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Boonna 2

I have thoroughly enjoyed the original Boonna Cafe ever since I arrived in Shanghai for its welcoming attitude and nonchalant wait staff that I could care less how long I sit there and work.  However, ...
I have thoroughly enjoyed the original Boonna Cafe ever since I arrived in Shanghai for its welcoming attitude and nonchalant wait staff that I could care less how long I sit there and work.  However, the space is small and always crowded in the afternoons, so I am often forced to find another work space. Since Boonna 2 opened, I need only head down Fuxing Road to find another great work space with cheap food and great coffee. Depending on one’s needs, Boonna 2 might even be my preferred cafe, as it has more space, less smoke, and great lighting for a computer screen or book.
 
Boonna 2’s menu is priced the same as its more bohemian original, but the menu is larger and offers more significant lunch and dinner choices.  They even have a make-your-own sandwich option; we enjoy the tuna and bacon that is piled high with fresh cut veggies. Specials are another excellent option; I can get a healthy vegetable sandwich and a cup of uplifting coffee for 20RMB. 
 
A pleasant walk down Fuxing Road, past the Iranian Embassy, and across the street from Club JZ, Boonna 2 is a must.  Wireless internet should be working by May, but give them a call to be sure.
 
How to get there: Take Metro Line 1 to Changshu Road Station. Follow exit signs to Fuxing Lu, or take Huai Hai Lu and head west, about a block, until it intersects with Fuxing Lu. Head west on Fuxing Lu for several blocks, Boonna 2 is on the left across the street from Club JZ.

Chunxi Lu

Chunxi Lu could be included in the shopping category, but because of the brand names, bright lights, and crowds of people it is likely better suited as a tourist stop. Filled with brand name shops from around the world, Chunxi Lu is an expensive place to go shopping. You could probably buy the sa...

Chunxi Lu could be included in the shopping category, but because of the brand names, bright lights, and crowds of people it is likely better suited as a tourist stop. Filled with brand name shops from around the world, Chunxi Lu is an expensive place to go shopping. You could probably buy the same goods in your home country for similar rates. However, make time to walk down Chunxi Lu and night and witness a scene reminscient of Times Square in New York or Trafalgar Square in London. Bright lights and enormous colorful advertisements make your head spin. It is a perfect microcosm of the new globalized capitalist economy of China. The Chinese love to shop here, simply so they can say they bought the item at Chunxi Lu. Adidas, Gucci, Kappa, Nike, Seiko, Ito Yokado are just a few stores on Chunxi Lu. Try to avoid a visit on a weekend, as you will likely be overwhelmed by throngs of shoppers shoving their way down the promenade. The street is free of cars and sidestreets are filled with street vendors selling yummy snacks filled with sugar to keep you in a shopping frenzy.

Directions: Simply walk in the direction of people with shopping bags, slightly east/southeast of Tianfu Square. When the stores begin to get fancier with more and more recognizable brand names, you know you are close. All taxi drivers will know Chunxi Lu. 

Mingwa Alley

Mingwa Alley is one of the best little streets to find an assortment of xiaochi (snack, 小吃) vendors in Nanjing.  There are so many xiaochi here that an adventurous person could make an entire meal out of a wide variety of little snacks.  There are a few Muslim noodle joints,...
Mingwa Alley is one of the best little streets to find an assortment of xiaochi (snack, 小吃) vendors in Nanjing.  There are so many xiaochi here that an adventurous person could make an entire meal out of a wide variety of little snacks.  There are a few Muslim noodle joints, several meat kebab (rou chuan, 肉串) vendors, and at least 4 places that sell roujiamo (肉夹馍). 
 
A roujiamo
Side view of a Roujiamo
 
 
While there are a few good places to purchase roujiamo, the original and arguably most delicious roujiamo is served at the stall with the big red sign. This place is run by a woman from Xi’An (西安), the original home of roujiamo.  A standard roujiamo is diced pork, herbs, and hot sauce stuffed into fresh bread that has been baked in a barrel-like oven.
 
Roujiamo Place
One of the best roujiamo vendors.  This one has been around for a long time.
 
Tip: Be forewarned that there is no guarantee that the snacks available at Mingwa Alley are sanitary.  Use your own judgment.  Watch how the food is handled and prepared as well as how the vendors handle their money.
 
How to Get There:  Mingwa Alley is located behind the Bank of China (中国银行) next to Zhongshan Nan Road (中山南路) in Xinjiekou (新街口).  It also runs perpendicular to Shigu Lu (石鼓路).  The alley is only about one block long.  Finding the alley is quite convenient as it is very close to the Xinjiekou Subway Station.

Big Bamboo

Big Bamboo is a great western style sports bar with dark wood décor with good old American posters (I particularly like the poster of Jack Daniels), and a menu that will satisfies the classic western sports bar experience.  Despite being a large two story bar, the space is divided int...

Big Bamboo is a great western style sports bar with dark wood décor with good old American posters (I particularly like the poster of Jack Daniels), and a menu that will satisfies the classic western sports bar experience.  Despite being a large two story bar, the space is divided into several small rooms that make the bar feel intimate. Big Bamboo is a perfect place to bring a bunch of friends and feel like you’re having your own party.

 
Head to Big Bamboo to catch the game of the night on TV. Those seeking some more physical entertainment should locate the the shuffle board table, darts, or the pool table.  Don’t miss out on the generous Happy Hour either which features 20RMB well drinks and beers from 2-8pm everyday.  Weekends tend to get pretty busy, but during the week it shouldn’t be too much trouble to pick up a game of pool or darts.
 
The manager is great and the waitresses are very attentive. There might even be too many waitresses, but they do their job well nonetheless. They’ll make sure you’ve always got a drink in hand.
 
Call ahead to make sure the game you want to watch is on TV.  They have should have all the big games. If not shown live, they will at least be re-broadcasted.  They even play ice hockey games once a week!
 
How to get there:  Take Metro Line 2 to Jingan Temple station.  Exit onto Nanjing Rd, and head east towards the Bund.  After about 10 minutes take a left on Tongren Lu.  Then take a right on Nanyang Lu, Big Bamboo is on the right side just down the block a bit. The bar is directly behind the Portman Ritz-Carlton, but it is not possible to walk through the Ritz to go to the bar.

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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