I'm going to Shanghai China iend of March, beginning of April

[M.D. Holloway]

I'll be spending 10 days in Shanghai - mostly in a bunch of manufacturing plants teach our engineers and managers over their how to do surveys and write reliability proposals. At first I was a bit anxious but now I'm getting pumped up for it.

I'll be flying Biz class on Korean Air, a 777 into Seoul (14 hours from DFW) and then to Shanghai (2+ hours).

How is Korean Air biz class on a 777?

Shanghai isn't the best place to see what China has to offer for a tourist but for a manufacturing point of veiw it will be an eyeopener - I will have access to lots-o-factories. I alreadey have a bunch of letters from various companies inviting me in. Thats will helpbecause I have to have a work visa in place prior to going.

[alf]

Korean Air Biz is OK, but they have middle seats, make sure you do not get one of those. Their first class is usually empty and have flat beds, try really hard to get bumped to that.

Shanghai is a freaking huge metropolis, sort of like NYC. Lots to see and do, where will you be staying?

[hytem]

Tell them you want to see Zhouzhuang, the old canal town close to Shanghai. The ginger-smoked Wansan pig is out of this world. This is where the Chinese tourists go.
Shanghai restaurants are known for fish and shrimp. Take a walk along the Bund. And see the new Shanghai Museum in People's Square. The best store for shopping is still the no.1 Friendship store. Stay away from the fake Rolex watches sold on the streets.

[nostatic]

Shanghai kicks ass. Best big city I've ever been to.

Learn to say, "bu yao" (boo - yow) a lot. Means "don't want."

Do dinner at night on the Bund.

[badcar]

Incredible Thai food at Face....where most ex pats go.

I'll be there on the 14th of April...factory visits south in Ningbo....yippee

[Joeaksa]

Another vote for an aisle or window seat. Korean is nice in Business. You will have a good time there but watch out for the eats...

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

. You will have a good time there but watch out for the eats...

?

best food I've ever had was in Shanghai. Just don't drink the tap water.

[nostatic]

If you're on an expense account, definitely hit M on the Bund. Lan Na Thai in the French Concession is great. And hot pot can be found most everywhere. 1221 is an ex-pat place with really good food as well.

Some ideas and previews of what you'll experience:

http://nostatic.com/weblog/shanghai.html

Buy the Frommer's guide. I know the author

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by nostatic

?

best food I've ever had was in Shanghai. Just don't drink the tap water.

Tell him about the sweet and sour chicken. Do not forget to tell him about the bones, cartlidge, skin, meat and all being thrown into the pot and cooked then served as one meal.

They do not cook "Chinese cooking" like we are used to in the rest of the world. Only the better restaurants make it as we "round eyes" are used to here. Not worse, just different. Its their world and thats how they make it, and we Americans are used to something totally different.

Agree with the water comment and he might take some zithro with him just in case...

[nostatic]

Joe, I hate to tell you but sweet and sour chicken is white people food

The bones, etc are where the flavor resides. I didn't have a bad meal in Shanghai, and I was *not* eating in western-friendly places. My tour guide literally wrote the book on the place, so we hit all the best dives, holes in the wall, etc.

Just go assuming that all the "Chinese food" you had in the states was crap. Because with few exceptions, it likely is. The food is sooooooo much better (different *and* better imho) over there it isn't even funny. Thankfully there are a couple of decent Chinese places in LA, otherwise I'd never even try to order it here.

[nostatic]

not sweet and sour chicken:













damn, I'm hungry now.

[M.D. Holloway]

Got my first round of Hep A & B vaccine today - on the companies suggestion. Also got a bottle of cipro just in case I catch a bug.

It is on the company so I will not have to worry about saving money. I don't know where I am staying yet but I will have a few locals to help me get into some trouble. I have a pretty strong gut but I will look out for the tap water. As long as the stuff is cooked and I see someone else eat it I'm game for almost anything.

I think the thing I'm most psyched about is the opportunity to really get into the Chinese manufacturing plants operations. From what I have heard and read they are more automated than you would expect. We shall see!

[Joeaksa]

Funny, I did not see any fried chicken feet in there. You going to keep sugar coating it for him or let him try the things that the locals eat all the time.

[M.D. Holloway]

Anything that spends 8 weeks stepping in its own shyt should not be eat'n! My guess is thsat I will loose about 15 lbs that week!

[nostatic]

good gawd Joe, for someone who has lived around the world you sound like my friends who have never stepped outside their home town. You won't die if you eat the local cuisine. You *will* likely get sick if you drink the tap water though.

You will likely be shocked and amazed by the operations over there. No problem that can't be solved by manpower and hand labor. Rent "Manufactured Landscapes." The opening shot is inside a factory where they assemble small appliances. Amazing.

http://www.filmforum.org/films/manufactured.html

http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/

Click on "China" under the works menu, then manufacturing.

[nostatic]

[jluetjen]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Funny, I did not see any fried chicken feet in there. You going to keep sugar coating it for him or let him try the things that the locals eat all the time.

I'm pretty sure that chicken feet is more of a Cantonese dish. I suspect that you're more likely to find it in the Hong Kong area then up by Shanghai. It's a totally different style of cooking. My inlaws are Cantonese (my wife loves Chicken feet), and when I went to Chengdu I didn't see much that I recognized. It was all obviously Chinese food, and many of the ingredients were the same, but the preparation method and flavoring was completely different. My understanding is that the cooking in each region is pretty distinct and different from the others.

I usually don't ask too many questions about what a dish is until after I try a bite. I figure if they can eat it and live, chances are it won't kill me (but the water will!!!!). If I like it and I then find out it's dog (hasn't happened yet), OK, then I guess I like dog. If I don't like it, it doesn't matter what they tell me it is, I'm not going to eat it. I've usually found that the Chinese are very sensitive to visitors, so your contacts will try not to take to you any place that will make you uncomfortable. They'll order food in the same way. If you want to eat like a local, tell them that this is what you want to do. Lunch is always a good time to do this since you can buy some food from a street vendor after looking at it.

Have fun!

[nostatic]

Actually, the sketchiest Chinese food I had was here in LA. A local Sichuan style place makes a stew that has everything - especially entrails. To quote an exchange from Kung Fu Hustle (translated):

"there is ***** in the entrails."

"that's why we have toilet paper at the table."

I just can't see going to China and eating at McD's. And John is right about your hosts. They will likely orchestrate many of your meals, and they do not want to lose face. There can be issues though, as they often will make assumptions about westerners and in fact order wimpy food. Ask to eat what they eat. You only live once. And I found that even the simple dishes there are incredibly tasty.

The other thing is that you'll never leave a restaurant hungry. It is tradition to order way too much food. I'm salivating already. In 3 weeks I'll be in Hong Kong taking my own advice

[Don Plumley]

Shanghai is one of my favorite cities as well. Zhouzhuang as Hytem mentioned is a nice step back in time. You are too early for Hairy Crab season, but you must have Xiǎolóngbāo - Shangai Soup Dumpling. OMG. One of the best things I've tried ever. Try to get them at Nanxiang Bun Shop. Drinks at the Peace Hotel.

Night time on the Bund is fantastic - great 1920's architecture. Skyline with every imaginable skyscraper, especially in Pudong.

Take the Maglev back to the Airport! 431 km/hr! (about 265 mph).

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Take the Maglev back to the Airport! 431 km/hr! (about 265 mph).