Puxi or Pudong? Hubbub or tranquility?

Kind of like how back home I would have spent many a spare hour pondering what car I might want to buy, without ever actually finding myself in the position of actually buying one, I'm now pondering where I might want to live in Shanghai.

I'm currently staying up in Fudan, in a teacher's apartment. 60 sq metres, for 1800 RMB a month (120 pounds). Actually, this is pretty pricey, considering my cousin lives in a much higher quality downtown apartment walking distance from all the best places, for 3000 RMB a month.

Moving out, and sharing with friends, we have to decide where to live. For me... I'm battling with the difference in lifestyle that comes with location choice. It's the same as London - basically Canary Wharf vs. elsewhere. Pudong is the Canary Wharf of Shanghai. 20 years ago the area didn't exist. Now, it has many beautiful office blocks and hi-rise apartments. More space, cleaner air. Apartments are more likely to have facilities such as swimming pools or tennis courts.

But, the majority of the population live in Puxi, the 'rest' of Shanghai downtown. Puxi has been around for much longer than 20 years, and is where the hubbub is. New restaurants, old restaurants, bars, clubs all the choice is there. Older accomodation though, and less likely to have gym/pool etc. facilities (without paying a serious premium).

To live in Puxi, I think we'd have a smaller apartment, and spend more time out socialising. In Pudong, I think we'd have a more spacious pad, and spend more time doing sports such as rollerblading or badminton. Like at my uncle Peter's place in Pudong, when I visit him we can pop downstairs and play ping pong at our leisure. Or swim, play tennis.... whatever. It beats going from meal to meal or going shopping if you ask me.

Quality of life in Pudong is good. Dignified, relaxed. Shop at Carrefour, breathe relatively good air, less people, less garbage around. Hiring a bike in Century Park is a lovely relaxing thing to do. But Pudong comes at a price - it's a bit out of the way. We might have a lovely apartment, but once the metro closes (which is well before midnight I understand), it's a costly cab ride home - which means going out costs more, and also visitors will think twice before popping over.

Puxi offers a more active life, and a real chance to get to know the back streets of Shanghai just by walking around. Not so clean air though, and smaller older apartments for the money.

I think i'd enjoy life in Pudong, except that I'd be a little isolated from the real Chinese action. In Puxi, it'd be harder for me to forget that I'm in Shanghai. I think I'd best see if I can find somewhere nice in Puxi, and hopefully be able to afford somewhere that has some sports facilities. Either that, or live in Pudong but very close to Puxi. It'd cost a bit more there (Lujiazui area perhaps), but at least I'd get a nice new hi-rise.

Anyway, flat hunting will be a weekend hobby over the next couple of months. In the meantime... it's mandarin mandarin mandarin...