BudgetTravel

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San Francisco, CA: Hiya, I'm a huge sports fan and now that I'm back in school studying Chinese full-time I've been fantasizing about practicing my new skills in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics. I know that the Olympics require a huge number of volunteers with language skills to run smoothly. How do I go about signing up as a volunteer for the upcoming Games? Seems like a great combination of travel, sports and language. Any ideas? Thanks, Christy

Dan Washburn: Sounds like a good idea. I tried to do some digging on the official website of the Beijing Games, but didn't turn up much information on how to, for a lack of a better word, volunteer to volunteer. There is a page dedicated to volunteering, but all I could find is an old story saying they planned to start recruiting volunteers in August. I would try emailing some people on this page. They might know the answer. Also, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing could be of some help.

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Annville, PA: A friend and I will be on a business trip to Shanghai (1 free day) and Beijing (3 free days). We are two single women and want to see the sites and feel safe. Are there are any reputable small tour companies which take people to the main sites. We want to see the Great Wall but don't want to go to a high traffic area...any suggestions?

Dan Washburn: Greetings, Annville -- I went to college in Elizabethtown. I think in Shanghai, you should be OK without a tour guide. Shanghai doesn't have many "must see" attractions compared with Beijing -- and you shouldn't feel rushed on your only day here. Recently on Shanghaiist we had a post entitled "One Night in Shanghai" that might be worth reading for you. And, of course, check out my story in Budget Travel.
 
For my most recent trip to the Great Wall, I stayed at the Beijing Downtown Backpackers Accommodation, a simple and clean (and cheap -- beds start at around $6) place in an old hutong neighborhood. Your tastes may be a little more refined than mine, but it was good enough for me. The best part is that they run tours to some of the more remote sections of the Great Wall right from the hotel, so there is no early morning scrambling trying to catch a bus across town. We hiked the Jinshanling to Simatai section in February and it was gorgeous -- we basically had the whole wall to ourselves.
 
You can find some of my Beijing photos here and here.
While in Beijing you may also want to check out The Underground City, an interesting and bizarre attraction downtown. I mention it here.

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Allen, TX: I am currently in Shanghai teaching English. Where can I go to view historic buildings and landmarks? Are there tours/tour guides? Thanks

Dan Washburn: Depending on where you are located in Shanghai, all you may need to do it walk a few blocks from your apartment. One of the things I love about Shanghai is its unique blend of old and new. I mentioned longtang neighborhoods in an earlier answer, and I would suggest the same to you. Other areas you should check out: The Bund, obviously, and its surroundings, Longhua Temple, Old City around Yu Yuan and the relatively new Shanghai Post Museum. You may also enjoy the Shanghai Urban Planning Center in People's Square.
 
As for tours, Yana operates tours through Old Shanghai and the Jewish Ghetto. If you'd like to tour Old Shanghai by bike, try Cycle China.

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New York, NY: Is it possible to live comfortably on a blogger/freelance writer's salary in Shanghai?

Dan Washburn: Ha. I like your use of the word "salary." There is no money in blogging -- it's just something I do for fun. I think a dedicated freelance writer with plenty of contacts can easily make things work here. Living in Shanghai can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Lately, however, every other expat you meet here is a "freelance writer." So the field could be getting more crowded, thus more competitive.
 
It's hard not to get the entrepreneurial bug living here, though. Some liken Shanghai to New York about 100 years ago. There is an excitement-- anything is possible. Many people I know here have many irons in the fire, lots of projects but no full-time job. I suppose I fit that category. In addition to freelance writing and running Shanghaiist, I just launched an online store, Mudan Boutique, which sells pearls, jade and handbags from local Shanghai designers. It's a bit of a departure for me -- OK, a huge one -- but it's been a lot of fun and I'm really excited about the possibilities.