Shanghai Visitor's Guide
Shanghai today
As the largest base of Chinese industry, the ocean port city of Shanghai, set on the Huangpu River, is the economic engine of China. As a world economic pacesetter, Shanghai has grown into a mutli-cultural metropolis, drawing foreign residents from around the world as well as more than 40 ethnic groups from China.
The central city is roughly divided into two areas. Ultra-modern Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) is a boomtown of modern skyscrapers and residential areas. Across the river is Puxi, with its historic Bund (riverfront European architecture) fronting an area that includes everything from tree-lined streets of the former French Concession to typically bustling old Chinese neighborhoods.
Getting in and out
By air
All international flights arrive at the ultramodern Pudong International Airport, located about 45 km east of downtown Shanghai. The airport is easy to navigate, with departures on the upper level and arrivals on the lower level.
Taxis, lined just outside the arrival hall, are cheap and convenient. A ride to the Puxi side of downtown Shanghai takes about an hour and costs 150 to 170 RMB. Getting to the Pudong side takes about 40 minutes and costs 100 to 130 RMB
The most economical transfer from Pudong is via the official airport bus (+86 21 6834 6612). There are numerous routes to other transportation stops, including the Hongqiao International Airport, which is used primarily for flights within China.
Another way to get into town is Shanghai's jet-like magnetic levitation (MagLev) train. It’s the fastest railway system in commercial operation in the world, with a designed speed of more than 500 km. Although it's much faster than taking a taxi or the bus, dragging luggage in and out of the station can be a hassle and you'll likely have to transfer to a subway or hail a taxi to get to your final destination.
To get info on either the Pudong or Hongqiao airports go to www.shairport.com
Getting around
Taxis
For short distances, taxis are a good option. They are reasonably priced and easy to find (except during rainstorms, when flagging one down is nearly impossible). Few taxis have rear seat belts, so sit up front if you’re alone.
To pay with a Transportation Card, say “yong ka” before the driver stops the meter at the end of the ride. Say “fa piao” to get a receipt, which has the phone number of the taxi company and ID number of the driver. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
The color of a taxi indicates which company it belongs to. The most reputable colors to look for are:
- Teal: +86 21 96822
- Yellow: +86 21 6258000
- Light green: +86 21 96840
- Royal blue: +86 21 96333
- White +86 21 96961
Subways
If you’re in Shanghai for long enough, buy a Metro card from a booth in the subway station. Give them RMB 100, say “mai ka” and they’ll give you a card with RMB 70 on it. Before you leave the city, return the card to the booth in a subway station and you should receive your RMB 30 back.
For longer distances, the subway can save time and money. There are currently nine subway lines in Shanghai, and all major tourist sights are accessible from the first four. Determine your fare by finding your destination on the fare map posted near the ticket counters and on ticket-vending kiosks. Don’t lose your ticket -- you’ll need it to exit.
Buses
Public buses may be the most economical way to get around town, but they are usually hot, cramped and difficult for non-Chinese speakers to use. Drivers do not give change so it is good to have a Transportation Card. Pay close attention to your belongings to prevent pickpocketing.
Language
Mandarin is the official language, but many locals also speak the local dialect known as Shanghainese. Outside of tourist locales, English is rarely spoken, but many young people know at least a handful of words and phrases.
Good to know
- Weather-wise, spring (April to mid-May) and fall (late September to mid-November) are the best times to visit. Summers are hot and humid; winters are cold, misty and gray.
- Tipping in China is tricky. Once frowned upon, the practice is becoming more commonplace. Tour guides and bellhops expect tips. Waiters and taxi drivers still do not.
- Shanghai (along with the rest of China) is on Beijing time, which is eight hours ahead of GMT.
- Tap water throughout China is not safe for drinking. Drink only bottled water, which is widely available in stores and provided in most hotel rooms.
- Shanghai’s main varieties of dumplings are xiaolongbao (steamed round sacks with a nob on top), guotie (fried crescent shaped dumpling) and shengjianbao (fried, round balls with a flat bottom). If you get meat (rou) dumplings, be careful when you bite into them, there’s hot oil from the meat inside.
- Restaurants will not serve ice water (bing shui) unless you ask for it.
- The international country code for China is 86. The city code for Shanghai is 21.
- Most public restrooms have squat toilets. Many restrooms do not have toilet paper, so carry around some of your own.
- The electrical current in China is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC), so most American appliances cannot be used without a transformer. A universal adapter is useful as wall outlets come in a variety of configurations.
- Call 962288 to reach the Shanghai Call Center, a 24-hour hotline that will answer almost any question you have about the city -- in English.
Where to stay
88 Xintiandi: Plopped in the heart of the ultra-stylish Xintiandi district, the boutique hotel wows guests with room amenities like juicers, foot massage machines and beds elevated on curtained platforms.
JIA: The design-obsessed flock to these apartment-style suites, loaded with eclectic furniture and modern art.
Park Hyatt: The world’s tallest hotel occupies the 79th through 93rd floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center in Pudong. Views of the city are unbeatable.
Pudong Shangri-La: Shanghai’s five-star monster hotel has designer restaurants, a Himalayan-themed spa and panoramic views of the Bund across the river.
URBN: In a city brimming with high-rises, URBN makes a bold statement as the first carbon-neutral hotel in China.
What to do
Chinese Cooking Workshop: The best way to learn about a new culture is through your stomach. Classes are taught in English. cookingworkshop@gmail.com, www.chinesecookingworkshop.com
Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center: Tucked in the basement of a French Concession apartment complex, the two-room museum exhibits a fascinating collection of vintage posters from China’s Maoist era.
Shanghai Sideways: Take in the city’s historic architecture while zooming around in a vintage motorcycle sidecar. Tours are led by knowledgeable guides. +86 150 2111 2451, www.shanghaisideways.com
Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC): For an adrenaline-pumping (or stomach-churning) experience, step onto the glass floor of the world’s highest observation deck. 100 Century Avenue世纪大道100号, +86 21 5878 0101, www.swfc-shanghai.com
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center: Despite the dry name, the five-floor museum tells the compelling story of Shanghai’s past and present through photos, videos and interactive displays, and then offers a glimpse into the future with a vast scale model of Shanghai circa 2020. 100 Renmin Da Dao 人民大道100号, +86 21 6318 4477
Moganshan: A few hours outside the city, Moganshan's bamboo forest is the location of choice for Shanghailanders looking to get away for the weekend. Join groups like SISU or the Shanghai Weekender Club for their frequent excursions to the area or book your own room at naked Retreats.
Where to eat
Haiku by Hatsune: The sushi rolls that you love from back home, but right here in Shanhai. 28B Taojiang Lu 桃江路28B号, +86 21 6445 0021
Jean-Georges: This French eatery on the Bund serves one of the best brunch sets in town. If you want to go lighter on the palate and the wallet, try the Nougatine bistro inside the restaurant.
Issimo: Located behind a nearly unmarked door adjacent to JIA hotel, the intimate restaurant is known for its home-style Italian cuisine. 2/F, 931 Nanjing Xi Lu 南京西路931号2楼, +86 21 6287 9009
Mr and Mrs Bund: You can't go wrong with chef Paul Pairet in the kitchen and this modern French eatery on the Bund proves it. Over 30 wines by the glass also help the night along. 6/F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu 中山东一路18号6楼, +86 21 6323 9898
Crystal Jade: This Cantonese restaurant makes up for its lackluster setting with top-notch dim sum, particularly the shrimp har kow and steamed soup dumplings. 2/F, No. 6-7 South Block Xintiandi, Lane 123 Xingye Lu 兴业路123弄新天地南里6-7号2楼, +86 21 6385 8752
Di Shui Dong: Popular with expats and locals, this venue is the best Hunan food in town. But the faint of tongue should beware. Hunan cuisine is among the world's spiciest. Multiple locations, 2/F, 56 Maoming Nan Lu 茂名南路56号2楼, +86 21 6253 2689
Fu 1088 Upscale Shanghainese fusion cuisine served in a three-story refurbished villa. Each of the restaurant’s 17 rooms is a private dining room, seating between two and 12 people. 375 Zhenning Lu 镇宁路375号, +86 21 5239 7878
Lost Heaven Yunnan Folk Cuisine This romantic and always-packed renovated villa serves savory dishes from Dali, Lijiang and Burma.
Where to drink
JZ Club: The driving force behind the annual JZ Festival, the intimate venue draws music lovers from all over town with its talented house band, popular improv night and weekly R&B and salsa parties.
Constellation II Synonymous with well-made drinks and bartenders in bowties, come here to enjoy a tipple or a few puffs in the cigar room. 1-2/F, 33 Yongjia Lu 永嘉路33号1-2楼, +86 21 5465 5993
The Glamour Bar: The cheeky, pink-themed bar has creative cocktails, an impressive champagne selection and romantic views of the Bund.
Barbrossa: Set on the pond inside People's Park, this Moroccan-themed lounge provides a mystical setting for sipping honey-ginger mojitos or smoking a hookah pipe.
Cotton's: With cozy fireplaces and a garden bar, Cotton’s is a rare, laidback locale where you might strike up a conversation over a board game.
Enoteca: Sniff, swirl and sip your oenophile heart out with reasonably priced bottles without the pretentsion.
Where to shop
Cool Docks: Although set up to be the new Xintiandi, this group of stores, restaurants and bars hasn't hit it stride yet, and probably won't until the Expo when more public transportation makes it more easily accessible. 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu, near Fuxing Dong Lu 中山南路479号, 近复兴东路
Shanghai South Bund Fabric Market: Bring a photo of the dress or suit of your dreams and the tailors at this popular fabric market will make it for a fraction of the price you’d pay at stores. Haggling is mandatory. 399 Lujiabang Lu, near Zhongshan Nan Lu 陆家浜路399号, 近中山南路
Taikang Lu: Dubbed ‘Shanghai’s SoHo,’ this former factory district has evolved into a sprawling collection of open-air cafes, hip boutiques and contemporary art galleries. Lane 210 Taikang Lu near Sinan Lu 泰康路210弄, 近思南路
Xintiandi: Teeming with historic stone gatehouses, this upscale shopping and dining complex is home to world-class restaurants and luxury stores. It’s also a vibrant place to simply take a walk and people watch. 181 Taicang Lu near Madang Lu 太仓路181号,近马当路
Dongtai Lu Antiques Market: Just because it's dirty doesn't mean that something is an antiques here, but that said, this a great street to wander down to find unique-to-Shanghai souvenirs. Dongtai Lu, near Ji'an Lu 东台路, 近吉安路
Shanghai Hongqiao Pearl City: The selection of fresh water pearls on the second floor is worth the trip out to Hongqiao. Get basic strands or custom jobs with pearls and beads. 3721 Hongmei Lu, near Yan'an Xi Lu 虹梅路3721号, 近延安西路
Health and fitness
Many major hotels offer state-of-the-art gym facilities, but if yours does not, you can purchase a one-day pass at a local fitness club. Some of the most accessible include Physical (1/F, South Tower, Hongkong Plaza, 283 Huaihai Zhong Lu 淮海中路283号香港广场南座1楼, +86 21 6390 8166), California Fitness (138 Huaihai Zhong Lu 淮海中路138号无限度广场, +86 4008 100 988) and One Wellness (98 Yanping Lu, Block C, 2/F, 延平路98号C号楼2楼, +86 21 6267 1550) and Will's.
Local Classes
Longwu International Kungfu Center: As one of Shanghai’s most respected martial arts centers, Long Wu offers classes in kung fu, tai chi, shaolin, tae kwon do, karate, boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. 1 Maoming Nan Lu near Julu L u茂名南路1号, +86 21 6287 1528, www.longwukungfu.com
Shanghai Blush: Dubbed ‘Shanghai’s leading flirty fitness company,’ this bold fitness company offers classes in pole dance, pole fitness and burlesque in a fun and supportive environment. +86 136 1164 3267, +86 136 5194 2171, email: shanghaiblush@gmail.com
Shanghai Hash House Harriers: Meet up with this drinking club with a running problem for their weekly Sunday runs. +86 138 1668 7108, www.shanghai-hhh.com
Shanghai Stadium Rock-Climb Sports Center: The largest indoor rock facility in China, you take your workout out of the traditional gym and up 100 different climbing routes. 666 Tianyaoqiao Lu 天钥桥路666号, +86 21 6426 5178, www.rockclimb.cn
SISU:The best biking store and group around on two wheels. Rent a bike on your own or join in the tours in and around Shanghai. 395 Dujuan Lu 杜鹃路395号, +86 21 5059 6071, www.sisucycling.com
Y + Yoga: It's easy to find inner peace and break a sweat when your studio's by Xintiandi and offers over 80 classes per week. 2/F, Bldg 2, 299 Fuxing Xi Lu 复兴西路299号2号楼2楼, +86 21 6433 4330, www.yplus.cn
Business
Etiquette
- Business in China is all about ‘guanxi,’ which, loosely translated, means relationship building. If you build the relationship, the business will come.
- Business attire consists of Western-style shirts and ties. Women should wear conservative suits or dresses.
- Offer and accept business cards with both hands. Cards should be exchanged one by one. Do not deal your business cards to several people at a time, as this is considered extremely rude.
- Address people by their family names only. For example, Mr. Yang or Ms. Wu. Don’t try to inject casualness by insisting that your Chinese counterparts address you by your first name.
- In China, it is assumed that the first person to enter the room is the head of the group.
- It is appropriate to bring a wrapped gift to a business meeting to show you are interested in building a relationship.
- The concept of "losing face" is still alive and well in China, so make sure that no one ever has to in your business dealings.
- Part of business is a large banquet dinner (or lunch) -- and many rounds of toasts with baijiu. Do not refuse a toast of a (potential) business partner.
Internet access
- There are four wireless internet service providers in Shanghai: China Telecom's Tianyitong, China Unicom's CDMA 1X, China Netcom's Mobile Office and China Mobile's E-Traveler.
- Pre-paid wireless Internet cards can be purchased at the business centers of most four- and five-star hotels.
- While several large chains have either axed their wi fi services or have started charging for them, there are numerous cafes, restaurants and malls that still offer free wireless.
Money
- The Chinese currency is the yuan (Y), and is also known as renminbi (RMB, literally ‘the people’s money’). In Shanghai, you may also hear it referred to as ‘kuai,’ an informal term similar to ‘buck.’
- The largest bill denomination is RMB 100.
- Exchange rates in China are fixed by the government daily, so they will be the same at branches of the Bank of China and hotel exchange desks. Other rates are illegal.
- ATMs all accept Union Pay, the local banking system.
- Some ICBC and China Construction Bank ATMs now take Cirrus and MasterCard. All Bank of China ATMs accept the Visa/Plus card system.
- Counterfeit bills counterfeit bills are still abundant in China. Although not foolproof, one easy test is the collar rub. Rub Chairman Mao’s collar and, if the bill is legit, you should feel a raised pattern.
Emergency information
In event of emergency dial one of the following numbers:
- Ambulance: +86 21 120
- Police (emergency): +86 21 110
- Police (traffic): +86 21 5631 7000
- Fire: +86 21 119
- International SOS (24-hour service): +86 21 6295 0099
- ParkwayHealth (expat hospital): +86 21 6445 5999
- Public Security Bureau Division for Foreigners: +86 21 6357 6666
- Shanghai Call Centre (information hotline in English): +86 21 96 2288
