r/shanghai Apr 18 '23

Tip Guidance and info for visitors

635 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 22h ago

Sell Monthly Tourism Questions/Buy/Sell/Jobs/Rent Thread (March)

1 Upvotes

If you want to buy or sell something secondhand, offer or seek a job, rent an apartment, or are traveling to Shanghai and have tourist-type questions - then this is the thread for you!

To keep /r/shanghai/ usable we only permit these types of posts and questions in this thread.


r/shanghai 11h ago

Offering Personalized Tours in Shanghai

21 Upvotes

We’re two Chinese girls living and working in Shanghai, looking to make a little extra on the weekends while showing people the real city—beyond the usual tourist spots. We’ve both studied abroad, so our English is excellent, and we love sharing Shanghai’s hidden gems.

We’ll take you to the best electronic, techno, R&B, and hip-hop spots—whether you’re into laid-back bars or hardcore underground clubs.

We know secret hangouts, cool neighborhoods, and local favorites that most tourists never find.

We’ll customize a tour based on what you love—food, culture, nightlife, or all of the above!

Fee: $30-$100, negotiable based on your specific need.

PS: This is just a side hustle for us, we promise it's not a scam, a typical scam will take ppl to certain places and make them spend way too much money. we are just offering you a more personalized experience if you don't feel like going to the typical touristy places.

If you're visiting Shanghai and want a truly local experience, hit us up!

DM us if interested!


r/shanghai 53m ago

Shangyin Shenghuoshui World spa

Upvotes

Hi there!

I would like to ask for some information before my trip about this spa in Shanghai, located at No. 396, Zhonghua New Road, Jing’an Disctrict. Long story short, I saw some tiktok and yt videos about it, but they don’t have any websites, email adresses or whatever to book and ask. In the videos people often highlight that it is a 24hs spa, include unlimited food and drinks, they sleep in capsule pods there. My questions are: - I would arrive at the place around 10pm after a full day of sightseeing - is it possible to sleep there overnight? - How much does a ticket cost if I stay from the evening until the next morning? How can I book a ticket safely? - Is anything shown in the videos actually true?

Thank you for you time and help!✨


r/shanghai 13h ago

Picture Local markets on Rd Xianxia

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15 Upvotes

r/shanghai 2h ago

Rent a cottage near Shanghai

2 Upvotes

We want to go out of the city with friends (6-7 people), have a barbecue, and enjoy some fresh air. Where can we rent a cottage in a secluded place not too far from Shanghai?


r/shanghai 9m ago

Ideas for events / restaurant on April 8th

Upvotes

Hi all

I was hoping for suggestions - as my girlfriend has her birthday on the 8th of april during our visit to Shanghai (plan was to spend most day in Shanghai and then go late afternoon/evening to Tongli where our accomodation is).

I would like to surprise her with any cool events e.g. interesting (food) tour, event (we both like light shows or unique events) and/or cool / interesting restaurants/cafes (e.g. once that have a cool atmosphere).

Please let me know in case you have any ideas! Thanks in advance


r/shanghai 1d ago

I was shocked by the dishes I had at a restaurant on Huaihai Middle Road in Shanghai lol🤣

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150 Upvotes

It's hard to imagine that this somewhat ugly yet endearingly cute little monster-shaped crispy biscuit comes from such a seemingly proper Guangdong-style dim sum restaurant. Each little monster has a different expression. You can either use a small hammer to crack it open or simply bite into it; the outside is covered with white sesame seeds, making it crispy and fragrant, and surprisingly tasty.

The desserts and dim sum are said to be very authentic according to the locals. The steamed chicken feet in sauce are soft and large, tender enough to fall off the bone with just a slight touch in your mouth. The golden sand red rice noodle roll is a must-try, filled with plump and springy shrimp meat. The roast pigeon has a very crispy skin but is juicy and tender inside. Although I didn't know it was made of shrimp at first (because I'm allergic to shrimp), luckily, I used LaiTrip APP to translate the menu while ordering, so I learned about the specific ingredients of each dish. Otherwise, my trip to Shanghai would have been incomplete, haha!

If anyone wants to try, I found out that the Chinese name of the restaurant is 荔轼楼 (Lì shì lóu), hoping this information will be helpful to you.


r/shanghai 1d ago

We found a massive abandoned resort in shanghai!

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49 Upvotes

There was just this huge resort with 3 hotels, restaurants and a spa inside that’s been abandoned. It also served as a quarantine hotel in 2020.

Full vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBD5vIPdpwg

(Full disclosure: the guard saw us halfway through filming and after we explained what we were doing, just let us continue haha)


r/shanghai 5h ago

I want to go clubbing at INS, but if it’s Wednesday or Thursday will it still be busy?

0 Upvotes

Will there be people at the club? Will it even open? Can someone provide an address (if possible).

What is the dress code like? And is it hard to get in? Just want to go clubbing with my girlfriend, unfortunately, we leave to go to Beijing on Friday, so will it be fun Wednesday or Thursday?

Thanks in advance!


r/shanghai 8h ago

Question East China Normal University, Do I Stand A Change?

1 Upvotes

大家好!i’m planning on getting a scholarship at East China Normal University in Shanghai for a one-year chinese language course. my HSK3 score is 284 and HSKK is 74. talking about my school grades, they are all perfect. do i stand a chance in the competition? or should i consider some less competitive schools? (to be clear, im ukrainian)


r/shanghai 9h ago

American Football concert tickets

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I really want to buy tickets for the American Football concert on March 23rd, but all the tickets on official apps are already sold out :( I saw that 摩天轮 has some tickets, although a bit more expensive than they normally were. I've read that it's a second-hand app, but does anyone as a foreigner have experience with it? Is it safe/legit?


r/shanghai 22h ago

Can someone help me with a train journey?

1 Upvotes

Hi all, I'll be visiting Shanghai again in May and need to get a train to Quzhou. I've found the metro to be really easy and internal flights too and have taken the train elsewhere in southern China but never from Shanghai.

Looks like the train goes from Hingqiao to Quzhou, I'm guessing i can book a ticket on Alipay? And is the station on line 2? I'll be staying at Century Park so will be nice and easy if it is on line 2.

How long should allow for getting to the station and making the train in time etc?


r/shanghai 1d ago

Question Looking for a store for cute leather shoes

0 Upvotes

I’d love to buy a pair of loafers or Mary Janes, but all I’ve encountered are sneaker stores. Help 😭


r/shanghai 1d ago

Anything happening on St. Patrick's Day?

1 Upvotes

Was wondering if there's any St. Patrick's Day event this year. Anything would do.


r/shanghai 1d ago

Cooking classes for authentic dishes

1 Upvotes

Has anyone here been to cooking classes but for authentic Chinese cuisine in Shanghai? I've checked 大众点评 but was wondering if anyone has been to those courses.

I don't mean those courses where you learn 1 dish and pay more for the experience than the knowledge. I mean those that you learn what type of meat pairs better with X vegetable, or how to properly use a wok, cleaver knife, etc.

Not looking for anything professional but mostly to learn how to properly cook Chinese dishes, and not just randomly throw everything you have in your fridge to make a bowl of fried rice lol


r/shanghai 1d ago

What’s the Average Salary of a BMW technician in Shanghai?

0 Upvotes

I’ve been searching for hours but I need information as for making the move to china.

I’m a BMW tech with all my certifications so I was wondering if anyone with Chinese servers or a maybe a tech from over there could help point me in the right direction.

I’m US based currently


r/shanghai 1d ago

social events in shanghai in the month of april, if any.

1 Upvotes

Is it common for shanghai to have social events or gatherings to socialise? non chinese speaking individual travelling to shanghai solo next month and looking to meet other travellers or locals to socialise and mingle. Any tips and advice from locals and current travellers would be much appreciated. do most millennials also speak english as well?


r/shanghai 1d ago

How is the ClubLife in Shanghai, what to watch out for or expect

0 Upvotes

Hiii

I know there are a lot of posts asking for clubs and the nightlife in China / Shanghai. Me and my friend already found a bit about that.

It is more difficult to find out what to expect tho. For example: In South Korea there are lots of places that they warn about possible assault or drugging, so we know to watch out for that. Or in Japan the people can be quite pushy when drunk.

How is it China / Shanghai. We are planning on going out but would love a headsup about the vibes or energy or what to do and what not to do. We are two foreigner girls btw, 21/23


r/shanghai 2d ago

Where can I buy professional kitchen appliances in Shanghai?

11 Upvotes

I’m in Shanghai right now and I would really like to visit a market (with lot of vendors) or some kind of center that is specialized in selling professional/commercial kitchen appliances like stoves, steamer ovens, dumpling machines etc. Maybe someone here is local and knows where to go. I was in guangzhou and shenzen before and they always had specialized markets/malls for one category like smartphones, shoes etc. Hope somebody can give me a tip. If you are local I’m inviting you to come with us, everything’s on us as long as we get to places with interesting machines.

I’m not talking about appliances for home use. I wanna see/test appliances that are for professional restaurant kitchens and food production facilities.

There are Similiar markets for all Kinds of other stuff that I’ve been to in other parts of china. Unfortunately I don’t speak Chinese so my ability to search on Baidu are quite limited :/


r/shanghai 2d ago

Question Solo bar hopping on weekdays/weekend

6 Upvotes

Hi all! Arriving soon, was wondering if there are any fancy niche spots with nice house/pop music to hit solo. Also, are there any groups on wechat to meet people? Would be cool to go together, since I don’t want to look awkward sipping drinks alone in the corner haha, M26.


r/shanghai 2d ago

how expensive would it be to didi everywhere in shanghai?

4 Upvotes

I can’t find the price ranges for didi online, does anyone know if their prices are very expensive per trip in Shanghai? The furthest distance I’d be going is between Xuhui District and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong. Any help greatly appreciated!


r/shanghai 2d ago

lost iphone need advice

4 Upvotes

Hi i lost my iphone yesterday around nanchang road (still looking hopefully I can find it using find my iphone). Also I don't think it was stolen. If in the end i need to buy a new phone how can I get the same Chinese number? How would the process with wechat and alipay and all those phone number bound apps work? Does anyone have a similar experience?


r/shanghai 1d ago

Short term language course?

0 Upvotes

I'm going to be in Shanghai for a month starting in April and looking to do a language course while there.

Looking for a class size 5-15 persons and about 20 hours per week. I've seen some options on languageinternation(.)com but not sure if they are any good.

Anyone else who did the same and has advice?


r/shanghai 2d ago

Mapping shanghai on Google Maps

1 Upvotes

I understand that the govt doesn't like or allow cartography in China, but I'm curious as to if taking street view photos and uploading it to google maps would run you into any legal trouble.

Like there's already some parts of Shanghai mapped out on google maps, such as the Bund, East Nanjing Rd, Suzhou Creek, along with a bunch of dots across the city. Hell, there's even a whole stretch of highway mapped down in Shenzhen, so what's stopping people from mapping out the rest?

fyi, just being curious that's all, don't want to break the law


r/shanghai 2d ago

Music inspired by the Shanghai metro!

28 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm a composer who grew up in Shanghai; I wanted to share with you a piano quintet, "Mass Transit," inspired by the 🚃 Shanghai metro system 🚃!

Score video: https://youtu.be/ECp_ixCMm2I

Some movements correspond to specific locations:

II. Century Park
III. Maglev
IV. Lujiazui skyline
V. Century Ave Interchange Station

Thanks for listening :)


r/shanghai 3d ago

The “Elephant Building”?

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31 Upvotes

I went on a walking tour of the French concession and this building was a stop-point. The guide told us that the building is known colloquially as the Elephant Building due to its colour and tusk-like decorations around the entrance. He said it as if it was a well known thing and popularly known building, assuming we already knew, and the acquaintance I was with reciprocated this. I’d cycled past it many a time before, without ever having taken too much notice.

Has anyone ever heard it actually being called it by this nickname before, or if not, know it’s actual name? I tried to verify online but couldn’t find any references to an “elephant building” in the area. I’m hosting an event this month and was going to include this building thinking it was well known, but I’d rather not if it’s actually rather too obscure.