My Mini-Rant

[Rosemarie Sawayn PhD]

Absolutely, no problem! Shanghai’s scenery is truly remarkable and extremely beautiful! However, speaking of the city's transportation, I have to tell you something important to alert my friends who are planning to visit!

• Firstly, I was genuinely shocked! A short 3.4-kilometer (just over two miles) taxi ride in Shanghai cost me 27 RMB! As someone coming from elsewhere, I had never encountered such a situation before; I was left absolutely dumbfounded.

  • ️ Taxi Alert:
    • In the heart of Shanghai, taxi fares start off much higher than they do in many other places (the base fare during the day is usually 16 RMB), which already includes 3 kilometers. Fare increases after exceeding the base distance.
    • How to Address: For short distances, consider taking the bus or renting a shared bicycle as it may be more cost-effective. If you must call a taxi, check the estimated fare via a taxi app like Didi Chuxing beforehand so you’re better informed.

• Later in the evening, I wanted to visit the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street—one of Shanghai's most famous shopping spots that's incredibly crowded—but I found out the subway doesn’t even stop there! My face became one big question mark: ???? ! Totally lost!

  • ️ Subway Tips for Popular Tourist Sites:
    • At crowded tourist attractions such as the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and the Bund, particularly during evenings, weekends, or holidays, to manage crowds, subways might temporarily “skip” a station to avoid stoppage at these places.
    • Advisory Measures: It's wise to pay attention to announcements or alerts on the subway platform when heading to these places. If a "skip" occurs, you might need to disembark a station earlier and walk, or take a different mode of transportation.

• After strolling through the Bund—a renowned area with breathtaking night views of Pudong across the Huangpu River—I planned to head home by subway; however, I discovered I would need to walk quite some distance just to get to the nearest subway station! Upon finally making it there, I found the entrance only allowed exiting, not boarding. To board requires another round trip to another entrance! What on earth happened?

  • ️ Special Subway Considerations for the Bund Area:
    • The Bund region is vast, especially with its crowds during peak nighttime viewing hours. To facilitate crowd control, at times, the subway stations may temporarily close certain entrances, or turn them into one-way only (for exits or entries exclusively).
    • Solutions:
      • Before going, use map apps such as Baidu or Gaode Maps (these tend to work better in China than Google Maps) and check which subway entrance is available for entry, and navigate your walking routes accordingly.
      • Be prepared for extended walks, especially during peak hours.
      • Pay attention to directional signs and staff instructions at the site; it’s generally fine to follow the main crowd's movement, but patience is key.

[Mr. Jody Bednar]

That's why I love taking taxis when I travel outside of Shanghai – they're always cheaper than back home...

[Misty Anderson DDS]

Exactly! Where I'm from, the starting fare is 8 yuan, so I was a bit shocked to see it at 16 yuan.