Last week my wife went to Japan for more than a week. Since I had nothing to do, I decided to fly to Shanghai for the weekend as I managed to secure a “cheap” Biz Class Return ticket with Malaysia Airlines.

As most of you know, I can’t read Chinese characters but two of My Air Miles Disciples told me that the signboard in Shanghai are in English and I won’t have trouble getting around or ordering food (the Menu has English words too). Well, they were right 🙂

Before I proceed any further, I will tell you this – do not go to Shanghai in the summer, it was damn freaking hot!!! My wife said the same for Japan. Luckily I was there only over the weekend.

If you want to travel, for me April and October are the best months as it is neither too hot or cold on either Hemisphere plus it is off-peak season too. Take note of this.

KL to Shanghai Malaysia Airlines Biz Class

I don’t need to tell you much about Malaysia Airlines Business Class but will just show you some photos and a video which are self-explanatory:

To get from Main Terminal to Satellite Terminal, for Biz Class, we can go to Gate G to catch either the Shuttle Bus or for those flying with Malaysia Airlines the BMW 7 Series.

As usual I went to Golden Lounge as there is a smoking room inside.

First I had the Japanese Ramen Soup and then Nasi Lemak.

This time I did not take photo of the smoking room and shower as I have shown you guys previously many times.

Below is my Bulk-Head Seat 1A where I have a wider leg room as also shown many times previously.

I must say the last few times I had flown with Malaysia Airlines, their service is pretty good and the In-Flight Supervisor (formerly called Chief Steward) addressed me as Mr. X throughout the flight.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Shanghai Jing’an Temple Station

While in the plane, we were given an Immigration Entry Card and were told that we had to get or bio-metrics scanned and approved at the kiosks before proceeding to Immigration.

I must say that it was a freaking long walk and even had to take a train from the arrival gate to the Immigration counter. I followed the instructions given on the plane and had my fingers and thumbs scanned and then proceeded to the Immigration Counter and everything went smoothly.

After clearing Immigration and Customs, I just had to follow the signage to the Train. Bought a Metro Train Card from a machine (of course I selected English). First you need to buy a card. I bought one for CNY20.

And to pay, I just use my TnG eWallet!!! Below are the steps to pay with Alipay with our TnG eWallet:

Step 1 – At Upper Right of TnG eWallet App, tap at the Arrow Down at Country

Step 2 – Select Country

Step 3 – Select Pay

Step 4 – Allow machine/merchant to scan the Bar Code or QR Code

Once payment is successful (I had to do 3 times before it was successful haha), you can then collect the card for Shanghai Metro Train. I then top up another CNY100 which was more than enough for me get around Shanghai City for 4 days (including from/to airport).

With the card on hand, I then can proceed to catch the train 🙂

Train Line 2 is the main Train Line from the Airport to the City. I booked my room at Hotel Equatorial Shanghai, and therefore my stop was Jing’an Temple Station.

Once you are on the Train, there will be a signage showing the stops:

There will be announcements in English on the current and next stop AND there is also another signage indicating the station you have passed (red light), blinking red (next station) and green light for coming stations.

After I exited the Train at Jing’an Temple station, I had to look for Exit 12 to get to Equatorial Hotel. The Hotel is just around the corner of Exit 12, very convenient.

Hotel Equatorial Shanghai Review

I booked my room at Hotel Equatorial Shanghai via Agoda, and the cheapest room was a Hollywood Twin so I took it, haha. Actually, I must say that the room I paid at Hotel Equatorial Shanghai was cheap, about RM400 per night (less than USD100 per night).

View from my room – Jing’an Temple

Sight-Seeing Shanghai

Since Jang’an Temple was just across the hotel, I went there but never enter it, haha. There are many shopping outlets including a mall beside Jing’an Temple. The first thing I noted was that the roof tiles were GOLD in colour and not green.

Actually Shangri-la Hotel was also nearby and it was connected to a huge shopping mall called Jing’an Kerry Center and to my surprise there was a Bah Kut Teh shop inside which stated since 1969!

Some other places I visited just to take photo and say that I have been to Shanghai, haha.

The Shanghai Bund

My friend told me that I must visit The Bund, so I went there after 6pm so that it was not freaking hot

Once again I took the train Line 2 to East Nanjing Road Station. I tell you from the station and all the way to the The Bund it was freaking super crowded!!! BUT it was worth it as I got to see many old European style buildings plus the new towers of Shanghai.

And as I was walking back to the Train Station from The Bund, I bought a bottle of WuLiangYe 500ml wine from Shanghai Tobacco Group Nanjing Road Store (State-Own and therefore I can be rest assured it is genuine) for CNY1050 (which was cheaper than all the other shops/supermarkets i visited including at the duty free price at the airport).

I use my TnG eWallet to pay for the WuLiangYe below.

On the third day I was in Shanghai, it was raining in the later part of the afternoon, so I just stayed in the hotel room and slept, haha. I only went out for dinner.

Trip Back to Kuala Lumpur

Once again I took the train from Jing’an Temple Station to the Pudong Airport. Now here is the tricky part, Line 2 has 2 trains where only one goes straight to the airport. Therefore, you need to listen carefully for “Pudong Airport” before boarding the train.

The train ride was about just slightly more than an hour. And Malaysia Airlines Check-In Counter is at Terminal 2, therefore once again all I had to do was follow the signage.

At Malaysia Airlines’ Check-In Counter, I asked if there was a smoking room inside and was told yes at Gate 69 which was near to the China Eastern Lounge which I have access because of my Biz Class ticket. As I went through the Security Check, I was surprised that they confiscated my lighter! So I asked how am I going to smoke and the Officer said – there is lighter provided upstairs….. I was blur and thought he meant I could buy one. Only when I went to the smoking room that I understood what the Officer meant – lighter is provided in the Smoking Room 🙂

After enjoying my fags, I went to the Duty Free Shop and bought the bottle shown below simply because it came with glasses, haha. Paid CNY688 with my UOB PB VI.

China Eastern Lounge Shanghai Airport

The China Eastern Lounge seating capacity was good but the food was so so and the liquor offered was really pathetic.

Malaysia Airlines ex-Air Berlin A330-200

I was pleasantly surprised that the sBiz Class seat looks different from the usual MAS’ Biz Class Blue Seats. So I asked and was told the aircraft was ex-Air Berlin which MAS took over t he lease. New Experience…. so did I like the seat? Answer is No because I cannot rest both hands on the arm rest at the same time as one of them is too much in front for me to place my arm! However it offered FREE Wi-Fi just like the ex-SAS planes MAS took over the lease.

My seat was 2A as there was no 1A. Had a glass of Otard XO Gold and went to sleep and was woken up 2 hours before landing for my Nasi Lemak.

As usual, I took the BMW from Satellite Terminal to Main Terminal at KLIA.

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