Comments on: Chinese, Japanese, Shanghainese, Look at these!

By: Don Tai

Don Tai — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:13:28 +0000

I really like exploring the back alleys in China. The main streets seem lacking in the authentic China experience. Often times you’ll see a very grand storefront with few Chinese shoppers. I prefer to shop where the locals shop, if possible. This is for “face” only. Though for local Chinese some internationalization is fitting, going to China to experience a taste of North American culture is, for me, wasteful.

I’d be looking around that local migrant worker neighborhood for some authentic Chinese breakfast and lunch gems. I often find that locals who live on back alleys are friendlier and know where to find stuff. Hotel staff cycle into work, then go home, so many really know very little about the neighborhood, which is too bad.

By: Benjamin Ross

Benjamin Ross — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:45:24 +0000

@Lao Pan

I totally feel for ya. The other day I wandered around the vicinity of my hotel for over an hour looking for a shop to make custom business cards. Imagine that…not being able to find a shop which makes business cards in China!

By: Lao Pan

Lao Pan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 06:17:21 +0000

Yes, I was pleased to find Shanghai has a “Chinatown”. The odd thing is that a lot of residents don’t know these areas exist, or at least don’t admit they know. The staff at the hotel where I was staying were baffled when I asked where to buy packing tape. They suggested going to a giant hardware-plex outside the downtown core. I just walked a few blocks and found a tiny shop that seemed to specialize in just two items: window screen and packing tape. 2 RMB later, I headed back to the hotel with my tape.