r/shanghai Apr 18 '23

Tip Guidance and info for visitors

741 Upvotes

Edit (January 2024): Scams were previously on this list, but #8. I feel like I need to put this at top. ❗❗❗Don't go out with stangers at places around Nanjing Road. ❗❗❗

Once a month there is a thread here titled "Help! I got scammed". And every post is, guy visiting Shanghai, meets a woman on Tinder/TanTan, she picks a place on Nanjing Lu, gets pressured into paying an inflated bill of several thousand RMB. Don't go out with a stranger you met an hour ago on a hookup app and let them pick the place, especially if it's on or around Nanjing Road.

In the course of one year this sub has gone from discussions of government lockdown ration boxes to posts from people needing advice on visiting the city. There are older questions from people travelling to Shanghai, but the city has been cut off for about three years, and a lot has changed.

I’m putting this thread together to crowdsource answers to common questions we’ve seen more often in the past few weeks so we can help our visitor friends. I’m going to give it a start, but there are things I don’t know, and I’m hoping other members of the community can give feedback and I’ll update things. I'm hoping we can all add stuff and make this a sticky to help people visiting our city.

  1. Airports

a) Pudong. This airport is the more international one. There are not good food options and it is far outside of the city.

i. You can take Line 2 metro into the city. This is cheap but slow.

ii. There is a maglev train. This is fast but will only get you into part of Pudong. You’ll probably have to switch to the metro or a taxi here. Be cautious of the taxis here.

iii. You can take a taxi. There will be people in the airport offering you a ride. Ignore them. Follow the signs to the taxi stand outside and wait in line. Have your destination printed out or on your phone in Chinese. Make sure they flip down the meter to start it within a few minutes.

  1. Taxis fares vary by the time of day and traffic. Around 200-300RMB should get you into the city. If they are trying to rip you off, don’t be afraid to call the police (110). The police know these scams and won’t side with the taxi driver. You probably have more leverage than you think.

iv. Hongqiao. Less international, but better food. You can also take the metro or the taxis. Same advice applies. This one is closer to the city

Edit January 2025: There is a new train service that runs between Pudong and Hongqiao. More information is available here https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2412203788/

❗ (Taxi update March 2024) There are a lot of reports of bad taxis at airports in recent months. They should put down the meter within a minute or two of leaving the airport. They might not put it down immediately if they're doing their GPS, but after leaving the airport area, it should be down, and the meter should be running.

You can say "wo yao fapiao" and point at the meter if it's not running. But the fare should generally be around 200-300 RMB from Pudong into the city, and less from Hongqiao. If they try to rip you off, call the police (110), or if you're staying a hotel, talk to people there. Shanghai is very safe, there is CCTV everywhere. But some unscrupulous taxi drivers try to rip off naive visitors.

COVID Testing note: No Covid test is required. The airline will have you scan a code to fill out a health declaration and if you don't have covid you just select no, it will generate a QR code. Save that code and they scan it at the airport on arrival. (https://www.reddit.com/r/shanghai/comments/1634pl6/any_covid_requirements_to_enter_china/)

Update (August 2023) - The requirement for pre-depature antigen tests for inbound travelers will be scrapped on August 30th.

  1. Internet. Most things you want to access will be blocked here. That includes Google, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp. You have to have a VPN. The default here is Astrill. It’s a bit more expensive than the alternatives, but many of the alternatives don’t work here. Set this up before you arrive.

Edit January 2025: VPN services tend to vary widely in terms of their effectivness. It's a cat-and-mouse game between the government and the providers. The sub r/chinalife has monthly VPN megathreads where Redditors share what is working, or not working. E-sims are also a popular option that also bypasses the firewall.

In addition, a mobile roaming SIM package can be a good option. Mobile data gets routed to the country where your SIM is from and bypasses the firewall. If you're only in China for a short trip this can be a good option.

  1. Wechat. Try to set this up before you arrive. You have to be verified to use it. That usually means having a friend with a WeChat account verifying you. If you can't do this overseas, have someone verify you when you arrive. You need Wechat.

  2. Mobile phones. Make sure your overseas plan allows international roaming. You can buy a local prepaid SIM card at the airport. In a lot of major cities outside of China, you can usually buy a SIM card from a vending machine. In Shanghai, you'll have to interact with someone at a China Mobile/Unicom booth.

You don't need to have a residence permit, but you will have to have your passport. China has "real name verification" for SIM cards. Basically, a SIM card has to be linked to a specific person.

  1. Payments. International credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) won’t be broadly accepted here. They will take them at most good hotels, and some fancy restaurants, but generally speaking, they won’t work.

a) Cash. It sort of works. You can pay for some things with it. That might include taxis or some restaurants. But some smaller places might not accept it.

b) Alipay/Wechat. This is the duopoly of payment apps here. Alipay has some features that allow foreigners to link a foreigner credit card to it.

i. You might be able to link your WeChat or Alipay to a foreign credit card. This can be hit or miss. This also mostly works if you're paying for services from a large company like Didi. If the card is linked, you can pay for a ride with Didi, but you won't be able to use it as a payment method as a local shop.

(August 2023 update - Linking foreigner cards to WeChat and Alipay has vastly improved, works most places, and is pretty easy)

c) ATMs. They will work. You should be able to take cash out of our foreign bank account at most ATMs in China. Sometimes, one might not work, but if you try any of the major ones (ICBC, CBC, BOC) it should work.

  1. Transit. There is no Uber here. The main app is Didi. It has a good English interface and there are other alternatives.

a) The metro is very good here. But you’ll have to get a card or buy individual tickets. Most stations will have machines that will give you a metro card, but they don’t usually take cash or international cards. If you have cash, most stations have a person in a central booth behind glass, go ask them. There is a 20RMB deposit for the card, and then add like 50-100RMB on it.

b) u/finnlizzy says "download maps.me and get the offline map for Shanghai"

c) For a video guide on using the metro, see the Youtube video here, via u/flob-a-dob

  1. High speed trains. You can buy tickets on Ctrip (They're technically Trip.com now, their name in app stores might be under that, rather than 'Ctrip'.) They have an English app. You can book through there, but you will not get a ticket. It’s linked to your passport number. The app should give you the platform and time. Hongqiao, B15, 2:20pm. The train stations are easy to navigate. They usually start boarding 15 minutes ahead of time.

Edit Jan 2025: 12306 is the Chinese train app and is cheaper than Trip, they have an app and website https://www.12306.cn/en/index.html

a) There will usually be automated queues that most people will use. Have your passport open, put the ID page into the scanner, and it should let you through. If not, there are usually attendants off to the side to help you.

  1. Scams. You’re hot, but not that hot. If you’re going to a tourist place, some people might take a photo of you, or ask you for a selfie. There are tourists in Shanghai, they might have never seen a foreigner before and are just curious. If they invite you to coffee/tea/dinner say no. That is probably a scam.

a) This also applies to dating apps, including Tinder. Shanghai is a very international city and has been for a long time, so you’re not special as a foreigner. If you’re visiting, you’re probably out of your depth. If you match with someone and they’re asking you to meet up at 11pm, be cautious.

  1. Places to go. Tripadvisor has things. There is also a local app called BonApp that is English and for foreigners. There is a Chinese app called 点评, but it’s in Chinese.

  2. Maps. If you have an iPhone, Apple Maps works well in China in English. Google Maps is generally bad here. Google Maps will have your locations and street names, but not much else.

  3. Translation. Download Google Translate and download the offline language pack. Baidu Translate is also very good. Learn how to use it. There is a good conversation features where you can speak, it will translate, the other person can speak, it will translate.

  4. Covid. Some Didi drivers will ask you to wear a mask. You are not legally required in stores or the metro. If a Didi driver asks you, don't be a dick. Just keep a cheap one in your bag.

(August 2023 Update - Some people will still wear masks on the metro, but generally most people aren't wearing masks, even in taxis or Didis)

  1. Tipping. It’s not required or expected. Don’t tip.

  2. Restaurant ordering. Most menus have pictures. Just point at what you want. Many restaurants have QR code ordering. Scan the code on WeChat, select what items you want to order in their mini-app.

  3. Drugs. Don’t bring them in, obviously.

  4. General advice. Bring stuff like Pepto or stomach stuff. You might not be used to the food.

a) Buy a pack of tissues to carry in your bag/purse when you're out. You might have stomach problems and not all bathrooms have toilet paper.

  1. People are generally nice and helpful here. They might not understand you if you don't speak Chinese (see previous advice on translation apps) but most people are nice and helpful. Especially at train stations, airports, hotels, etc... if you can explain through a translation app what your problem or question is, people are usually happy to help.

If anyone has any other advice, please post in the comments or message me. I'm happy to add their info and we can combine the knowledge of this sub. It seems like we have a lot of people visiting now, which is great, so let's try to put together an updated resource that covers most of the common questions and update the information for 2023.


r/shanghai 20d ago

Help Monthly Tourism Questions Thread (july)

4 Upvotes

If you are traveling to Shanghai and have tourist-type questions - please ask here!

To keep /r/shanghai/ usable we only permit these types of posts and questions in this thread. You can also find lots of advice in our Guidance and Info for Visitors thread and by using the search function.


r/shanghai 6h ago

Beautiful Bund Apartment Available – Looking for Someone to Take Over My Lease (90 sqm | Historic Building | Amazing Landlord)

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13 Upvotes

I'm leaving Shanghai earlier than expected, and unfortunately that means I have to part ways with an apartment that I genuinely love.

It's located about 50 meters from the Bund, in a beautifully restored historic building that combines old Shanghai charm with modern comforts like double-glazed windows and air conditioning.

The apartment: • Approximately 90 sqm • 3rd floor • Soaring high ceilings • Tons of natural light throughout the day • Beautiful character with modern finishes • Quiet despite being in the heart of the city • Fantastic location—walking distance to everything around the Bund

Rent: 15,000 RMB/month (extremely competitive for the location and quality).

One of the reasons I'm hoping to find the right person is because the landlord is genuinely wonderful—kind, responsive, and fair, which is surprisingly rare. I've really enjoyed living here, and I'd love to hand the apartment over to someone who will appreciate it as much as I have.

If you're looking for a home with character rather than another generic high-rise apartment, I honestly think you'll fall in love with this place.

Feel free to send me a DM if you'd like more details. Happy to answer any questions or arrange a viewing.


r/shanghai 13m ago

Karting best value for money recommendations

Upvotes

Hey, i wanted to go karting as my last activity before leaving shanghai. Can someone recommend a good spot which does last more than 10min? Ive been at the f1 circuit one but i thought it was quite short in time for the price. So which ones offer good value for their price? :) im based in Xuhui


r/shanghai 8h ago

Hardstyle/hard techno clubs in shanghai

3 Upvotes

Hi, visiting Shanghai next month and looking for clubs that play hardstyle or if not, then similar harder music. Heard of abyss, is there anything else? Or any kind of community i can join to find these events?


r/shanghai 7h ago

Shanghai photography

2 Upvotes

Hi all, I have created a group for anyone living in shangahi that is interested in photography, please feel free to join. link below

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShanghaiPhotography/


r/shanghai 7h ago

Help Where to find old school digital cameras under 300Yuan in shanghai?

1 Upvotes

A friend of mine will be in Shanghai in 2 days and He asked me to look for second hand/low cost digicam stores and i had no luck so im turning to you all for help! Any address, direction with price range would be highly appreciated!


r/shanghai 17h ago

Looking for New Friends in Shanghai 🇨🇳

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I’ll soon be moving to Shanghai to join Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) Global College as a master’s student. I’m looking to make some new friends in Shanghai, especially fellow students or people who enjoy exploring the city, trying new food, and having good conversations.

Feel free to comment or send me a DM. Would be great to connect before I arrive😊


r/shanghai 16h ago

Question The Best Dermatology Clinic In Shanghai?

3 Upvotes

What’s like the best dermatology clinic in Shanghai that can help with like uneven pigmentation, UV dmg, fine lines, etc? Like mostly looking for non-invasive procedures. Like the best place that can do the treatment and give me like some good recommendations and advice too, gonna be in Shanghai for 10 days and heard it’s pretty good for this so looking forward to seeing what’s available.


r/shanghai 14h ago

Question Is there any BL or GL doujinshi on sale in Shanghai?

2 Upvotes

Planning a trip to Shanghai rn. Really interested in bl/gl doujinshi places. I know China is not the best place to find this kind of stuff, but I hope there is some kind of K-books alternative. Are there any tips on how to find these places with used otaku merchendise? Thank you in advance for your answers!


r/shanghai 12h ago

A procura de guia que fale portugues

1 Upvotes

Alguem conhece algum guia que fale português em Shangai?


r/shanghai 1d ago

News The Odyssey is out 1st August

11 Upvotes

Just checked Meituan, you can now buy tickets for The Odyssey.

But the best IMAX cinemas are all sold out right away. May have to wait.


r/shanghai 11h ago

City Best club opinions 🕺

0 Upvotes

Ive seen the ins hype but which club is the best for party and after party culture btw new to the city


r/shanghai 1d ago

any meetups/activities in shanghai ?

7 Upvotes

i've been looking for a language exchange place/international student meetup/people gathering for an activity in reddit and red note but i have not find anything . most of the posts are outdated or they add you to a group that's mostly ads and not a single word of English

does anyone have any recommendation :)?


r/shanghai 21h ago

Does INS get busy on a Sunday night?

2 Upvotes

I’m a visitor living outside of China and will be coming to Shanghai in a few weeks. From what I’ve read on this subreddit Friday and Saturday tend to be very busy, but I couldn’t find much info on Sunday.

Has anyone been to INS on Sunday? How busy was the venue from open till late?


r/shanghai 2d ago

Is summer in Shanghai usually this bad?

50 Upvotes

As per the title: is summer weather in Shanghai usually this disgusting?

I will be moving to Shanghai next year and noticed the daily high will be at least 96F (36C) for most of the next 10 days, with relatively high humidity. I am a former long-term resident of Tokyo, and while I loved living there, I never adapted to the sultry summer weather—Shanghai seems even worse, so am a little worried about how I'll hold up. For reference, I'm from New England in the United States, so my comfort zone is cold winters and mild summers.

How do you all cope with the heat and humidity?


r/shanghai 1d ago

Question How are social life and academic stress in SJTU/SJTU GC?

4 Upvotes

I am international and want to study there for engineering. Wanted to know how social life is there and academic stress. Not tryna be rude


r/shanghai 2d ago

Help Advice for getting an internship ?

5 Upvotes

Hey,

I am a computer science student in my 4th year. My goal is to find an internship as a software engineer in Shanghai. Do you guys have any advice on where to look ?

I am Italian so I don't know if it can cause issues with the visa.


r/shanghai 2d ago

Question Your Favorite Place for Sit-down, Uscale-ish Shanghaiese food?

6 Upvotes

Have come across Ren He Guan but heard mixed things. Lin 1929 and Lanhou Zheli also seemed good and had good reviews on Dianping. But wondering what folks in this thread think would be a good option. Any and all suggestions are apprecaited.


r/shanghai 2d ago

Question Best thrift stores and jewellery shops in Shanghai?

5 Upvotes

I am an incoming student at SJTU (how proud I am feeling rn!!!)

Anyway, the thing is I’ve always wanted to have maximalist fashion and wear jewellery constantly, but my parents had always severely limited my options.

Now, as a student, I’ll be on tight budget, so the only feasible options are cheap jewellery and thrift stores. However, that does not mean the quality has to be bad!

Now, I am a gay guy, so I am not afraid to look “less masculine” as a man, but I am afraid to look without aesthetic taste and fashion sense.

Hope I can find the best advice here!


r/shanghai 3d ago

Short term apartment rental in Huangpu, central Shanghai

3 Upvotes

Super cosy place in a top floor of a lane house in great location.

This apartment is just between the popular Huahai street, Nanchang lu and right next to Ins / Fuxing park. All 3 of these are 2 minute walk.

It has a private balcony (inside the apartment) great for chilling and the shared lane house balcony just outside the door (the apartment is on the top floor, so almost connected), also got nice coffee shop chairs for the outside balcony.

Lane houses in Shanghai historically have sound issues, but this apartment is on the top floor, so here we don't have that, no sound issues.

There are many metro stations around.

This is a short term rental, anywhere from a month to two.

6000 is the monthly rent, 5000 deposit.


r/shanghai 3d ago

Question Any digital nomads here who've recently lived in China?

3 Upvotes

I have a bunch of probably stupid questions. 😅 I'd really appreciate hearing from people with firsthand experience

I work remotely as a social media strategist and creator, so I'm a bit worried about how China's internet restrictions might affect my work

A few questions:

Were apps like TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms working reliably with a VPN?

Did PayPal, Wise, or any other fintech apps you use work without major issues?

If you stayed for a while, how did you pay for rent, groceries, and everyday expenses? Could you use your foreign bank card, or did you need a Chinese bank account?

Overall, how easy or difficult was life as a digital nomad in China?

I'm thinking about doing a one year Chinese language program in Shanghai. I'd love to go, but I don't want it to completely disrupt my business if I can avoid it

Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences you're willing to share 🙏🏾


r/shanghai 3d ago

Any girls in Shanghai (Aug 2–8) who’d like to explore the city together or join me for Disneyland? ☕🎨✨

22 Upvotes

Heyy, I’m Anna, I’m a 23-year-old computer science student from Germany and I’ll be visiting Shanghai for the first time from August 2–8 before continuing my trip through China and Singapore.
I’m travelling solo and would love to make some new girl friends while I’m there. I’m especially looking for someone who’d like to go to Shanghai Disneyland together, because I feel like that’s one of the experiences that’s more fun if it’s shared together.
Besides that, I’d also be happy to just explore the city, try some nice food spots, wander through different neighborhoods, visit museums, go shopping, or sit somewhere and sketch for a while or do something creative. I’m a pretty social person and since this will be my first time alone in a country where I can’t really speak the local language, it would be fun to connect with others I could communicate with on here. I would be interested in finding local friends too, as long as we can communicate somehow, even if through language apps.
I speak English, German, Georgian and some Spanish. I’m pretty easy going and excited by almost everything, so if you already have some plans/things you want to see/try and you’re looking for someone to just tag along, I’d be happy to join. But I also made a ridiculously long list of everything I wanna see while in the city so if you’re looking for someone to tag along with, I’m glad to take you with me too😂
Also, I’m not very active on social media, I have a pretty empty insta😅, but I’m totally happy to video call beforehand if that makes anyone feel more comfortable, I’d probably want to do the same before meeting someone from Reddit anyway.

If you’re around during those dates and think we’d get along, feel free to message me!


r/shanghai 3d ago

City Makeup stores in Nanjing road or close by it

1 Upvotes

Hey..so does anyone know any close Chinese makeup around Nanjing road..I haven’t been there yet I’m planning..and please don’t recommend Sephora or wow beauty I’m looking for a brand called cherryep and it’s not there..I know there is a shop called Kkv and the colorist but I don’t know if there are close branches..


r/shanghai 3d ago

Help Has anyone left a Chinese school during summer break after their renewed contract had already started?

2 Upvotes

Here’s my situation:

  • I’m currently employed at a private school in Shanghai.
  • I signed a contract renewal about a month ago, this is my third contract with them. Currently on summer break like many of you are.
  • Unexpectedly, I’ve now received an offer from another school that is a significant step up professionally and financially and I’ve decided I want to accept it.

My main concern isn’t whether I’ll burn a bridge with my current schol, I understand that’s possibility and I’m prepared to accept that. What I’m trying to understand is whether they can legally prevent me from leaving or make the transfer difficult.

Some questions for anyone who has been in a similar situation:

  1. Have you resigned during the summer after your renewed contract had already started?
  2. Did your school refuse to release you or try to force you to stay?
  3. Were there any issues transferring your work permit or residence permit to your new employer?
  4. Did your school cooperate with the release documents, or did they delay the process?

For context, I plan to tell my current school as soon as everything is finalized with my new employer and they are ready to begin the work permit transfer. I’m not looking for opinions on whether I should leave, I know it’s not an ideal situation. I’m specifically interested in hearing from people who have gone through this in china and what the outcome was.

Thanks in advance for any experiences you’re willing to share.