Shanghai or Peking? If you only have time for one city.

von Rothbart · Sep 28, 2007

I've never been either and I only have time for one of them,so which city would you recommend? Even if haven't been either, which city would you pick? I am leaning toward one of them, but I want to hear your opinion first.

LabelKing · Sep 28, 2007

Peking is ideal if you want to see historical things like the Imperial Palaces as well as the Soviet-like edifices of the capital. Also, the Great Wall is nearby as are the Ming Tombs. The new Koolhaas designed buildings in Beijing are going up as well, though probably not finished now.

Shanghai is much better for shopping and colonial architecture--the French concession is especially pretty with some rather grand mansions and townhouses. The city is generally more "cosmopolitan"--Shanghai people are known for their arrogance towards all the other Chinese cities since they believe other cities all contain bumpkins--and very Western. There's also a Silvano Lattanzi store in Shanghai. For a first trip to China, Peking is probably more ideal as it's like going to Paris or London.

Tokyo Slim · Sep 29, 2007

In one city, you will receive a surprise.
In the other, they have many ducks.

The "surprise" for me was that I could never again take Sean Penn seriously as an actor.

Eason · Sep 29, 2007

Shanghai is a much nicer place to visit than Beijing. My brother lives in beijing and it's too gray and polluted. Cheap, though. Plus, the touristy **** there is completely boring.

Kengs · Sep 30, 2007

Shanghai has prettier women

LabelKing · Sep 30, 2007

Originally Posted by Kengs

Shanghai has prettier women

As other Shanghai-nese people will tell you, they are all manipulative money-grubbers.

PeterMetro · Oct 1, 2007

You know it hasn't been called Peking for years, right?

lurker · Oct 1, 2007

People in Beijing are more arrogant and insular than the Shanghaiese. Pollution is really bad in Beijing. Food and shopping are better in Shanghai. Shanghai is a really safe city though. But if this is your first time to China and if you don't get to come here often in the foreseeable future, then I think Beijing is better. At least you can do the typical touristy sites. Personally, I'd consider Shanghai city-wise is rather staid. Yes, there is the Bund, the French Concession but after a few hours walking around, they are not that special. It's a different story if you live and work here. Then quality of life in Shanghai is much better than Beijing.

Jl24 · Oct 2, 2007

Shanghai for more modern culture and nightlife.

Beijing for Olympics 2008 and the traditional culture.

Personally, I opt for Shanghai, but it really depends on what you're looking for.

BubblyMasquerade · Oct 2, 2007

ITS ******* BEIJING.. and I would go to Beijing... Shanghai is much to crowded and rather boring imo.. I took me 5 hours to get from my hotel to the airport...which was only 16 miles away...

maomao1980 · Oct 2, 2007

Originally Posted by lurker

People in Beijing are more arrogant and insular than the Shanghaiese. Pollution is really bad in Beijing. Food and shopping are better in Shanghai. Shanghai is a really safe city though. But if this is your first time to China and if you don't get to come here often in the foreseeable future, then I think Beijing is better. At least you can do the typical touristy sites. Personally, I'd consider Shanghai city-wise is rather staid. Yes, there is the Bund, the French Concession but after a few hours walking around, they are not that special. It's a different story if you live and work here. Then quality of life in Shanghai is much better than Beijing.

The people of Beijing would probably say the same thing about the Shanghainese. Having said that, what you are far more likely to find is that the population in both of these cities are made up of just as many from other parts of China as those native to the city.

Besides the other points on food, I do agree with you on all the other points.

Since the OP is not of Chinese descent, it would not make much sense for him to visit the most Western city in country for his first taste of China.

wiru · Oct 2, 2007

Shanghai is probably a nice place to live. The touristy things are pretty low key. The architecture is nice, and it does have a great museum. The gardens at suzhou are a day trip. Beijing has much better sights. E.g., Mao's embalmed corpse.

As for shopping, people will try to sell you Rolexes and Louis Vuitton bags in both cities.

lurker · Oct 2, 2007

Originally Posted by maomao1980

The people of Beijing would probably say the same thing about the Shanghainese. Having said that, what you are far more likely to find is that the population in both of these cities are made up of just as many from other parts of China as those native to the city.

Besides the other points on food, I do agree with you on all the other points.

Since the OP is not of Chinese descent, it would not make much sense for him to visit the most Western city in country for his first taste of China.

Let me qualify my point on food. Yes, beijing cuisine is better than shanghaiese cuisine. shanghaiese cuisine is very sweet and greasy. But shanghai offers a lot more in terms of variety, options and authenticity than beijing in terms of the various regional and international cuisine here. But for a first time tourist in china, beijing's is probably better.

LabelKing · Oct 2, 2007

Originally Posted by lurker

Let me qualify my point on food. Yes, beijing cuisine is better than shanghaiese cuisine. shanghaiese cuisine is very sweet and greasy. But shanghai offers a lot more in terms of variety, options and authenticity than beijing in terms of the various regional and international cuisine here. But for a first time tourist in china, beijing's is probably better.

Beijing's food is only better if it's the "Imperial Cuisine". Otherwise, traditional Chinese rules dictate that Beijing cuisine--and all other Northern cuisine--is crude and peasant-like.

Shanghai-nese cuisine is indeed, sweet, but it's not as sweet as Suzhou and Wuxi's cuisine. The regional Ningpo cuisine is fine if you like freshwater type things although it can get very salty and sometimes odd.

maomao1980 · Oct 2, 2007

My point on the cuisine is made purely based on my own taste preference. To be clear, I prefer the more earthy, rustic taste that is more common of Northern cuisine. In terms of the variety offered, I still prefer Beijing as the taste of that city tends more to the heavily flavored style of cookings, such as Sichuan, Hunan, Muslim, Korean and other more spicy and salty Chinese cuisines. I always tend to think of the comparison between Northern and Southern style of Chinese food as similar to those of Italian and French styles. The former is much more simple in presentation, has high carb content, and is lacking in sophistication, where as the latter is more delicate, more time consuming to prepare, and is more suitable to high dinning. Both can be made to taste extremely good, but comes down to personal preference.

Shanghai or Peking? If you only have time for one city.

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