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Expert: - 7/8/2010


Question
Hi. Some questions about Shanghai
1. How is the weather and clothing in November?
2. What and where is budget accommodation and how much it costs?
3. Is visa-electron card used in Shangahi?
4. What are main sightseeings?
5. What are close cities with historical importance?
6. Where is the place for prostitutes in Shanghai? Is it not dangerous to approach them? How much do they cost? (sorry for this question!)
Thanks,
Tom

Answer

CHINA: Portrait of a P
Hi There! I will try to answer your questions as best as I can:

1) Weather in Shanghai in the autumn is pretty perfect. No longer humid and not yet freezing. It's kind of like spring. Of course bring a light jacket or sweatshirt, or just buy one here for cheap if you feel cool.

2) There are youth hostels all over Shanghai catering to budget travelers and backpackers. Just do a search online for "Shanghai Youth Hostels" and the list will be endless. I personally prefer HI or YHA hostels.

3) I don't know what a Visa electron card is. But there are ATMs everywhere in China and Shanghai. However this is a cash-based economy, and few vendors accept credit cards. Moreover, you should be careful of credit card scams if you decide to make a purchase.

4) Sites in Shanghai are endless. I don't have enough space to list them all. Stop in any travel agency or hostel in Shanghai for a free map and brochure of sites.

5) There are many historic old villages outside Shanghai in neighboring Jiangsu provinces. These are REALLY beautiful and I suggest at least 1 day to go see them. A hostel or travel agency in Shanghai can help you get there.

6) Don't ask this question to anyone in Shanghai; it will land you in jail. There are pink-light districts all over Shanghai, but obviously I can't tell you where they are or I will be deported. The easiest is to hop into a taxi and and ask the driver to take you. Chinese taxi drivers know all kinds of stuff like that. But I should say that this kind of activity is not necessary in Shanghai; you can achieve the same results by going to any Shanghai nightclub :)

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Tom Carter ~ Travel China Expert

Expertise


I am an American photojournalist and travel correspondent based in Beijing and have traveled extensively to all 33 provinces in China. I specialize in budget travel and have a personal affection for remote villages, ethnic minority culture and uncharted locales.

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I am also the author of CHINA: Portrait of a People, the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China ever published by a single author.

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American University, Washington, D.C., BA Political Science, Communications, 1997

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