Happy 4th! Today is one of my favorite holidays because it combines three things I love: USA! USA! beer, and BBQ. A 4th of July tradition is Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest which TPOL tried to emulate a few years ago by consuming 2lbs of dog, 2 buns, and a mound of chili cheese fries in an hour. Other contests include the Big Mac Challenge in Prague, Czech Republic and the 2lb Burger Challenge in Drummond, Montana which I still think I won.
In honor of today, I have come up with ten new eating contests should you happen to be spending your 4th at a lounge.
Curry at KIX: Have the machine pour yourself a beer then load up your plate with mounds of rice and mystery meat. It’s time to get to work.
“I had that 27 and 10 last night and today, chicken curry. 54 points last week and the next day, curry stew!” #Durant
Pasta at PVG: Be quick on your feet and make the mad dash to the pasta feed in Shanghai before other eager contestants get there.
Pasta baby!
Carrots at DTW: Sadly, America doesn’t provide a lot of great gorging opportunities but a carrot contest is very possible in just about any US airport. The carrot and the [celery] stick
Dim Sum at PEK: Yes! Dim Sum. They reload the dim sum fast enough to make this a viable contest.
The world’s most perfect food
Egg Whites at MSP: TPOL’s favorite breakfast is hard-boiled eggs. Peeled egg whites is a luxury item fit for a king. Get after it!
The yolk is not part of the contest
Wieners at HKG: Late night at HKG? Indulge in as many wieners as is humanly possible. This is more inline with a proper hot dog contest.
Wieners!
Kufta at IST: The Costco of airport lounges is in Istanbul. Kufta prepared fresh and hot of the grill makes for a great contest. Alternatively, you can clog your arteries with a baklava eating contest.
The referee
Donuts at SNA: How are your arteries? In good shape? Then get to John Wayne’s United lounge for donuts and more donuts. Milk is for cheaters.
Who doesn’t love donuts?
Sushi at DXB: Who gets full from sushi? See if you will at Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai.
Champagne & sushi
Ramen at NRT: Made to order, devouring bowls of ramen at the ANA lounge in Narita is a nice way to take the title of American Douche from the party described in this linked post.
Happy 4th everyone!
See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here. Be sure to check out TPOL’s Map, the best feature of the blog.
This guide has been updated in 2019 (see TPOL’s Guide to Libations in Shanghai).
Shanghai: The best city in the world
Shanghai is the best city in the world. I cannot definitively tell you why I think so. There’s just something special about it. It has a unique energy and diversity that I have yet to encounter anywhere else. Curiously, what I love most about Shanghai is that there isn’t a lot to do. Days consist of either going to the Fabric Market or recovering from the night before. And it is the latter point that this post will focus on.
Bracing for a long evening out, I begin the night by heading to Yang’s Dumpling for only a few savory dumplings. Binging at Yang’s inevitably results in an inescapable food coma. As Yang’s is located on the bustling street of Nanjing Xi Lu the next stop is the dive bar known as Windows TOO, which is situated west of People’s Square in Jing’an Temple area. A few Tiger beers, a few rounds of craps, and maybe a few whiskeys means it’s time for the next phase of the evening: more drinking.
Yang’sWindows TOOTiger TigerHot handChinese dice gameAmerican dice game
Head back in the direction from which you came and go to Barbarossa Bar where you can enjoy a proper cocktail with a view of People’s Park. If you’re feeling tired, head to the Starbucks next door for a doppio to keep you going. After all it’s going to be a long night.
So peaceful by dayAnd pretty too
From there, hop in a cab and instruct shifu to take you to 外滩 (Waitan or the Bund). Be sure to stop at an All Days or Family Mart to maintain your BAC. I recommend a giant Tsingtao beer, two mini shots of Jack, and a Coke Zero chaser. Don’t bother playing the 7-Eleven Drinking Game because you won’t last very long. If you’re looking for one of the classiest bars in Shanghai, head to the Long Bar at the Waldorf Shanghai. If you’re looking for a more international crowd the second stop is usually Bar Rouge, a French owned nightclub with impeccable views of the Huangpu River and Pudong (home to the Park and Grand Hyatt). One drink at $15 should be enough to realize that it is time to find another place to party. When exiting, do not take the taxis parked right outside as they will not go by the meter. Take Uber instead.
Use as describedLong Bar at the WaldorfThe BundThe BundThe Bund7th FloorOr climb the bikes to the topBar Rouge on a typical Shanghai rainy dayThe Bund lit
The next destination is the internationally and notoriously known nightclub called M1NT Shanghai. M1NT may not be what it was years ago but the nostalgia of going up the elevator and seeing the sharks swimming around bring back some of the best memories. The main dance floor plays a variety of music while the lounge plays hiphop and is more intimate.
Floor 24The sharksM1NT ShanghaiM1NT Halloween
If you still have a couple of Jack bottles, now may be the time to go to the bathroom and consume those. M1NT like Bar Rouge has New York priced drinks. As a tourist this isn’t a big deal but for those living in Shanghai on a local salary, a night at M1NT could blow the budget.
If you still are capable of reading this post, then check the time. Is it 3AM? Good. Now it’s time to leave and take another Uber to a Chinese club. When I lived in Shanghai, I used to know their names but alas the glorious ones have all closed. These include Babyface, Club 88, and Richy. Undoubtedly, new ones have opened so you won’t be out of options.
Babyface was better than RichbabyThe best club in the history of mankindMaybe second bestThe famous stairs on Fumin LuA tradition, B52s
If you still are capable of reading this post, then check the time again. Is it 5AM? Good. Now it’s time to go to the after party Hollywood Shanghai. Be sure to have 100 RMB to get in. The good old days of sneaking in seem to be a thing of the past. If you somehow stumble upon the courtyard, be sure to do a handstand to prove your sobriety.
Dead sober
If you still are capable of reading this post then the sun is now coming up and you probably are very hungry. Not to worry, outside of Hollywood you will find Chinese BBQ, fried rice, and dumplings to satisfy your stomach. Remarkably, you will also find that your proficiency of the Chinese language is at an all time high, or so you think. Be sure to tell shifu that you want your food to be ‘hen la’.
Noodles tooEverything is good. I love the green beans and the lamb the mostThe selectionDumplings for the soup and sometimes dumplings stand aloneAnd this monkey
With your mouth burning from my advice, I think it’s time to call it a day and head back to your hotel. By now the breakfast buffet should be open if you want a snack before passing out and doing this all again when you wake after well after the sun has gone down.
Leaving HollywoodSunglasses & AdvilAh Shanghai! What a great city.
See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here. Be sure to check out TPOL’s Map, the best feature of the blog.
Getting There: The Andaz is located in the swanky neighborhood of Xintiandi. The fastest way to get there is to take the Maglev and Uber from there. Alternatively, you could Uber all the way.
The cosmopolitan life is what the Andaz brand is all about. It’s what the W brand aspires to be but will never become. The Andaz Shanghai combines the best of all worlds by delivering an upscale experience in a great neighborhood.
I’ve only stayed at two other Andaz hotels, the one in Napa Valley and the one in San Diego. Both were great but this one is the best. First, the suite upgrade was fantastic. Next, the breakfast (though incomparable to Twelve at Henghsan) offered a wide variety of freshly prepared Western and Chinese food. Finally, the location can’t be beat. Xintiandi is a neighborhood within central Shanghai with a walking street filled with bars and restaurants. Although it’s a bit touristy, it’s still pleasant for an evening out.
The only issue I can think of is that there is so much to do and see around the hotel that I barely had a chance to enjoy it! Therefore, I will have my pictures to do the talking for me.
The Hotel ItselfAndaz ShanghaiIn Chinese, the ‘an’ in Andaz means peace. I agree.Andaz artAndaz artThe living roomThe bar which includes free wine during happy hour.The wineHyattAndazWeeeeThe suspended fish tank by the elevatorsThe RoomAndaz hallwayAndaz artAndaz artAndaz living roomAndaz bedroomAndaz bedThe Bathroom The sink that changes colorsThe showerSink and tubThe soapsPink tub?Or green?Artsy Andaz sinkThe Amenities Welcome to the AndazNespresso of courseFinally no decaf!Andaz espresso, snacks, and soft drinks all includedThe stationary bikeNo idea what the point of this isWhere’s the NO Xplode?Pure waterPeddling well enjoying the viewThe View XintiandiAndaz XintiandiThe Exterior The other entranceCool buildingThe happy hour loungeThe happy hour loungeThe Hong Kong building (home of M2 nightclub)The Breakfast Restaurant entranceFresh meatsSalad barOmelette stationJiaozi and xiao long baoXiao long baoJiaoziOverall
I would definitely recommend staying at the Andaz Xintiandi. Guests can enjoy being in the heart of the action without giving up quality.
See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here. Be sure to check out TPOL’s Map, the best feature of the blog.
Getting There: Take the Maglev and then Uber the rest of the way. The taxi stand outside the Maglev is also a decent option if your data is malfunctioning.
The Grand Hyatt Shanghai
The Grand Hyatt Shanghai must get sick of living in the shadow his younger brother, the Park Hyatt. That is literally the case here as the size and stature of the Grand Hyatt which is in the Jin Mao building is dwarfed by the Park Hyatt which is in the World Financial Center. While both were feuding, the Shanghai Tower, the second tallest building in the world was erected and will be home to J-Hotel, the tallest hotel in the world.
Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, J HotelShanghai TowerWorld Financial Center Street ViewThe two brothersThe tripletsThe TripletsThrowback from 2014The Location
The hotel is located in Pudong across from the Bund where the real nightlife and fun of Shanghai takes place. Pudong is a boring area with nothing to do. The reason to stay on this side is for the view of the other.
Reflecting on my time in ShanghaiThe Hotel Itself
The Jin Mao Tower is striking from the outside and from within. There is a lookout point on the way to the hotel room that will make you hold onto your camera a little tighter as you take pictures of down below and up above.
Chinese artGrand elevatorsElevator hallwayThe atriumLook downLook upThe Room
Can I please have unlimited DSUs? Now this is a room. The views of the World Financial Center, the Bund, and an endless skyline make this hotel incomparable.
The bedroomThe bedroomThe bedroomThe bedroom and bathroomThe bedroomView of the living roomView of PudongThe Living Room
Need space to breathe? The air is thin up here.
WelcomeWelcomeThe living roomThe living roomThe living roomCurtains drawn to prevent big brother from spyingCaffeine stationTea kettleMore inexplicable decafTea and espresso cupsNot decafTop shelf espresso picAnd this thingThe Bathroom
The bathroom was unsurprisingly impressive. One funny note is how the toilet seat would go up anytime it sensed someone approaching. The toilet can be accessed from the bathroom or from the living room so I received a friendly wave each time I passed by.
I say hello toiletIt says hello TPOLThe bathroomEvery good hotel should have a dental kit as this one doesNice soapsNice soapsThe showerThe sinkBye toiletThe brainThe View View of PudongThen this jerk shows upProbably my favorite tall buildingEven if he does block the viewSimply awesome at nightThe Lounge
Why does TPOL love lounges? Because everything is free and unlimited. Open bar and endless snacks are my idea of a good time. In my next life, I will live at an all-inclusive resort.
The Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand Club needs the windows washedThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubThe Grand ClubOverall
Although the Park Hyatt is impressive, I enjoyed my stay at the Grand Hyatt because of the Diamond Suite Upgrade and because of the lounge. The Grand Hyatt Shanghai gets overlooked by guests who opt to stay at the Park Hyatt. For a cheaper cash and points options or a booking exclusively based on points, I would select the Grand Hyatt without question.
再见 Pudong!
See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here. Be sure to check out TPOL’s Map, the best feature of the blog.
Location: The South Bund Fabric Market is located at 399 Lujiabang Lu. All the hotels and taxi drivers know it.
TPOL is the best bargainer. Period.
That’s the attitude you need when you enter the fabric market at Liujiabang Lu. There’s nothing more fun than spending a Saturday afternoon picking out shirts, suits, and button combinations. Sometimes the suits end up looking like something from Star Trek. Other times you end up with clothes that look better than anything that can be purchased at ten or even twenty times the price at Saks Fifth Avenue.
The first key to surviving the fabric market is to have a list of what you need ahead of time. The second key is to know what the 朋友 (friend) price is before you begin bargaining. Finally, and most importantly, it is critical to find a tailor that you know and trust. Personally, I’ve been going to the guy since 2009 and have had no complaints. It’s been six years since the last time that I had returned and evidently costs had risen since the last time I had went. Or had they?
Speaking a little Chinese and trading some good laughs, I ended up paying the same thing I did all those years ago. Back then 100 RMB was around $14 and now 100 RMB is $15 so I should say I paid the same amount in renminbi.
The booth that I go to is No. 261 and the secret prices that I get are as follows:
Suit: 500 RMB
Cashmere Coat: 600 RMB
Shirt: 100 RMB
Suitcase: 130 RMB (top quality)
Then after all is calculated I try to get a few more RMB knocked off of the final price. Am I cheap, competitive, or compulsive? That’s a discussion for another post. In the end, I walked away with 5 suits, 1 winter coat, and 20 shirts. The best part is they all fit perfectly the first time and there were no duds in the group. I shook shifu’s hand and told him I would be back next year for more. For a complete list of other prices for goods bargained abroad see the post: Bargaining Abroad, I Lost the Battle. Hey pretty lady you want dress, scarf?Lujiabang luShifu’s Store #261You’re going to like the way you look…(I don’t think this is trademarked anymore)
Club Carlson is annoying. There’s no other way to put it. I am trying to burn these Office of the President E-Certs which I was given after the Club Carlson devaluation. I managed to book one night at the Radisson Blu Corsica and use points for an additional night as part of my That Champagne Lifestyle Trip Report. The problem is that there is no E-Cert availability for the third night. Standard rooms are available, standard points are available, and the rate isn’t even exceptionally high. Indeed, the hotel doesn’t even look that great.
The E-Cert expires in 2 months which is why I tried to use it in Iceland to book the Radisson Blu Saga. The same thing happened then, no award availability. As is implied in the name, the E-Cert can only be booked online so calling customer service or reaching out to the hotel is useless. I get there isn’t always award availability, that’s not the nature of our business but I don’t understand (and nobody can tell me) if the award will open up. The interesting thing is that I made the first E-Cert booking today so booking in advance is not the issue.
This is the last of my Club Carlson affiliation. I’m not sure I’ll keep the Club Carlson cards one more time.
Anyone have any tricks?
Stupid E-Cert
See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here. Be sure to check out TPOL’s Map, the best feature of the blog.
Location: Yang’s is located in the walking street off of Nanjing Xi Lu. The address is 269 Wujiang Rd, Jing’an, Shanghai, China
Yang has come up. He used to live in a shack on West Nanjing Road on the second floor. Like everything in Shanghai, Yang has modernized. It’s sort of a shame because the old restaurant used to have a long line, nowhere to sit, and an illegible menu. Back then a menu was not needed since patrons would just signal with their fingers how many dumplings they required.
The good news about Yang’s Dumpling is that the quality has not gone down. That is a relief since there it has become increasingly difficult to find street restaurants that make sheng jian bao (pan-fried dumplings). Indeed Nanjing Xi Lu used to be full of mom and pop dumpling joints. Now, it’s been overrun by high-rise buildings and Krispy Kremes. That is very sad.
If you’re confused on how to eat xiao long bao or sheng jian bao, consult this guide in preparation for an orgasmic experience.
Yang in 2014Yang in 2014Yang in 2014Yang in 2014Yang in 2016Yang in 2016
See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here. Be sure to check out TPOL’s Map, the best feature of the blog.
Getting There: Take the Maglev and then Uber from there.
Shanghai is my favorite city in the world. It also is home to some of the best hotels in the world. One of my new favorite hotels is Twelve at Hengshan which is part of the SPG Luxury Collection. It’s located in the French Concession right next to the metro station. I could spend hours wandering the neighborhood around the hotel with no certain destination in mind.
Twelve at HengshanThe Hotel
This hotel is special because it is small and intimate. While bigger hotels like the Park Hyatt Shanghai may dominate the skyline, Twelve at Hengshan is noteworthy because of its unassuming luxury. From the lobby to the courtyard, the hotel is remarkable in its simplicity.
Twelve at Hengshan
Twelve at Hengshan
Twelve at Hengshan
The lobby
The Lounge
Twelve at Hengshan
Twelve at Hengshan
Twelve at Hengshan
Twelve at Hengshan
The lobby
The courtyard
Twelve at Hengshan
Twelve at Hengshan
The Room
I loved the room. Crazy, noisy Shanghai was right outside my door but I would never know it from the tranquility of the room.
The peaceful hallway
Closet
Welcome Fruit
The bed
The bed
Living room
Lounger
With blinds open
Great room
Courtyard
R&R
The Bathroom
A bathtub, a piping hot shower, and soft robes are a prerequisite for a great bathroom at a luxury hotel. Twelve at Hengshan had all three along with a heated toilet.
The bathroom
The tub
The sink
The shower
The soaps
The heated toilet
The controls
The Breakfast
This hotel has the best breakfast in the world. I will qualify this statement by saying that Shanghai dumplings are one of my favorite foods. They are best prepared in the street and are usually a disappointment in upscale restaurants. Besides the dumplings, the breakfast included Chinese soup which also tastes best when served in a styrofoam bowl and costs next to nothing. That’s why I was surprised that both tasted authentic. After loading up on the Chinese treats, I also had an omelette along with the usuals. For dessert, there was amazing ice cream.
Before heading off to explore more of the city, I went out on the beautiful patio to observe a rarity in Shanghai, a crystal blue sky. While sipping on a bold espresso, the head chef approached me to ask me about the breakfast. I’m guessing he had noticed that I had tried everything on the menu and was curious what I thought. I gave him my feedback and remarked at how great the dumplings were. He said that his goal for the breakfast was to combine the best of Shanghai’s street food with top quality ingredients. Clearly, his vision had become a reality.
Donuts
Pastries
Japanese
Japanese
Breakfast Spread
Fried Rice
More options
More options
Delicious
Dumpliings
Soup
Ice cream
Our table
We ate it all
Dessert
The rooftop
Outside table
Beautiful Shanghai Day
Blue Sky!
Overall
If I could live at this hotel and have breakfast here every day, I would be a happy man. The location can’t be beat and the small size makes it more like a cozy apartment than an impersonal business hotel.
On top of the world @ 12 at Hengshan
Earlier I had written a couple of posts where I had weighed the value of converting SPG points to Virgin to take advantage of the JetBlue promo. Now, according to Dan’s Deals, the discussion is moot as they appear not to be honoring the deal.
The lesson I learned from today was to fully research the terms and conditions of all programs involved well in advance and take advantage of such offers before a company changes its promotion.
My analysis of whether it was a good deal or a bad deal was too incomplete both for me to write a useful post and for me to pull the trigger. From now on, I’ll sit out on both unless I have all the information needed to make a meaningful assessment.
One thing I did learn was that Virgin Atlantic has a terrible award chart compared to Virgin America. It’s 80k RT on Virgin Atlantic to London from the US versus 35k on Virgin America.
Virgin’s Salt & Peppa
See the Picture Preview here and see how this $60,000 trip cost $1999 here.
Little did I know of the trouble that I would encounter at the Shanghai airport weeks later when I tried to return and utilize the China 144-hour Visa-Free Transit for the second time. (full breakdown of rules here and me not reading my own post here) This time around I managed to get it right which is why I’m writing a post to show how easy it is when it does work.
Since I was coming from Dubai to Shanghai and leaving from Shanghai (the flight has to come and go directly to/from Shanghai) to a different country than the UAE (New Zealand), I could enter Shanghai for 144 hours without a visa. It’s that simple. The only hold up at the immigration counter was because I didn’t have a printed copy of my itinerary and the guy couldn’t figure out how to photocopy my Blackberry screen.
Note: TPOL recommends getting the 10 year visa regardless if this mechanism works for you. It’s just not worth the stress and uncertainty if plans change.
Look mom, I’m in Shanghai (legally)
![The carrot and the [celery] stick](https://thepointsoflife.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2015-11-04-15.35.16-1024x576.jpg)
