10 days in shanghai.. market tours?

[divina]

ok.. I want to meet someone like me in shanghai.

I do market tours and teach one day classes in Florence.

My mom grew up in shanghai in the 30's and has gone back often so no problems with eating out or basic tours.

but has anyone taken a market tour or a cooking class?

[divina]

I am signed up for a dim sum class at the Ritz Carleton hotel.

will let you know how it is and if I find a market tour!

[somemale]

I am signed up for a dim sum class at the Ritz Carleton hotel.

will let you know how it is and if I find a market tour!

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what is a market tour?

[djyee100]

I was in Shanghai a couple weeks ago, only for a few days. The city has become very modern and westernized, and to my knowledge most of the old street markets have disappeared. The DK Eyewitness Guidebook for "Beijing and Shanghai" gives a self-guided walking tour of the old town in Shanghai, including the food market at Dajing Lu. http://www.amazon.com/Beijing-Shanghai-Eye...87044188&sr=8-2

Is this what you mean? The guidebook also notes that this area is oriented to tourists and the prices may be inflated. (I myself opted out of touring this part of the city, and spent extra hours with the exceptional collections at the Shanghai Art Museum).

Do you have the option of traveling outside Beijing or Shanghai? I spent a week in the interior, in Wuhan, Yichang, and Chongqing, and there you can still see something of the old China, including the street markets. See it before it disappears.

[Cha xiu bao]

ok.. I want to meet someone like me in shanghai.

I do market tours and teach one day classes in Florence.

My mom grew up in shanghai in the 30's and has gone back often so no problems with eating out or basic tours.

but has anyone taken a market tour or a cooking class?

←

I don't know there is any good market tour in Shanghai, esp. one in English.

There're some shots in this link taken from a local fresh market in Wujiang Lu of Shanghai:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaxiubao/sets/349444/

Here's a whole album for a fresh market in Hangzhou:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaxiubao/set...57600084299933/

Here's one for a wholesale market in Beijing:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaxiubao/set...57594469341175/

There're lots of these fresh markets residing in all the cities of China, whether it's the big coastal cities such as Shanghai, or Beijing or more remote areas. China is extremely populated and all have to eat so there must be a fresh market around the corners; only problem is it's not very often featured in travel guidebooks for a visitor to find it out by himself.

[Peter Green]

I'd go with Cha Xiu Bao's comment. What I'd been told is that, like in Beijing, a lot of the larger fresh markets have moved out of easy access.

However, if you can find a neighborhood that still isn't too built up, China abounds in alley markets that make use of any free space.

Probably the best bet is to grab a copy of SH magazine (or one of the other tabloids) and look for ads for "local friends" or something like that. These are basically unofficial (unregistered) tour guides. They won't know all of the detailed history, but they won't be working for CITS, either, and are better at finding things.

Also, if you're at the Ritz, ask the concierge if he can arrange for someone to take you around.

[rmillman]

We were in Shanghai in June.

For the most impressive market, go to Tongchuan Wholesale Fish Market. There is plenty to see and many places that will clean and cook your purchases.

Other food information can be found at www.shanghaiist.com