My huband is most likely being transferred to Shanghai from Los Angeles at the end of the summer - yikes! I am a stay at home mom, with a 3 yr old boy and 5 yr old girl - have heard that Shanghai Centre is a good place to live, with a lot of child-friendly ammenities. Anyone with information or help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Courtney Andrews - Long Beach, CA. USA
Please support our advertisers:
Please support our advertisers:
I couldn't find anything in my inbox from turtle1 based in Shanghai. Thanks.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi,
I lived in Shanghai for nearly 3 years...without children, but anyway... Shanghai Centre is a great place. It is right in the City Centre, a lot of the things are walking distance and you have a western supermarket and a lot of other things in the building there. Unfortunately there is no green area or so in Shanghai City Centre...not really I mean (only a few small parks) therefore a lot of our friends with kids moved either to Hongqiao (outside city centre) or to Pudong as there are nicer compounds with big villas and it is more green. However keep in mind that the traffic in Shanghai is awful. From Hongquiao you need at least 45 min. to the city centre (by taxi) and during rush hour our especially when it rains it is nearly impossible to get a taxi. Would be better to have a driver then. From Shanghai Centre you can walk to a lot of the restaurants and shops.
Should your girl start school you should see where the school is located. I just know there is one American School in Puxxi and one in Pudong and they have schoolbusses there to pick up the kids. Distances in Shanghai are very very long....but you might be used to this already. I just mean for ex. one of our friends their child had to be picked up at home over one hour before the school starts.
Good luck for your start there ! It's an amazing city !
Please support our advertisers:
MRiehl - Thanks SO much for your helpful hints and advice...I get the feeling that the commute out to these schools is really a nightmare -- we definitely want to be in the city for at least one year to have that experience - if we end up staying longer, then I guess we re-evaluate the "lack of green" factor v.s. traffic.
Do you happen to know which part of SH the the "Alison International Tower" is on Fu Yi Road? That's where my husband's office is located.
Thanks!!!!
Please support our advertisers:
Hi Courtney,
Glad I could be of help. I must say I would always prefer to live in the city in Shanghai. Even talking about "green" is not really the "green" we know. All compounds and parks are artificial. If you want to see some real nature you have to really leave the city to Hangzhou for example. What I found the most important thing is that...keeping in mind all the noise there .... to have a place to relax. Shanghai Centre is perfect for this as they have a great pool area for the kinds. Even if you find compounds with outdoor pools you always have to keep in mind how hot it is... so you cannot really use them in summer.
I think for the office location you mean Fuyou Road (I checked the website). It must be somewhere at the bund. Actually the bund is best to reach by taxi as there is no MTR connection. The next stop is People Square and then to walk down....quite a walk, depending on where the office is directly. But they have a Ringroad which is very easy accessible from Shanghai Centre going down to the Bund directly.
Let me know if you want to know anything else.
Regards,
Manuela
Please support our advertisers:
Manuela -- Any other "Shanghai Centre" type places you know of near or around the Bund? (Or something similar?) Thanks for all of your tips -really appreciate it!
Regards, Courtney
Please support our advertisers:
Hi, no sorry I don't know any other places. Shanghai Centre is very special in terms of all benefits. It is connected to the Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel and has this great Fitness centre and pool area as I already mentioned. When you dropp down your appartment you will have a great sandwich restaurant and a supermarket already in th ebuilding.Of course there are a lot of other building with fitness and pools - it's getting more popular now but not really like Shanghai Centre. Of course the prices vary a lot. I just heard now, that Pudong is much cheaper. If you are in contact with an agent and you need any help just let me know. I have a friend still living in Shanghai and she also knows a lot of the places. I can always ask her.
By the way...did you check out their website:
http://www.shanghaicentre.com/
Of course you will be much cheaper, renting an even bigger apartment somewhere else and having a chinese maid (ayi) who can also take care of the children.
regards, Manuela
Please support our advertisers:
I did check out their website - looks pretty ideal all around! I'd love your friend's email address (if you don't mind) - any and all information is really helping me to get a sense of the city and how to suit our needs. Do you know anyone who belongs or lives at Shanghai Raquet Club?
Regards, Courtney
Please support our advertisers:
I will ask my friend and let you know. I don't know somebody with the Raquet Club but we have been there once. It's great, but it's over one hour outside the city....
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail