservation on weekend evenings!

Simply Thai locations:

Madang Lu and Xingye Lu (in Xintiandi), Shanghai
TEL: +86 (0)21 6326 2088

5C Dongping Lu (near Hengshan Lu), Shanghai
TEL: +86 (0)21 6445 9551

Mei Entertainment Jie, 28 Lane, 3338 Hong Mei Lu, Shanghai
TEL: +86 (0)21 6465 8955

China Articles

Top China Tours

$238 Per Day

Private Hangzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train

Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.

This is a private, full-day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou. After you are picked up in your hotel lobby in the early morning, you will take a bullet train to Hangzhou. This is the fastest way to Hangzhou and you can experience train speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Your tour begins at one of Hangzhou's signature sites, the West Lake. Enjoy a lake cruise to see the top ten West Lake scenic views. You will then be taken to experience the wonderful cuisine of Hangzhou at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit Faxi temple, a well-known Temple dating back to the Jin Dynasty. See its famous wooden Buddha. Here, you will see fewer tourists and more locals. Finally, enjoy a cup of green tea when you visit the famous Longjing village to see wild fields of Longjing tea bushes where the locals produce the world famous green tea- Longjing Tea. In the village, all locals are tea farmers and you will see the entire procedure of making the famous tea and will get the chance to taste the best quality emperor tea. Afterwards, you will take the bullet train back to Shanghai and you will be returned to your hotel.


$150 Per Day

Guangzhou

Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou

Arrive in Guangzhou in the morning, you will be met and transferred to hotel, then visit Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall is a very famous historical scenic spot. It is in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the great revolutionary forerunner. After that proceed to visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. It is a unique site for offering up sacrifices to worship ancestors of 72 Chen families in Guangdong. This ancestral temple is also the largest, best preserved and best decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province.

Day 2 Guanzhou Tour 

After breakfast, you will go to Yuexiu Park first, the largest and the most famous park in downtown Guangzhou. There are three artificial lakes and seven hills of Yuexiu Mountain. Then you will visit Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which is one of the four best Buddhist temples in Guangzhou and located on the Liurong Road (meaning the Six Banyan Trees Road). The Nanyue King Tomb Museum is a must-see Guangzhou attraction, which dates back to 2,000 years ago, is the earliest large scale painted stone chamber tomb ever found south of the Five Ridges. Buried with the tomb owner in a jade shroud are a gold seal and a lot of exquisite jade adornments. It has become a world famous museum. After the day tour you will be transferred to airport for your next destination.

$53 Per Day

Pingyao Highlights Walking Tour

Pingyao Highlights Walking Day Tour

With our guide to know the Ancient Pingyao better!

Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 08:00 or 08:30, then show you the ticket office to get the ticket for the museums we will visit later.

First we will visit the 700 years old City wall, We will climb up from south gate and have a walk on the wall. We are not sure how many km we can walk, because of the renovating of the wall. Normally we will walk from south gate to the Yunlu Exit.

Then visit the Confucius temple, there is a old building named Dacheng Hall which is over 840 years old. From outside, we can see the big wood joints to lift the big roof around the building which is named Dougong. Due to this design, there are less columns inside the hall for giving the big space for the statues and the prayer. We have chance to see the Confucius statue and learn the philosophy of Confucius. If you like, you can pray for you and your children to get better study.

There is the Paper Cutting master named Wentao nearby the exit of Confucius temple. She is very smart and create the new style paper cutting with much more details and good wishes on it. Her products are made by hanks. It is worth to visit and buy as a souvenir from Pingyao. From the table standing and wall hangings. Please remember, take the red one because of red is the traditional and happy color. But the white one is the best. It is really difficult to choose, because of all of them are really nice.

Then you can have coffee break or tea break if you need at Chummy coffee, after this, visit the City god temple (ChenghuangMiao) which is most beautiful temple inside the wall. Because of the roof is covered by the colorful glazed tiles. There is not only city god and also the three money gods, Now you know why pingyao was the financial center.

Next we will visit the Ancient government building, to see the pingyao politics center in the ancient time. It is the complete building with officials bed room, kitchen and private garden. Follow the guide to look the official’s life from the 250km far away from the hometown.

Have a stroll in the alley to the Rishengchang exchange bank, which is the first bank all of china.You can not miss it.

After lunch, walk to the Ming and Qing street, this is the shopping street full of the stores on the both side of street. You can find alot things here , from post card to lacquered boxes, and wall panels. One more place to see, it is the Armed escort agency also named security and transport service for the business man before the bank founded.

Inlcusions

1.private english speaking tour guide servcie

2.bottle water for the tour