What are the general service levels like in Shanghai?

Anon UK: There is no general standard one can speak of, it depends on what you're paying for.

Steve Bisogno: Customer service in Shanghai has improved a lot in the past six years, but there is a lot of difficulty in getting an equal standard of good service around the city.

Elyse Singleton: You mean customer service? Oh boy, here's a good one. Shanghai Tang, a very expensive "designer" store--I took my bag in to be repaired and one day, I get a phone call from a number I don't know. I can't reply because I am busy, so then I call them back. They replied and I couldn't hear clearly who they were, so I said in Chinese that they had called me and I was calling them back. The person at the other end is like, "Who are you? Who called you? What mobile phone?" Eventually I established they were Shanghai Tang, and so I said in English, "Oh--it's about my bag." Suddenly, there was a silence. Then, in English, "Hello, Shanghai Tang, can I help you?" So weird. My friend is writing a Ph.D on the service industry in China actually--oh it's just so bad. But it is improving, I will give you that. I had this amazing waitress at the Radisson on People's Square and excellent service at another restaurant I went to recently.

Sami Zabel: People are always willing to help. In shops, they wouldn't leave me alone!

Anon U.S.: So-so. Except the taxis, they are the best in China

Are you confident about the health facilities in Shanghai?

Anon UK: No, low level hospitals have given me wrong diagnoses many times. Again, it depends what you're paying for. For serious conditions I am generally not confident of the facilities in Shanghai.

Steve Bisogno: While I have not had very much experience with the health facilities in Shanghai, in general the city has some good hospitals and access to therapeutic treatments is also good.

Elyse Singleton: Hmm--I don't go to doctors--don't believe in them and rarely get sick. However, I'd be a bit freaked out if I had to go to hospital, mainly because of the language thing, I think. I have been to some hospitals with my hypochondriac ex-boyfriend and they seemed pretty clean and well run.

Sami Zabel: My experiences with health facilities were very good.

Anon U.S.: Very much so. Major surgery is done with high competence.

Do you feel there are ample business opportunities in Shanghai?

Anon UK: For entrepreneurship, yes; for advancing through a company whether local or multinational, no.

Steve Bisogno: Business opportunities in Shanghai are the city's main attraction. The number of opportunities seems to continue to grow every year.

Elyse Singleton: As I said before, yeah--because there are so many gaps in the market, I think there are heaps, but I am not a business expert. I think, especially in the retail area, there is still a lot of development and in the restaurant/cafe business. We are yet to get really, really great cafes and bars in Shanghai, in my opinion. Also, stuff like more really funky boutiques, small designers, health food shops, more bookshops--all this is yet to come, hopefully.

Sami Zabel: Most definitely.

Anon U.S.: Yes.

What is the social life like in Shanghai (entertainment/recreational/ interactive)?

Anon UK: As good as any world city.

Steve Bisogno: Social life in Shanghai has certainly improved over the six years I have been in the city. I was initially disappointed because of the lack of sporting events for locals. However, the number and competitive level of sports has increased with the growth of facilities and income in the city. Regarding clubs, the city has always had a strong bar/club scene. Unfortunately, Shanghai's music scene is deplorable, with jazz or cover bands playing pop music as the only options.

Elyse Singleton: It's really great to see the live music scene opening up some more in Shanghai as I love live music. I am not really a club type person, but the ones I have been to have not thrilled me--they are all very showy, but not much fun in my opinion. Gyms, yoga and dance schools are huge and springing up all over the place, so that's quite cool. There are some decent bars, but it'd be great to find more stuff in between the sticky floor 15 yuan or all you can drink for ladies type places and the over the top 115 yuan for a martini joints. There are a few, which is great. I still think it's quite hard to meet people--like cool people--it seems that everyone is looking for the next step up. There are lots of big parties, but they are really full of people looking at each other and preening. I am such a cynic.

Sami Zabel: It is impossible to be bored in Shanghai-there is always something going on.

Anon U.S.: What, besides bars? Not much. If one wants to find entertainment, one only needs to go walking.

How easy is it to get around in Shanghai?

Anon UK: Overall transportation is good and cheap, however if it's raining one may not be able to find a taxi, and at peak time traffic doesn't move. The bus routes are not clear at all.

Steve Bisogno: Other than business opportunities, the city's transportation system is another big attraction. With the addition of line 4, congestion on lines 1 and 2 has significantly decreased. As well, taxis and buses are plentiful and remain a good price. For non-Mandarin speakers, it may still be quite difficult to travel by bus or taxi however.

Elyse Singleton: Haha--awful when it rains. It's no problem at all--a lot of downtown is quite "walkable" and then the subway expands every day, so that's fabulous too. The subway is fine, except at peak hours, but it's a clean, efficient and a cheap way to get around. Buses are fine too--except you really need to know where the bus goes and where to get off, which is difficult to find out if you have language issues. I must be honest and say I don't take the bus much. Taxis are still quite cheap, although the traffic problems do mean that they are often slow these days. In general I would say it's pretty easy to get around. I would love to have a bike, but there aren't enough bike lanes, and I don't fancy getting mulched by a truck.

Sami Zabel: Public transportation is very good, and taxis are everywhere. It is very easy to get anywhere.

Anon U.S.: Very easy.