Shanghai vs. Hangzhou 🗼: Tourist Experience Face-Off! Which city wins?

[Andrea Hand]

Still can't decide whether to make your first stop Shanghai or Hangzhou on a Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Fu (Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang) trip? Let me share my insights!

• Shanghai — oh man, people everywhere! Super crowded!

  • Such crowds! Finding a restroom (especially for women!) involves standing in a long line waiting until you can't hold out any longer, which can negatively impact your mood.
  • However, there are more commercial and themed attractions in Shanghai compared to Hangzhou.

• Hangzhou leans more towards natural scenery and historical landmarks.

  • Mountains, lakes (like the world-famous West Lake!), suitable for those who want to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

• Travel Cost Comparison:

  • Shanghai:
    • Bicycles: it costs 1.8 yuan to ride for fifteen minutes.
    • Taxis: starting fare is 14 yuan.
  • Hangzhou:
    • Bicycles: 1.5 yuan for an hour’s usage, quite cheap!
    • Taxis: starting fare is 12 yuan.

• Toilet Paper Showdown (yes, this is important!):

  • Hangzhou: paper available at subway stations, attractions, even roadside public toilets; quality is pretty good, thumbs up!
  • Shanghai: while paper is provided at some scenic locations, the quality is poor, often so thin it's barely useful, thumbs down!

• Snacks & Prices:

  • Honestly speaking, not too pricey – these snacks are less expensive than some in Hangzhou.

• ️ Attention! Warning ahead! ️

  • Call-out for the "Inner Mongolia Large Meat Skewers" or "Pure Lamb Skewers" being hawked around Yu Garden Street, Shanghai!
    • Don't buy them! They're not actually made of real lamb.
    • Why? They mix small particles of sheep fat with duck meat to deceive customers, seriously scamming people! ‍️
    • Note: It seems that even if local markets in Hangzhou engage in scams, they wouldn’t openly do so in bustling areas like this.
    • How to avoid? When seeing such street skewer vendors, especially marked as “Inner Mongolia," or “pure lamb," be cautious, or simply patronize legitimate dining establishments instead.

• Kudos for Shanghai Metro:

  • The station exits seem more reasonably organized compared to Hangzhou, easily reachable from scenic spots, increasing convenience!

• Quick Rant:

  • The thick skins but meager fillings of Shanghai giant dumplings (a kind of food similar to Chinese pastry filled with meat).
  • Too bad during my stay in Shanghai, I was too busy indulging in hamburgers and fried chicken so couldn't taste the authentic Shanghai dishes much, looking forward to next time!

[Karen Bruen]

Those places like Chenghuangmiao are mostly tourist traps, definitely not where you want to eat! If you're looking for actual good food, open up the Dianping app; you'll find plenty of great eateries listed.

[Ms. Wanda Kilback]

Okay, got it, thanks for the tip! So, for good restaurants, I should look in the commercial areas near the tourist attractions, right?