Beijing or Shanghai

Mysterious Asian cities and countries have been gaining popularity among tourists from Russia, Ukraine and the USA in recent years. Interesting and unusual culture, bright, but at the same time conservative outfits, national cuisine and age-old traditions – all this is extremely interesting, unusual and exciting for the guests of such cities. The most important and largest cities in China are Beijing and Shanghai. Beijing is the capital of China, and Shanghai is not only the largest city in China, but also in the whole world.

How to get there

If you decide to go on vacation to Beijing, then the most comfortable and fastest way of delivery is to fly by plane. For those who cannot stand flying, it is possible to travel by train, however, it will take much longer (about 5 days). Buses also run from the Far Eastern border cities of Russia towards China, their cost is not at all high and affordable.

There are direct flights from Moscow to Shanghai. It's convenient, no transfers and expectations, fast. Due to the frequency of flights, tickets can be purchased at affordable prices. And you can combine these two amazing cities in one trip, because getting from Beijing to Shanghai is very simple. In just 2 hours you can fly by plane and you are there. This flight will cost about $85. You can also get from Beijing to Shanghai by train, it will take 5-8 hours, and the cost ranges from $20-30 to $250. The cost depends on the type of train and the class of seats in the car.

Prices for food in shops and restaurants

As it turned out, Russians and Chinese are somewhat similar, not outwardly, of course. We have a saying “A man eats to live”, and in China, on the contrary, “A man lives to eat”. The meaning of sayings, of course, is different, but both those and others do not forget about food. It seems interesting that when they meet, the Chinese will always ask: “Have you already eaten?”, And not like us: “How are you?”.

In Beijing, food prices are the highest in all of China. To save some money, local residents buy fruits and vegetables only in the markets, and it is recommended that guests of the city do the same. There are a lot of markets in Beijing, so finding them will not be difficult. All cereals, alcohol and sweets can be bought in supermarkets, while taking into account that the price will depend on the manufacturer and delivery region. Do not be surprised when you see Chinese vodka in a 5-liter plastic bottle on the supermarket shelves.

For those who do not like shopping trips, it is worth visiting the restaurants of Beijing. One of the most famous restaurants not only in Beijing, but throughout the world is Peking Duck Private Kitchen. This restaurant is famous for its unique and most delicious recipe for preparing the main national dish – Peking duck. It is worth booking not only a table, but also the ordered dishes in advance, so as not to wait an hour after.

Another expensive but very popular restaurant is Dadong Roast Duck. Here it is not necessary to book a table at all, because of the high prices, there are always empty seats. It is difficult to say the average price for a dinner in a Beijing restaurant, because the price depends on the class of the restaurant. So, in Beijing you can eat for 30-40 yuan, you can for 100-150, and you can even for $200.

In Shanghai, on average, about 30 yuan per day will be spent on food. You should know that the most delicious Chinese food can be tasted in very unremarkable eateries and not regret it. Shanghai traditional cuisine may not appeal to everyone because of the dark sauce, so you should not rush to order it, but more.

You can eat tasty and inexpensive in restaurants with Muslim cuisine, where the menu includes beef and lamb dishes. Shanghai is famous for its German bakeries, so lovers of sweets, buns and muffins will find Shanghai a heavenly place. A lot in Shanghai and ice cream in stock.

Housing

Previously, it was almost impossible to find hotels or hotels in Beijing. However, since the late 70s, construction began and modern hotels began to appear in Beijing. The main hotel is Beijing. In the 20th century, various hostels became a popular place to stay. An inexpensive hostel in Beijing is the Forbidden City Hostel, located near Tiananmen Square.

Of course, rent, which is not in last place. If you decide that staying in hotels is too expensive and hostels are too crowded, renting is the best option. The price will depend on the area, proximity to transport and shops, as well as the condition and amenities provided by the owners.

Rental housing in Shanghai is indecently high. The price depends on the period for which the apartment will be rented (for example, if the period is less than 6 months, the price will be very high). Shanghai has a huge number of hotels for every taste and color. $69 per room per night can be paid at the New Asia Hotel, a little more than $94 at the You You Hotel, and all $210 at the Grand Central Hotel.

Entertainment

The best place to start your trip to Beijing is Tiananmen Square. Every morning, the Chinese flag is raised here, and not only local residents, but also guests of the city watch this process. Tiananmen Square has a huge number of attractions and architectural monuments. Among them: the building of the People's Assembly, the Chinese History Museum, the Museum of the Revolution, the Opera House, and in the center there is a large monument dedicated to the national heroes of the Republic of China.

To enjoy the square in all its glory, it is better to come here early in the morning, while there are not so many people here yet. Traveling in Beijing, be sure to visit the Forbidden City of Gugong. This palace complex is a world-famous treasure of Beijing. According to legend, there are 9999.5 rooms in the palace, whether it is true or not, you can find out personally by walking along the magical corridors of the palace complex.

Based on this Forbidden City, the Gugong Museum was created. All the palaces of the museum complex have romantic names, and their appearance is constantly maintained so that they look the same as they did many years ago.

Beijing is also home to the National Museum of China, whose collections attract thousands of visitors every year. Among the famous exhibits of the museum are the Jade Prince, the weapons that were used during the Opium War and the most interesting artifacts reflecting China's long journey to independence and a place in the sun.

The amazing and unique beauty of Gongwangfu is a palace and park ensemble. It was created on the basis of the palace of Prince Gong. On the territory of Gongwangfu there is a theater, the hall of which can accommodate 200 people. Another beautiful palace and park complex is the Summer Imperial Palace. It is often called the Garden of Peace and Harmony.

This palace is over 800 years old, but it still looks majestic and graceful. Also in Beijing you can see unique, beautiful temples made according to the traditions of the Chinese people: the Temple of the Big Bell, the Temple of Confucius, the Temple of Heaven, the Buddhist monastery Yonghegun. But the most important place for relaxation and emotions is the Amusement Park, everyone comes here with or without children, feeling that the child still lives in them.

In the park, you can ride a super train, water cars, visit the Gothic Cinderella castle, a 4D cinema, as well as a huge number of small slides and interesting attractions. A detailed guide to Beijing can be found here.

When traveling around Shanghai, be sure to visit Sheshan Mountain, you will not find such beauty of landscapes and nature views anywhere else. Here you can ride a safe cable car and see every treetop from above. If you're lucky, you'll get to one of the park's monthly festivals: the Sand Figure Festival or the Lan Sun Festival.

In Shanghai, you can find a piece of Venice – a city on the water Zhujiajiao. This city completely recreates the picture of ancient China: in the ancient streets and architecture, the customs of the local population and water landscapes. An interesting place would be the Automobile Museum in Shanghai. Here you will learn the history of the evolution of cars, different technologies of creation and see rare examples of cars.

Of the interesting museums, one can also single out the Museum of Urban History of Shanghai, the Museum of Jewish Refugees, the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Postal Museum, the Shanghai Museum.

The most unusual attraction in Shanghai is the Underwater Hotel, which is located at the foot of Tianmashan Mountain. The hotel consists of 19 floors, half of which are under water. The hotel has 5 stars, therefore it is expensive to rest here, but to see such a miracle from the outside is completely free. For lovers of outdoor activities, Shanghai presents several attractions:

Food

What better to say about the city than unconventional food. In Beijing, as in all of China, street food is very popular and it is here in such quantity that the eyes run wide. Separately, it is worth noting the varieties of meat – from chicken to unknown names of animals.

You should also try the delicious seafood. However, many come to Beijing not at all for meat or seafood, but with an unbridled desire to try something vile, something that could not even come to mind. And here it is: silkworm larvae, all kinds of cockroaches and grasshoppers.

Noodles and dumplings are very tasty, they are deep-fried. For dessert, locals prefer fruits, the variety of which is also great from bananas to durians.

Shanghai is not much different from Beijing in its cuisine. Here, too, the most delicious is sold right on the street, and everything is cooked on the grill and barbecue. Food is served on skewers, but the highlight is its preparation, right in front of your eyes. The most popular food is noodles. Shanghainese have lunch with an interesting dish called “Hot Pot”.

This dish includes chicken, celery and greens, and is prepared according to the principle of our dishes in pots. Large bivalves, which are a delicacy, will be very edible. And this is not all the goodies and delicacies of Asian residents.

shopping

No matter how everyone argues, everything is done in China, and if not all, then most of it, that's for sure. That is why, when visiting the cities of China, be sure to go shopping, pleasure is guaranteed. In Beijing, the biggest discounts and promotions occur during the holidays, so this is the best time for shopping. During seasonal sales, discounts can reach from 70 to 80%.

The most popular in Beijing is the Druzhba Shopping Center, the assortment of which is very large, and the prices are fixed, which attracts buyers and tourists. The chain of stores is Zhongyou Department Store, where you can find branded items from all over the world. The main rule of shopping in Beijing is bargaining, no matter how expensive the store you are in, bring down the price and you will be inferior.

Silk is very popular in Shanghai, from bed linen to dresses. Traditional Chinese medicine, tea and porcelain figurines will be no less popular. Shopping in Shanghai can start on any street. There are plenty of shops here. Shanghai is a real city for shopaholics. Here you can buy yourself not only a branded item, but also a very high-quality fake at an affordable and affordable price. Shanghai will seem like a real paradise for connoisseurs of antiques.

There are many antique shops where you can find the rarest items from all over the world. Shanghai is a great place for value for money. Everyone will find here for themselves a product to their liking. Fine jewelry can be purchased at the First Asian Jewelry Market. There are 600 best stores in Shanghai on Nanjing Road, and Yatai Jinan is one of the modern markets that provides goods of various kinds. The best shop for souvenirs and things is the three-story Sunshine Shopping Center.

Both Beijing and Shanghai are the largest cities in China. The atmosphere here fully reflects the life and being of the locals, and the amount of exotic, beautiful and mysterious rolls over.