A funny thing about international expo and trade centres is that on the inside they all look pretty much the same to travel-weary business people.
The Shanghai New International Expo Centre is no exception, although, fortunately, there is plenty to see once business travellers make their way back to the city's financial district in Pudong, or wherever else they may be staying.
Xintiandi is often cited by hotel concierges as a place to visit after a busy day of meetings, to enjoy the area's eclectic mix of restaurants and its high-end stores. But exploring the district is not exactly an adventure.
Restaurants there include safe if not boring picks such as Starbucks Coffee, The Coffee Bean, Häagen-Dazs and Cold Stone Creamery, although there is also a steakhouse, a Latin eatery and a pizzeria. Boutique shops, meanwhile, display purses, watches and upmarket clothing from brands including Omega and Lacoste.
Xintiandi tends to attract the after-work suit crowd, in addition to young hipsters who study in Shanghai, so if neither that particular social scene nor its retail offerings interests you, consider visiting Yu Yuan Garden instead.
The garden may be closed by sunset, but there are interesting buildings of traditional design nearby - with much more Asian food than Xintiandi seems to offer.
Small shops and eateries compete fiercely by offering passers-by samples of their Chinese candies, dim sum, dumplings and bubble tea. Mochi Sweets, a Japanese luxury brand, sells sweet and tangy honey and lemon cream mochi that is highly recommended, as well as a variety of tiramisu.
Elsewhere in the city, the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is worth visiting - if only for its quirky assault on the senses. This tunnel features a transparent mechanical pod in which travellers can ride for about five minutes while crossing the main river that intersects downtown Shanghai. A two-way ticket costs 60 yuan (Dh34.82), but the zany music and bizarre light show during the ride are worth the fee.
nparmar@thenational.ae
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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