Dorothee International I started 27th Nov 2015 from London and we arrived in time at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. There the local time was already 28th Nov around 4pm. I asked for a short time visa, because I had 8 hours between the flights, though 6 hours to spend in the city. The assistant of the immigration service was somewhat surprised that my flight was from London and not from Sweden. I had to explain twice before I have got the stamp and the visa. This was the first one of my collection!
Shanghai Airport
I could not get in touch with the Chinese girl from the Couchsurfing platform, who told me, that she would like to show me around. Therefore I was trying to find the way to the city center by bus or Metro. I was asked by a taxi driver if I will go with him, but he did not know the price. Another taxi driver did see his chance and told me, that he can drive me for 600 Yuan to points of interest and a girl would come with us and show around. All included for 900 Yuan, but then the taxi driver changed his mind and asked for 800 Yuan and all included for 1100 Yuan ( 100 Yuan ~ 15 EUR). I told them, that I am not interested in it anymore. Both were following me, but especially the girl, trying to get the deal, but I declined and looked for the Metro, which I found.
Shanghai Airport Restaurant
At the Metro station was an assistant, too, but a very unfriendly one. Maybe she only did seem unfriendly by not knowing English well. While I asked for the costs of a ride, she told me “Line 2”. I asked her one more time and have got the same answer. When I asked her for the third time, she pointed to the vending machine. I went there and chose a ticket for the city center, it was for 7 Yuan. I paid and used the next coming Metro. The line told, that it will go to the city center, especially because the airport was the last stop ever for this route. I was happy to get a seat and was checking the names of the stops all the time. We came to a point where most of the people left and many people entered. I thought, it is a point for changes to other routes. It was, of course, but the train I was in returned by some way from this station to the airport. It took long time for me to discover that. I was on my way for three hours and could not try one more time. Anyway next time I will come to Shanghai I know the system.
Dorothee International 