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HOME » COOL CITIES » SHANGHAI
NIGHT+DAY Shanghai
Author: Graham Bond
Coming May ’09
Shanghai’s a hotbed of activity—China’s "cool" city. With sleek new restaurants, cosmopolitan shopping, classic museums, and a thriving nightlife, Shanghai entertains visitors all night and all day. But if you are heading to Shanghai, you won’t want to miss Beijing, which has no shortage of happening spots either. But to be sure you don’t miss a thing, we’ve included details for Hong Kong and Macau, as well. It is the ultimate guide to China, due out spring 2009!
January Love Letter
It’s that time again: Spring Festival (aka CNY, Chun Jie): the ultimate mixed blessing. The Year of the Rat scampers to a close at midnight on Jan. 25 when we will plod—with spinning head and gut full of rice wine—into the Year of the Ox, a year that may well require all of this feted creature’s natural tenacity and stoicism, given the economic outlook. Like Christmas or Thanksgiving back home, Chinese New Year tends to generate fuzzy feelings of shared humanity and love for all people—at least it does among those not looking to buy a train ticket. The crush that inevitably precedes the festival makes this a bad time to be traveling anywhere in China. Swinging price hikes, swarming crowds, incessant noise, and a danger of being injured by stray fireworks are other drawbacks. On the flipside, this is great time to enjoy ancient rituals, particularly if you’re among family or friends. The big New Year’s feast takes place on the 25th, when packed restaurants will facilitate a quite unholy consumption of food and booze. After dinner, snag a window seat in one of Shanghai’s high rises and watch the firework-fueled mayhem unfold below at midnight. With its 270-degree outlook taking in the Bund and Lujiazui, I’d recommend the Hyatt on the Bund’s VUE bar (shanghai.bund.hyatt.com), followed by clubbing post-midnight. Culture vultures might prefer the choreographed dragon dances and bell-ringing at Longhua Temple, while cheapskates can enjoy the festive discharging of gunpowder on most street corners.
Graham Bond
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For discerning travelers, it’s the details that make the difference. Night+Day signature sections include the "99 Best" of the city, three unique “Perfect Plan” itineraries, a “Cheat Sheet” of city essentials, a concise “Black Book” index, maps, and more. Opinionated listings, insightful descriptions, and witty, intelligent writing give you the sophisticated edge in travel.
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