Tokyo, Osaka or Shanghai

[decafdave]

Originally Posted by Unknown Memory

Mmm.. Well, my adventure has so far been with my relatives in Taiwan. So, yeah... I've been south and I've been north. I've yet to see the east coast of Taiwan.

It's great that you've been to Taiwan that inspired you to visit China, but please keep in mind.. Taiwan isn't China. Taiwan is not a part of China. Two different countries.

No, never had Mr. Brown's coffee (in a can). I don't drink coffee so I wouldn't know. >D

Nihonkitty pretty much nailed certain Taiwan descriptions. Taiwan obtained a lot of influence from the Japanese (and also, America-- i.e. sewage system, music, manga, shopping malls, and so forth). But, there are a lot of winding roads and other places where it's not that developed. Small little cluster of towns here and there. Privately owned businesses with store keepers standing around in their shops with their kids watching TV in the back part of the stores. Very common. It's just the way it is.

lol trust me I've had the fact that Taiwan isn't China drilled into my head by the Taiwanese I know. Don't worry, I'm not buying any of the mainland propaganda on that issue. After all, TW is just waiting for a good opportunity to take back the mainland right But the cultures are similar and ethnically they are the same. It's no different than wanting to visit the UK after visiting Australia Imo.

Good point about the Japanese influence in Taiwan. But lots of the descriptions you posted could be about Shanghai. You'd be surprised-there are many malls in Shanghai and at least in shanghai there's alot of importing music from other countries. Korean, American, and Japanese music are popular with young people but I think the difference is that China, being a huge country, has a much larger domestic music scene.

[decafdave]

Originally Posted by NihonKitty

Right but you don't know how tokyo is..well you haven't even been to tokyo! You can talk good about shanghai but dont compare it to tokyo/japan when..you have never been to tokyo! It's simple lol.

Also interesting that youve been to taiwan, it's more like japan than it is to mainland china but a bit poorer than japan and not as "high tech".

Good point! I can only base my judgment off of info that I have and the opinions of others that have visited.

Tokyo may be more developed and "1st world" than Shanghai but Shanghai's best days are definitely to its future. And that is an energizing and exciting feeling to be here.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by City of Rain

how come?

in the pictures, all Japan cities look exactly the same, so I'd assume that Tokyo is the best one as it's bigger, its the capital etc..

All ive heard about Osaka is that its a bad place, as there are many poor people etc..

TOKYO is too spread-out, takes forever to get anywhere, and the subways close around 12:00. So everyone MUST go home because they can't afford the taxi fare home.

I've found the entire city to be real boring after midnight, except for Roppongi, but that really isn't that interesting of a place to hang around at all to me.

OSAKA however, it is more manageable, so everyone who wants to go out, goes to the same place, and they can take taxi back home, so it just goes 24 hours. The people are more outgoing as well. I just love the energy of Osaka 24 hours a day.

Whereas Tokyo's energy is felt more in daytime and evening hours, and peters out late at night. I think if they had subways all night or taxis were cheaper, they could be 24 hours and be a really cool place, but it isn't like that. (Sorry, it is 24 hours, but I just find it real boring to be anywhere in Tokyo around 1am).

[Ninjahedge]

I don't know. I kind of like Kyoto over Tokyo. I liked the way it felt more organized, less like a flattened times square (less height to the buildings and ads, but it spread out everywhere) and much too much glam in all the popular spots in Tokyo.

I liked the temples, and we walked for a few miles along one of the drainage canals, saw peoples homes and the like. It just felt better.

Or maybe they just used the letters in their name better. I dunno......

[Unknown Memory]

Originally Posted by decafdave

lol trust me I've had the fact that Taiwan isn't China drilled into my head by the Taiwanese I know. Don't worry, I'm not buying any of the mainland propaganda on that issue. After all, TW is just waiting for a good opportunity to take back the mainland right But the cultures are similar and ethnically they are the same. It's no different than wanting to visit the UK after visiting Australia Imo.

Good point about the Japanese influence in Taiwan. But lots of the descriptions you posted could be about Shanghai. You'd be surprised-there are many malls in Shanghai and at least in shanghai there's alot of importing music from other countries. Korean, American, and Japanese music are popular with young people but I think the difference is that China, being a huge country, has a much larger domestic music scene.

Heheh.. Those are just the KMT viewpoints of "wanting to take back China". The rest of the Taiwanese have common sense and understand that there can only be one China and one Taiwan.

Unfortunately, not everyone in this world sees that viewpoint of equating Taiwan like it's Australia or Canada. *sighs* Australia and the UK may just be similar in terms of certain things but they're completely different countries. If only it was that simple rather than have that silly "status quo" over Taiwan. Of course, China maintains tight strings with those missiles of theirs.

Actually, I'm not that surprised about the many malls in Shangai. The concept of the "shopping mall" has been dominating the world for some time now. With China where it is indeed a capitalist communist country, there is not much surprise with that either (for me, at least).

In terms of imported music, yes, but it can be said for other countries too. I can find a lot of imported music here in the States (in specialty stores though). Of course, it's cheaper in Asia (except for Japan) to buy these music. But, what I meant for JP influence is that Taiwan does get a lot of Japanese malls and also, store clerks greet shoppers the Japanese way (i.e. "irashimase!" in Mandarin). I don't see that when I was in Hong Kong so I notice the difference right away. I think Japanese fashion is a big hit in Taiwan too. It's just these little things that I focus on. Overall though, Taiwan has a great mixture of influence from its surrounding areas/neighbors and that's what's important.

[NihonKitty]

Yeah i prefer Osaka over Tokyo (to all the posters above). Tokyo is much more orderly and hectic. It's a busy busy city, people going to work and coming home. Osaka has alot more nightlife etc. People say "osaka is poor and dangerous" yeah it is for japanese standards but look at the statistics. Osaka has much much less violent crime rate than, London,NYC,Paris almost everysingle western city, and the poverty rate is basically identical to western european nations. So Osaka is poor and dangerous for japan but not for the world, you will be fine if you visit Osaka.

[w1ngzer0]

Such an insight. Thank you Nihonkitty.