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95 GEttiNG tHERE c Flights from Korean airports to Shanghai are regular and short. A visa is required for entry into China, and acquiring one can take up to three days. Start the process early. Travelers on a budget are recommended to try Mingtown Hikers International Hostel, on Tianjin Road. Less than fve minutes from the main shopping district, Mingtown will instantly make you feel like a local (and you can have your clothes washed and pressed for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee). It’s the mecca of the barter shopping experience, for among the steaming food stalls and piles of brightly colored trinkets are seemingly endless opportunities to take your bargaining skills for a test drive.