Need Advice, info on Shanghai/China

---

MY wife and I will be doing a guided 10-day tour starting in Beijing then Xi'sn then Shanghai (2 days each).

Then, after the guided tour ends we are staying in Shanghai area for another 10 days.

We are backpacking and enjoy learning new cultures, eating new foods, and exchaning ideas and socializing with

locals and other travelers (preferably over several beers). We have traveled Europe extensivly, now onto China in APRIL (2012) and future years Tailand etc.

My questions:

1: How ESSENTIAL is knowing Chinese (Manderin) in Shanghai area?

2: WE are looking forward to staying in hostels, and want an 'active' social area and easy to things to do and travel access.. Paying a few dollars more is worth it to us over being bored. Please provide any/all advice.

3: While on the guided we will be Shazhou, lingering gardens & Museum, silk factory ; Hangzhou lake, Pagoda; The Bund, Nanjing Road, Shanghai museum. What other things are "Must See"?

4: We are going to have 10 days free. I think a 2- 4 day train ride would be better than just stomping around Shanghai. Remember we don't speek Chinese BUT we are very good at getting along with just about anyone anywhere. What are your thoughts about places to go?

Thanks in advance!

Ray & Kim Bergeron

---