Lonely Planet Shanghai

Average customer rating:

Out of Date
A weath of information
Excellent choice, great advice and very helpful
Lonely Planet Shanghai
Insightful

Lonely Planet Shanghai
Damian Harper , and Christopher Pitts
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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GROOVY MAP NýýN GUIDE SHANGHAI
Mandarin: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

ASIN: 1740599098

Book Description

Energy, excess, glamour: discover what today's Shanghai is all about. Rub shoulders with taichi experts and ballroom dancers along the historic Bund. Explore Shanghai's traditional temples and the coveted French Concession. Treat yourself to first-rate fusion cuisine and countless boutiques and markets - or just gobble dumplings by the dozen. This smart and streetwise guide will show you Shanghai's best-kept secrets. PICK UP THE PULSE of the city - we show you minimalist bars, hard-to-find clubs, acrobats and Chinese opera FIND IT WITH EASE - clear, user-friendly maps and Chinese script take you where you want to go ESCAPE AND EXPLORE - excursions to the gardens of Suzhou and the Southern Song capital, Hangzhou FEAST LIKE A LOCAL - opinionated reviews uncover the flavours of Shanghai, from the cheapest xiaolÃ³ngbao to the most decadent fine dining INDULGE in retail therapy - we show you Shanghai's best market bargains, boutiques and bazaars

Customer Reviews:

Out of Date.......2007-06-22

As of June 2007, this book has become out of date. Many of the shikumen houses that I went to visit have been torn down in Shanghai in an effort to modernize the city by 2010 for the World Expo. Maps of the metro subways are also out of date. The book currently has partial maps of the 2 lines. There are now 5 different subway lines and still many more to be built. This book is a great introduction to Shanghai, but it is out of date (just like pretty much all the other books on the city).

To sum it up, pretty good book, but just don't count on the book being your only source of information on Shanghai.

A weath of information.......2007-05-12

I have read this book cover to cover in anticipation for my trip to Shanghai. I am hoping that it will save me time and money by giving me a view of the city and details that would take many months to aquire. It was an easy read and well organized. I would however recommend that you do a search online for hotel rooms as there are many deals in the hotel market that were not even mentioned in the book. Happy Trials, BB.

Excellent choice, great advice and very helpful.......2007-01-10

This book is amazing. First time using a guidebook and first for the Lonely Planet. Will definitely buy more. Maps wonderful, chinese names for everything and very good restaurant recommendations. Found a tiny restaurant off a back alley and was amazing for a great price. Wonderful spend and would recommend to everyone!!!

Lonely Planet Shanghai.......2007-01-05

This book gives ou a nice overview of the region, and incredible specific tips for visiting Shanghai.

Insightful.......2006-08-07

I recently returned from a trip to Shanghai and thought this was a great guide to the city. Although I love to explore most places on my own, I found Shanghai to be slightly intimidating (especially with all the ongoing construction), so I was definitely thankful I had this book with me.
Pros:
* Up-to-date information
* Offers a lot of good insight into Shanghai and the Shanghainese. I found the sections like identity, cuisine, economy, and architecture to be quite readable and interesting.
* Good maps
Cons:
* I was surprised by the other reviews, as my edition has Chinese for each address mentioned in the book. I agree that you initially expect the Chinese to be in the text (next to the romanization), but it's actually on the map keys. This is a minor flaw but did not affect me, as I often looked at the maps when I decided where to go. I guess if you never consult this section however, you might not realize that it's there.
Bottom line:
This was the most up-to-date guide I saw, and (as far as I know)is the only one with comprehensive listings in Chinese--they got me where I wanted to go every single time I took a cab. Good job.

Lonely Planet Best of Shanghai (Lonely Planet Encounter Series)

Average customer rating:

Great guide, but not perfect
Your Very Basic guidebook

Lonely Planet Best of Shanghai (Lonely Planet Encounter Series)
Damian Harper
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Lonely Planet Best of Beijing (Lonely Planet Best of Series)
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Lonely Planet Shanghai
GROOVY MAP NýýN GUIDE SHANGHAI
Lonely Planet Beijing

ASIN: 1740594975

Book Description

Cosmopolitan, extravagant and oh-so Chinese; Shanghai is where old-world charm meets new-world sparkle, and it's buzzing with energy. Take a stroll along leafy avenues, plunge into bustling side streets, and explore the culture. Take your pick of world-class restaurants, slick bars and heavenly hotels. This sleek and savvy guide is your key to discovering China's most talked-about city.

o PACK LIGHT - or just buy another suitcase: we know all the top shopping spots, and we'll take you there o INDULGE in a city where food is cause for celebration - from snacks to feasts; reviews of the very best Chinese and international dining options o EXPERIENCE - everything you need to know about the city's must-sees and hidden delights o LET LOOSE - chic bars, opera or acrobatics: whatever your scene, we've got it covered o TAKE IT EASY - excellent, easy-to-use maps make getting around a breeze

Customer Reviews:

Great guide, but not perfect.......2007-01-05

The maps were indispensible aids in getting around Shanghai and if I ever go back to that town and were only allowed ten pages from this book, I'd include the maps. I met another traveler in Shanghai who lost this guide and doubled back several blocks to find it again. He did find it again and was glad he did.

That being said, it's not the gospel. Shanghai's a big town and there's no way to cover every single place to eat or thing to do. Given the short descriptions for many of the activities, there can't be enough room to explain everything you may need to get to them... the Propaganda Poster Museum is one such example. It's way way way off a beaten track, but I found it after asking a local security guard and showing the picture in the book.

I'm ticked off the guide says there's a taco restaurant in Shanghai. I went there and the "taco" was more a Chinese interpretation of the Mexican classic. It was tasty, but NOT authentic. If you're homesick for good Mexican food, Shanghai's not the right place to be.

Overall, I'm very glad I had this guide with me in Shanghai and I plan to continue to get Lonely Planet guides for my travels.

Your Very Basic guidebook.......2006-03-12

... and I emphasize the word "basic". Fold-out maps with Chinese characters is helpful, but don't forget to bring a magnifying glass in order to read the maps. Found Time Out Shanghai much much more informative.

Average customer rating:

Not fitting to my expectations
OK but not as comprehensive as it could be
Not as much as I hoped for...
Great for information - maps and phrasebook are lacking...
This book is worth it's weight in gold!

Lonely Planet Shanghai
Bradley Mayhew
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Lonely Planet Beijing
Lonely Planet China
Time Out Shanghai (Time Out Guides)
Insight Fleximap Shanghai (Insight Flexi Maps)
Lonely Planet Hong Kong & Macau

ASIN: 1740593081

Book Description

Shanghai fuses the faded glamour of its colonial past with China's dreams for the future. It's the world's fastest-changing city: blink and it's different. Use this definitive guide to keep up with the frenetic pace. <ul>

special sections: Shanghai's diverse architecture, from Art Deco to 21st-century, and the magnificent Bund </li>

excursions to Hangzhou, Suzhou, Putuoshan and other sites around Shanghai </li>

the latest word on the rebirth of Shanghai nightlife - from the best bars to where to dance the tango </li>

eat your heat out: Shanghai's famous snack food and world-class restaurants </li>

walking tours that bring the city's colourful past alive </li></ul>

Customer Reviews:

Not fitting to my expectations.......2006-03-22

I found this guide not exactly fitting to my expectations - I went to Shanghai for business and it was difficult to find some really practical informations. I've found more in some Polish guides of China (whole), surprisingly I haven't been supported by exact Shanghai guide as I expected.
For me - too many details of pubs & clubs, food etc. If yor're there you'll find your favourites anyway.
Also the historic part (sightseeing guide) not fully satisfactory. Honestly speaking, I do not why...

But I'd say - for students travelling around the world - it's a good starter for that incredible city.

OK but not as comprehensive as it could be.......2006-02-03

I moved to Shanghai in August 2005 and bought this guidebook to orient myself to the city. A few observations from having used the guidebook for the past six months:

As an introduction to Shanghai, the Lonely Planet does a decent job for anyone who only has a few days to a week to spend in this dynamic city. The author covers the typical tourist areas well, including the Bund, Old Town (Yu Yuan), and the French concession. The walking tours described in the book are very nice as they go into the architectural history of some of the amazing colonial and art deco buildings in town. The history of Shanghai that is noted in the guidebook is not exhaustive but adequate.

The guidebook falls short for anyone seeking more information on Shanghai. Shanghai is larger than New York city and the guidebook is "thin", literally and figuratively. The coverage is hit-and-miss as well, and the section on bars and restaurants does not begin to cover the plethora of fun and exciting western and Shanghainese restaurants in town.

My wish list for improving this book:
- note in the eating section which restaurants offer English menus and which do not
- provide Chinese addresses (to show to taxi drivers)
- provide more recommendations on some of the best values in town, e.g., massages and buying CDs/DVDs (genuine ones)
- provide an online supplement for sections that have changed since the last edition

My advice to anyone coming to Shanghai would be to
- get the most recent guidebook available
- spend some time online browsing the Shanghai expat sites.
- once in town, look for a free Shanghai map from a hotel and
- for dining, arts and leisure activities, pick up one of the weekly magazines that are available in hotels, bars, and restaurants

This will help you come up with a more current flavor of the city and provide a must-see/do list while in this amazing city.

Not as much as I hoped for..........2005-10-09

I hoped that this guide would have more background on the history of the city and its attractions. The background/history portion of the guide was extremely sparse. I have not read any of the other popular guides to Shanghai so I cannot make an alternative recommendation.

Great for information - maps and phrasebook are lacking..........2004-11-08

I used this book for a 7 day trip to Shanghai in September 2004. It gave an excellent overview of the city: what to see, where to go, however, the maps and phrasebook were a disappointment. The maps lacked the Chinese characters for the street names (the book listed everyting in "pinyon", the Westernized lettering of Chinese words) and since very few people in Shanghai speak English or recognize the Western lettering, we couldn't just point to where we wanted to go. Instead, we had to get the hotel concierge to write down where we wanted to go, which was very limiting when heading out on day trips.

In addition to this book, be sure to get a good map, complete with Chinese charaters. Also be sure to pick up a copy of the Rough Guide Mandarin phrasebook, which is an essential resource for ordering in restaurants, getting around town via taxi, asking directions, etc.

This book is worth it's weight in gold!.......2004-06-05

A friend of mine and I visited Shanghai May-June 2004. Reading this book beforehand was incredibly useful. It does, however, seem to give the impression that the e.g hotels and nightclubs it enlists are the only ones at these price levels, but we found heaps more. Not unexpected in a city of 13 million people.

We both agreed the book is worth it's weight in gold. Traveling in China where hardly anyone speaks English or are able to read the western alphabet can be a tedious task. Getting this information on location might be feasible for Chinese speaking travelers, but practically impossible for forreigners. Read the book in total beforehand! Make notes! We had so much fun in China, and we owe much to this book. It should have included more on the Chinese language (pronouns, a short dictionary etc) and more extensive information on Hangzhou.

...and don't eat the ¥180 meal in the Oriental Pearl Tower. It's absolutely horrible and the service is below street-corner-eatery level.

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