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Shanghai

Things To Do:
Yu Garden (400 year old garden)
The Bund (The newest high rise district of Shanghai)
Grand Theater
Shanghai Museum across from the People's Square
Nanjiang Road for shopping

Pick up any travel guide on Shanghai for a comprehensive list of places to see. Due to commercial success, Shanghai is far more tourist-friendly than Beijing. But keep in mind your own personal travel timetable. Having been to both cities I offer this advice: If you only have one chance to visit one Chinese city, and you're not sure if you'll ever get back to China again, choose Beijing over Shanghai.

It's hard to explain, but here it goes. Beijing IS China. It has a ton of history close by and gives you the constant feeling you're "not in Kansas anymore." Shanghai is New York, Chicago and "Las Vegas glitz" on steroids filled with Chinese people who probably speak English. If a Russian family spent one week in the U.S. and only in Las Vegas, most Americans would agree that the family really didn't see America at all.

(Keep in mind Hong Kong is another topic altogether - easy to get into, easy to navigate)

Hilton International Hotel

Fun Factor - Lite entertainment - Enjoyable
Warmth of Staff - Business feel
Hot Water - Absolutely
Food - Excellent

For $170 a night you'll have a nice, well equipped hotel room. The lobby, atrium and main restaurant are all posh, and the food and service here is excellent.

Grand Hyatt in the Jin Mao Tower
The highest hotel in the world (2007 data).
Fun Factor - On a scale from 1 to 10, it's a 20. Off the scale - Off the charts!
Warmth of Staff - Extremely professional
Hot Water - Are you kidding? Jets and waterfalls of it - in your bathroom.
Food - Awesome

Their prices reflect the prestige. Is it worth it? Yes. If you're taking the time to see Shanghai, and the cost of the trip doesn't blow your budget, make sure you spend at least one night in this world-class hotel. The Jin Mao Tower is impressive in a New York meets Vegas sort of way, and it's a true Shanghai landmark.

The fitness facilities, the restaurants, the club scene at night - are all top notch in this hotel. As are the rooms. For $250 or so a night you'll have a room to remember forever. Pay more and you'll want to stay there forever. Put it this way; It will cost you 50% more to stay at the Grand Hyatt hotel than it will to stay at the very nice Hilton International Hotel. At only 50% more, the Grand Hyatt is a real bargain and a much better hotel.