ECVV-JASON

Just came across the City Guides section of The Economist (h/t to The Weifang Radish).   The city guides are geared towards business travelers, and for each city there is the following:

• Insider Tips:   From our correspondent
• Cheat Sheet:  View or print our executive travel dossier
• Hotels:   From decadent to easy-on-the-pocket

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• Restaurants:   Our favourite dining spots
• Sightseeing:   Kill an hour, serenity in the city and more
• Nightlife:   Best for culture vultures
• Wise Buys:   Gifts for gourmets and more

Each section also contains news on the particular city, an events calender and some interesting cost figures.   In Asia, the Cities Guides covers Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, and Tokyo.   Seoul, Korea, apparently does not rate.   The Guides also cover Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

The guides really are quite good.   For instance, in the insider tips section, I learned that "during a meal," one should "not turn a fish over to get to the flesh on the underside. Superstition holds that turning a fish over will cause a fishing boat to capsize."   How many of you knew this?   Be honest.

I found the city cost listings interesting, but of questionable accuracy. The site sets forth the following prices for Beijing and Shanghai:

• Cost of an average two-day business trip (excluding flights): 5,147 yuan for Beijing, 6,541 yuan for Shanghai

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• Monthly rent of a mid-priced one-bed furnished apartment: 30,000 yuan for Beijing, 12,132 yuan for Shanghai
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• Three-course dinner for four at a top restaurant: 1,600-3,000 yuan for Beijing, 2,600-4,800 yuan for Shanghai
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• Theatre or concert (four best seats): 1,360-3,520 yuan for Beijing, 800-2,000 yuan for Shanghai

I am quite familiar with Shanghai prices, less so of Beijing, but I can tell you that before my firm secured its apartment in Shanghai, I would always do just fine staying in Shanghai at the Radisson Hotel right smack across from People's Park, traveling around by taxi, and eating plenty well, for way less than 6,541 yuan per two days.   Our extremely nice, two bedroom furnished Shanghai apartment also costs quite a bit less than the 12,132 yuan per month the Economist ascribes to "mid-priced" furnished one bedroom apartments in Shanghai.   I also find it difficult to believe Beijing apartment rents are 2.5 times those in Shanghai.

Despite its lofty price calculations, this really is an excellent site for business travelers who find themselves going to any of the listed cities.Chocolate products Choke Coil Christmas Ball Christmas Decoration Christmas Light Christmas Stockings Christmas Tree Circuit Breaker Circular Saw Cleaning Roller