Finding your way around Shanghai can be a bit difficult if you don’t speak Mandarin or are not used to the pronunciation of the roads. One of the most effective ways I have gotten around thus far is by taking pictures of the google maps locations and addresses on my computer screen. This way I can just show him (I have yet to see a female taxi driver) the camera and he readily knows where to go. Being a foreigner you are still susceptible to two things: 1) A taxi driver who doesn’t start the meter and them taking a winding route through the city. This is easy enough to remedy by pointing at the meter in the passenger seat. 2) Knowing the route the taxi is taking. Most taxis have text and speech based GPS systems. If you dont hear it, look for local landmarks to make sure the taxi isn’t taking a winding route for more money. Remember that a cab ride from Pudong airport to wherever you are in in Shanghai should not cost you more than 200RMB!
With my mastering of taxi trips, I made my first hotel lunch at the Grand Hyatt. After the standard bellman treatment I was directed to the elevator. Interestingly enough the Grand Hyatt is not a freestanding building, but is integrated into the Jin Mao tower, with the lobby starting on the 34th floor. The staff I came into contact with spoke English well and directed me across the lobby to the Grand Cafe. At just past midday, the cafe was full of patrons and equally full of staff. At any given moment I noticed 10 waiters moving about the tables. Chinese service has a much higher staff to guest ratio than their European or American counterparts, and I would assume could lead to a higher level of service satisfaction (just a hunch).
The friendly hostess informed me of a wait of about twenty minutes and offered me options like enjoying a cup of coffee in the lobby in the meantime, or making a reservation for a later time. Pleasantly surprised at being offered the choices, I inquired about internet access. The receptionist left her post and escorted me to the center and asked for my cell number. They would call me when my table was ready. Sooner than expected I had a table and a very nice cup of coffee while I waited for my girlfriend to arrive.
While the staff seemed proficient and effective at their given tasks, there were a few things I noticed that could use some attention. I watched the bartender pour one bottle of wine into another…marriage of this type would be blasphemy to any sommelier. The wait staff also seemed to have no sense of proper techniques for removing items from a table. The tray was put down on the table and loaded up quickly with a clashing of plates and glasses. I can understand this when you are closed and not in the view of guests, but it is a bit disturbing when you are right behind another table.
On another note China and the U.S. are constantly building relations and the value of China in tourism is immense. Delta Airlines’ Director & Chief Representative of China & Hong Kong is Sandeep Bahl click here to read what he has to say about the growth of China as a nation of tourists.
