China ?

[PpPete]

I'm going to China in September on business. Harbin, Xi'an & Shanghai.
Our agent out there is keen to organise "sightseeing" stuff for me around the business - and asks what I would be interested in seeing. I have NO IDEA.
Only that most typical "touristy" stuff leaves me cold - & just extends the trip and means more time away from the family.

Anybody know of anything close to those cities that is really worth going to see?

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Well, there's the terracotta army at Xi'an which is (was) impressivet.

Shanghai is worth seeing so you know what happens when the lunatics not only take over the asylum, but get the password for the cash machine as well. Bonkers.

 

[Fnaar]

Been to Shanghai... mostly work-based in a hotel, but go down to the Bund at night to see the skyline of Pudong
and have a beer/eat in one of the restaurants there... old colonial buildings, could almost be Europe. One of my aunties is from Shanghai, btw.
Xi'an... I was being hosted by a company who sent someone (and a driver) to take me out to the Terracota Army... (some way out of town). Most taxis will take you to tacky jade/jewellery shops on the way... but if you can put up with that, going into the Terracotta army hall (under cover) was.... WOW... JESUS H ... HOW THE F***.... HOW MANY SOLDIERS... WOW WOW
I was utterly gobsmacked by the whole scenario.... still gives me goosebumps thinking about it. On the way back, they took me to a little restaurant in a village... not sure they'd had anyone with blue eyes in there before... food was amazing, nice cold beer too...
Pic of Terracotta chappies attached

 

[Dayvo]

Chinatown is well worth a visit, so I've heard!

 

[zimzum42]

In Shanghai have a trip through the Bund tunnel, it's really wierd, but worth it.

Make sure you gawp at the 'bottle-opener' skyscraper.

Take the Maglev from the airport, amazing

And, er, get a happy ending... lol

 

[swee'pea99]

Apparently it's almost impossible to get a good Chinese, so get your sweet 'n sour in before you go.

 

[zimzum42]

When in Beijing for work, I ate Maccy's pretty much every day. Couldn't find anywhere in the area with an English menu or an English speaking waiter...

 

[CopperBrompton]

Pointing at foods always works for me :-)

I'd second the recommendation to see the Terracotta Warriors when you're in Xi'an. I went semi-reluctantly (I don't really do sightseeing, generally prefer to wander the back-streets) but was completely blown away by the scale of it.

The Great Wall is also within easy driving distance for a day-trip.

in Shanghai, the Jin Mao Tower is a must, the old town around the Yu Gardens is fun and of course a boat-trip at night.