What to do with a visitor in Shanghai? Part 4 - A Day in Pudong

Here's the accompanying piece of my last entry in this series, What to do with a visitor in Shanghai? Part 3 - An Evening in Pudong. This one is about what to do during a day trip to Pu-Jersey - or Pudong!! If you put both my day and night trip versions together, you can definitely have a huge Pudong experience. That could be a good or a bad thing for a Puxi-ren - it may rock your perceptions.

Pudong invokes a particular kind of reaction in those of us who live in Puxi. The Boonies, The Sticks, Shanghai Suburbia, or Land of the Expat Villa and Long Lunches. Suffice it to say, Pudong is generally looked down by Puxi-dwellers as NYC residents would look down on New Jersey or Queens. In this respect, in my circle of friends. Pudong is often referred to as 'Pu Jersey'. Otherwise, we affectionately refer to it as 'The 'Dong'.

A day in Pudong is laid back, and would definitely suit a group of people out for a big day. Like the previous version, this features a lot of shopping options, but also a lot of cool educational settings. And, unlike what a good proportion of Puxi-ren spout, there are attractions outside the Lujiazui area.

Longyang Road

Get on Metro Line #2 and head out to the Longyang Road station. Why here? Well, first of all there's the Maglev system which you could always jump on a quick return trip, but realistically that's a bit boring. The best thing about this area is the Plant and Flower market situation right next to the Maglev station on Balyang Road. There you can wander through the outdoor plant market and check out the big variety of plants and flowers on display. Low key, but a good way to get the day started. Something else to keep an eye on around the Longyang Road area is one of Shanghai's most utilised exhibition centers, the Shanghai New International Expo Center, and also shopping for (relatively) cheap sporting goods chain at probably the most accessible Decathlon store in Shanghai for downtown residents.

Century Park

Jump back to the Metro station at Longyang Road and then hit Century Park station. Shanghairen don't have many options when it comes to public spaces, so that leaves Century Park as Shanghai's most accessible and popular parkland area. However it is young, and despite the fleet of workers toiling away at site, there are no large trees or a feeling of permanency in the whole park area. Realistically speaking, it feels like a park from Sim City. When inside the park, there's really not a lot of exciting things to do. Unless you get creative. One of my fun memories in SH was joining up with my friend D-ree to torment other park patrons with random acts of bicycle driving. Juvenile, but it made the park experience a lot more fun. There's also pedal-boats and electric motor boats for hire to scout around the man-made water course inside the park. This was something I experienced with my work colleagues on a 'team-building exercise'. Low, low key fun. All this for RMB10 entry fee, and the cost of the hire vehicles. This should kill an hour - perfect for a picnic on a nice day too. Don't linger here too long, there's a lot more to do today. Leave by the north entrance to the park that leads to the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum.

Shanghai Science & Technology Museum District

On your short walk to the museum forecourt, you'll see the expansive view of the museum, Dongchang Lu and Lujiazui in the distance. This place is so big you feel absolutely tiny. If you are at the forecourt of the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum on a weekend, you'll see a lot of life. Skateboarders and inline skaters whizz around, a few brides and grooms arrive for photos, and a lot of kites in the breeze. If you want to join in on some of the action, head to underneath the Museum forecourt to hire or buy some skates or kites from the vendors. Underneath the forecourt, you will also discover the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum Metro Station, and the Yatai Fashion & Clothing Market.

Yatai Clothing Market was one of the many markets that sprung up following the closure of the famed Xiangyang Knock-Off Fashion Market. When it first opened, there was a dearth of visitors. However, in the last few months business has picked up as it appears to be (IMHO) the most favoured knock-off shopping destination for visitors and residents in Shanghai. Because of this, you now have to bargain hard at the market, just like at Xiangyang Market of old. The market is convenient, and this also means that the vendors are getting greedier.

If you're like me, you're probably hungry after all the shopping. Don't leave the underground market as there are a number of good options to choose from in this underground shopping complex. Don't resort to KFC. Go and check out the great, authentic Uhighyr (Xinjing) food at the Gulistan Restaurant. Xinjiang Black Beer is also a nice accompaniment to some fresh nang, yangrou chuar, and hand-made noodles buried under some spicy laziji! The Latina Bar & Grill seems to be the other good option if you prefer your barbecue Brazilian style.

Once you've filled your belly, I would imagine you would want to walk it off. Take this opportunity to take in some interactive entertainment and education at the Science and Technology Museum. Take a spin around the Musuem court, and walk around to the main entrance of the musuem. Entrance is RMB60 for adults. This is my first choice for museums in Shanghai - it actually encourages interaction and participation with the information which facilitates more comprehensive learning and enjoyment. I reckon that some exhibits are as good as what I saw in the SF Sci&Tech museum. The iMax theatres are cheap thrills, tickets usually around the RMB20-30 mark, with the only downside being lack of English subtitles or dialogue for the bulk (if not all of the films). There's a number of cool displays. My favourites include a mind-power device where you literally fight against your friend's brain power to push a ball with your mind, taking on a robot in an archery competition, and the wacky 3D audio haunted house display. For science geeks like me, you could spend the better part of the day exploring this place, but 2 to 3 hours would be the most normal people could handle.

Lujiazui and Pudong Nan Lu

Now you've probably had your fill of this area. You can now go and hit the retail or tourist features of Lujiazui or Pudong Nan Lu as I described in my earlier piece on an evening in Pudong. Otherwise, there's the Pearl Oriental Tower area to check out. Don't forget the Shanghai Municipal History Museum at the base of the tower, or the nearby Shanghai Aquarium.

If you've had enough of Pudong, I would recommend leaving this constructed wonderland via Shanghai's most kitchsy and dodgy tourist attraction, The Bund Tourist Tunnel. You won't believe how much engineering knowledge has been applied to make something so dodgy. Enjoy its marvellousness.

Keep an eye out for Part 5 - Hittin' Hongkou.