BudgetTravel

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Columbus, OH: What is the best time to visit Shanghai?

Dan Washburn: The quick answer: Not now. Summers are brutal here. So hot. So humid. But, unlike my fiancee, I actually prefer the summers to the winters. Winter here is also humid, so the cold has a way of feeling even colder. The main problem with the winter is the utter lack of insulation in buildings here. The other problem: Because we are south of the Yellow River, by law we aren't allowed to have central heating. This means we need to rely on our rinky-dink wall air-con units to do the heating, and they they often don't do a great job. Everyone owns several pairs of long underwear here.
 
Sorry, you touched on a nerve there. The answer to your question: Spring and fall can be lovely here. That is your best bet for decent weather.

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Sagamore Hills, OH: We are currently in Shanghai. We want to go to Xian and Beijing for a total of 7 days. What's the best way to book the trip, best as far as price and value?

Dan Washburn: We have had very good luck with Ctrip in the past for booking flights and non-hostel-like hotels. They are pretty easy to deal with (good English) and their prices are always competitive. If you would like to do some comparison shopping, most English-language magazines in town (SH, Shanghai Talk, City Weekend and That's Shanghai) have listings for local travel agencies.

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Carlsbad, CA: Hi Dan. I enjoyed reading your article very much. I am presently 22 years old, and still a student. I was thinking about moving over to China (Shanghai or Beijing) and learning Mandarin. Since I am a business major, I though it would be a great experience. I have been to Shanghai before but not Beijing. What do you suggest? When you moved to Shanghai did you plan to stay as long as you have? Why or why not? Also, do you speak Mandarin? If so, what are the best schools and how long does it take to be proficient? Thanks so much for contributing your thoughts to Budget Travel. I look forward to hearing from you. Jeff

Dan Washburn: If at all possible, I would suggest you start studying Mandarin now. I have never been a full-time student of Mandarin, and that is what you really need to be to master the language in my opinion. I have private lessons three times a week, but it is still a slow process. I wish, prior to my arrival in China, I knew how long I would end up staying here, because I definitely would have made an effort to study Mandarin in the United States. I don't have any specific schools to recommend, but Shanghai is packed with them. Right now, you can also try ChinesePod, a podcast dedicated to teaching Mandarin.
 
Beijing or Shanghai would be both be useful to a business major for different reasons. Both cities are key to conducting business in China. Beijing is important as a government-relations and regulatory center, while Shanghai is the up and coming financial center of Asia. Another idea would be to move away from Shanghai or Beijing, to a more isolated area where you could totally immerse yourself in the language. In Shanghai, sometimes it is very easy to get by with English and mediocre Mandarin, and that holds people back.

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Wasilla, AK: My husband and I would like to take a trip in 2008 to China. We would like to go to see the Olympics for a day or 2, and then do some sightseeing and try to escape some of the crowds. What are some of the best resources for the Olympics, lodging, and tours that may be a little off the beaten track. We will be taking our 10 year old daughter, and we like to hike and explore, but we need to keep it a little kid friendly.

Dan Washburn: I fear that trying to escape the crowds near Beijing during the Olympics could be mission impossible, and I am not aware of a resource dedicated to Olympic lodging just yet. There is a map of Olympic venues, however, and you can search Ctrip by neighborhood to ensure your hotel is as close to or as far away from a particular venue as possible. But planning this far in advance could be problematic, because you are dealing with a country that notoriously waits until the last minute to do everything. Keep in mind that several Olympic events are being help outside of Beijing, as well.
 
As for getting off the beaten track, perhaps an outfit like Wild China could help. And by 2008 there could be dozens more agencies that have popped up looking to do the same thing -- things are changing fast leading up to 2008.