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Shopping in China

Shopping can fill a whole China itinerary. And as fascinating as it is to visit the Forbidden City, it's just as much fun to poke around in old curio shops and museum bookstores. Find out how to shop and what to buy in China.

Shopping in China
China Travel Spotlight10

Brunch at the InterContinental Shanghai Expo

Monday May 14, 2012

Seafood Bar, InterContinental Shanghai Expo Delicious...oh, and you won't see your kids.

Where I grew up in central Illinois (way, WAY outside of Chicago) there was no such thing as "brunch" - late breakfast or early lunch, but no one brunched. Later I moved to San Francisco, where everyone "does" brunch. Brunch in the Bay Area means queuing, Bloody Marys in hand while you wait for your table at the hippest neighborhood pancake joint.

Brunch in Asia is a whole new ballgame. It's big and happening and everyone plans things around Sunday family brunches that are put on lavishly at every hotel from Shanghai to Singapore and back. These fancy hotels try to top each other with ridiculous gimmicks: free-flow Champagne, caviar with every course, table-side cooking, oysters flown in from the farthest reaches of the globe. But I have just experienced a little ecstasy that no other brunch has ever offered me: fabulous food and the disappearance of my children.

Welcome to the Brunch Scene, InterContinental Shanghai Expo. Easily the best choice of hotels for anyone traveling to Shanghai with a family (riverfront, soccer pitch, beautiful garden, playground, fabulous pool), it currently holds the choicest table for anyone who wants to have a leisurely brunch while having their kids totally entertained.

InterContinental Shanghai Expo's Café 1188 has teamed up with Awesome Kids Club to create a fully staffed kids' club that runs the duration of the brunch (Sundays 12:30-3:30pm). Get the kids fed and they'll be off to play sports, games or do artistic activities in the garden area of the hotel while you and friends enjoy the hotel's gorgeous food offerings.

Book now, kids under 11 accompanied by 2 adults eat free this month.Awesome Kids Club

Details: InterContinental Shanghai Expo |  1188 Xueye Road, Pudong, Shanghai | 浦东新区雪野路1188号 | tel +86 21 3858 1188 | Brunch: 348+15% service charge for adults, beverage on consumption. Children aged 4-12 will enjoy 50% discount on the price and children under 4 years old eat free.

Photos: above - the seafood bar at Cafe 1188 (courtesy of IHG group, all rights reserved); below - Coach Michael at the Awesome Kids Club on the InterContinental Shanghai Expo's lawn (© 2012 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com).

Shanghai Zoo - A Great Family Outing

Thursday May 10, 2012

Giraffe at Shanghai ZooShanghai has parks but few places where the kids can really run pretty freely for long periods of time. Last weekend, we had a few days of perfect spring weather - not hot, not humid, just right. We wanted to get outside with the kids and when we asked them, the unanimous vote was for the zoo.

By world standards, Shanghai Zoo is certainly not the greatest. By Asian standards, well, I've seen worse. Sure, we watched a panda munch away on some bamboo in a gray concrete cell with paint peeling off the wall and "Don't Feed the Animals" signs go completely unheeded (see photo), but as far as a good place to take kids to enjoy an afternoon, it ranks high in our family.

The Shanghai Zoo is large and has multiple green spaces on which folks are allowed to walk and play. (Yes, it's worth noting. Many parks have green spaces closely guarded by park workers armed with whistles should a wayward child or parent try to set foot on the grass). The collection of animals is quite large and includes a decent panda exhibit (in addition to the solitary cell block I mentioned).Shanghai Zoo

Details:

  • Shanghai Zoo 上海动物园 | 2381 Hong Qiao Road, Shanghai 上海红桥路2381号 | Open Daily ~7am-5pm
  • More Kids' Activities in Shanghai

Photo: top - a giraffe reaches out for a handout; bottom - folks relax in the shade at the Shanghai Zoo. © 2012 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com.

Avoiding Scary Food and Eating Organic in China

Wednesday May 9, 2012

Yunnan Vegetable VendorEating can be a scary experience in China, but it doesn't have to be. There are lots of food scandals and worries about safety. And it's fair - China's had some pretty awful stories: melamine in milk, exploding watermelons and fake eggs, just to name a few

This story from Shanghaiist is a good one for those of us in Shanghai who try to eat organic. It can be difficult when you're visiting but more and more organic restaurants are popping up and the article lists a few of them.

More about food safety in China:

Photo: Vegetable vendor in Xizhou Market, Yunnan Province. © 2011 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com.

New Work Concept in Shanghai: Xin Dan Wei

Wednesday May 9, 2012

xindanweiI am debating sharing this as I'm afraid next time I come I won't find a place to sit...Xin Dan Wei (新单位) or "new work unit" is a newly opened space within a six-story lane house that has been converted into shared office space. The first floor (open 9:30am to 10pm) has a long desk with decently comfortable chairs (I'm sitting in one right now) and room to spread out for 20rmb per hour. The other floors house desks for rent at differing rates per month that allow 24-hour access to the space as well as use of conference rooms, etc.

It's a pretty cool place to sit and work. The WIFI seems decently fast, there are large windows, the atmosphere is quiet and there is light classical music playing. I can order a coffee or tea or tiramisu. Or not. Let's see how much work I get done...

Details:

Xin Dan Wei 新单位 | Yongjia Road #50, Shanghai  上海永嘉路50号 | xindanwei.com

Photo: the first floor of xindanwei's work space. © 2012 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com.

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