Shanghai
“The Pearl of the Orient: A hyper-modern financial fortress where futuristic skylines, colonial-era architecture, and traditional lane-house living collide in a high-octane display of economic velocity.”
🇨🇳 Essential China Survival Guide (Setup BEFORE leaving!)
Payment
Visa/Mastercard rarely work. Cash can be used but is rare. Set up AliPay and/or Wechat before leaving. WeChat can be difficult to set up, AliPay is easier and handle everything from payement, transport, food delivery, and more. Payement is done 99% of the time by QR code: either point your AliPay QR code to the vendor so he can scan it, or scan the QR code that will be displayed in front of the shop/cashier, enter the correct amount, and show the vendor the screen of your phone to confirm that you did pay
Maps
Google Maps is blocked. Use Apple Maps or Gaode or Amap or Maps.me instead. We recommend to have all of them to be sure. Navigating inside the maps can be tricky as a lot ofthe adresses are in Chinese. Be patient
Internet
Gmail, IG, and WhatsApp are blocked. You NEED a VPN (LetsVPN/Astrill) before you arrive. If your phone can use an eSIM, we recommend looking into it as it is cheap, works well and acts as its own VPN
Transport/Booking
Uber is gone. Use Didi (inside Alipay). For metros, setup the "Transport" tab: switch to the desire city at the top, then follow the procedure to set up the transport card. Then scan the QR code when entering and leaving the metro. For booking, I strongly recommend using Trip.com, from hotel to train tickets. If an hotel is on Trip.com, it will accept foreigner (refusing foreigner is not allowed anymore)
Prepare before you go
It can look daunting at first because China uses completely different set of apps. If you take the time to setup the app mentionned above before you leave, you will realise that China digital ecosystem is built on speed and convenience. There's a very high chance that after visiting China you'll wonder why you don't have the same system back home. The truth is you can do the task of 5 different apps we use on AliPay alone, it's a very powerful app. If you really don't care and wanna wing it, I recommend downloading at the very least AliPay and setting it up. You'll be fine with just this honestly.""
Best Time
Spring / Fall
Currency
CNY (Yuan/RMB)
Language
Local Language
Jan
1°C - 8°CHeavy wind-proof winter gear, thermal layers, N95 mask
Lowest accommodation prices
Damp chill pierces clothing
Feb
3°C - 10°CHeavy coat, scarf, gloves
Elaborate Chinese New Year light displays
Uncomfortably cold indoors
Mar
8°C - 15°CLayered clothing, light jacket
Cherry and magnolia blossoms emerge
Volatile transition from winter
Apr
12°C - 21°CWaterproof jacket, versatile layers
Ideal pedestrian walking weather
Qingming Festival period brings sudden, chilling drizzles
May
16°C - 25°CT-shirts, light trousers, comfortable walking shoes
Comfortable warmth
Labor Day (May 1-5) brings massive domestic crowds
Jun
21°C - 29°CQuick-dry clothing, heavy-duty umbrella, waterproof shoes
Warm evenings perfect for night markets
'Meiyu' season begins: up to 21 days of continuous, sticky torrential downpours
Jul
26°C - 35°C+Highly breathable linen, moisture-wicking synthetics
Excellent nocturnal energy in Tianzifang
Oppressive 82% humidity
Aug
26°C - 35°C+Minimal lightweight clothing, rain gear on standby
Spectacular illuminated skyline nights
Peak typhoon risk grounds flights and paralyzes itineraries
Sep
21°C - 28°CLight layers, comfortable evening wear
Humidity begins to crack
Residual typhoon activity in early September
Oct
15°C - 23°CLight jacket, comfortable sweaters
Hairy Crab gastronomy season begins
Golden Week (Oct 1-7) causes catastrophic overcrowding at all major sites
Nov
10°C - 17°CTrench coat, warm mid-layers
Plane trees shed golden leaves
Days become noticeably shorter
Dec
3°C - 11°CHeavy coat, thermal layers, face mask
Streets empty out
Ambient humidity makes 5°C feel freezing
The Bund (Huangpu District)
The petrified testament to Shanghai's era as a ruthless treaty port. A sweeping western bank promenade lined with 52 immaculately preserved colonial-era buildings in Neoclassical, Gothic, and Art Deco styles. The visceral reality is the sensory collision of massive commercial ship horns echoing off the river, the weight of imperial history, and blinding neon futurism radiating from Pudong across the water.
Former French Concession (Xuhui / Luwan)
A sprawling time capsule of European romanticism grafted onto Chinese urbanity. Identifiable by a dense canopy of imported London plane trees forming natural tunnels above the avenues. The streets hum with bicycle bells, imported espresso machines, and elderly residents practicing Tai Chi. It feels simultaneously like 1920s Paris and dynamic modern China.
Jing'an
The hyper-active commercial heart defined by profound visual and spiritual friction. The ancient, gold-roofed Jing'an Temple sits entirely dwarfed and besieged by towering glass monoliths of luxury malls and corporate HQs. The epicenter of the notorious '996' corporate culture, flooding avenues with stressed professionals, while backstreets reveal vibrant wet markets and Michelin-starred noodle shops.
Lujiazui (Pudong)
The 'Wall Street of Shanghai'. A breathtaking testament to the staggering speed of Chinese economic development. The architecture is aggressively modern: reflective glass, immense steel superstructures, and elevated pedestrian sky-bridges. At street level, it is sterile and designed for vehicular efficiency. The visceral reality is neck-craning scale and the mechanical hum of high-speed elevators.
Old Town (Nanshi / Yu Garden Area)
The pre-colonial walled city of Shanghai. Features traditional Ming and Qing dynasty architecture with sweeping upturned eaves and red facades. The air is thick with the scent of steaming Xiaolongbao and burning temple incense. While the main bazaar is neon-lit, the backstreets reveal the raw reality of older Shanghainese life: tangled wires, chamber pots, and communal alleyway living.
West Bund (Xuhui Riverside)
The transition from heavy industry to cultural capital. A sprawling, meticulously landscaped corniche along the Huangpu River. Brutalist industrial silos and aviation fuel tanks have been hollowed out and retrofitted into colossal contemporary art museums. The vibe is significantly slower, populated by affluent creatives, skateboarders, and dog walkers.
Dos & Don'ts
- The 100% Cashless Mandate: Physical money is effectively dead. You must download Alipay or WeChat Pay, complete facial recognition, and bind a card. Trying to pay with a ¥100 bill for a sweet potato will leave the vendor unable to make change.
- The Physics of Rush Hour: Between 7:30–9:00 AM on the Metro, the Western concept of personal space evaporates. Do not hesitate at doors or wait politely. Move with fluid, unapologetic, forward-leaning momentum. Shoulder-checking is mechanical, not malicious.
- The Illusion of 'Yes': In Shanghai business or social settings, 'Yes', 'Okay', or 'No problem' often means 'I hear you'—it is a social lubricant to avoid a direct, face-losing 'No'. Read the body language and follow-up actions.
- Saving Face (Mianzi): Never publicly criticize, shout, or show visible anger. If a dispute happens, handle it with indirect language and extreme calmness to allow the other party an exit route to save face. Direct Western confrontation destroys all trust.
- Banquet Hierarchy: At formal meals, seat positioning is strict. Never eat, drink, or initiate a toast of Baijiu before the eldest or most senior person. Address people by professional titles (e.g., Director Wang), not first names.
- The Etiquette of Abundance: When hosted for a meal, try a bit of everything on the lazy Susan. Crucially, leave a tiny amount of food on your plate at the end. Clearing it completely implies the host was stingy and didn't provide enough.
- Chopstick Omens: Never stick chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice. It mimics incense burned at a funeral altar and is viewed as a highly offensive omen of death. Never use them to point at people.
- The Tipping Taboo: Tipping is strictly prohibited. Leaving cash for a waiter or taxi driver will cause profound confusion, and they will likely chase you down the street to return your 'forgotten' money.
- Political Silence: Do not initiate discussions regarding domestic politics, territorial disputes, or historical traumas. It causes deep psychological discomfort and immediately severs any Guanxi (relationship) you are building.
- Tap Water Danger: Tap water is strictly non-potable due to aging subterranean pipes and rooftop holding tanks. Boil it for a minimum of 3 minutes or rely exclusively on bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth.
Key Phrases
The Bund
外滩
A sweeping mile-long granite promenade lined with 52 immaculately preserved colonial-era buildings operating as the financial command centers of former empires.
Yu Garden
豫园
A masterclass in spatial manipulation: a 5-acre classical Jiangnan-style garden featuring winding pathways, hidden courtyards, towering rockeries, and moon gates.
Shanghai Tower
上海中心大厦
A staggering 632-meter twisting mega-tall skyscraper that stands as the tallest building in China and physically asserts Shanghai's global financial apex.
Jing'an Temple
静安寺
An ancient bastion of Buddhist tranquility completely besieged on all sides by the aggressive, hyper-modern glass skyscrapers of Nanjing West Road.
Tianzifang
田子坊
An organic urban renewal project preserving 'Shikumen' stone-gate architecture, creating a claustrophobic, symbiotic ecosystem of commercial art galleries and raw local living.
🎒Travel Essentials for Shanghai
Curated gear recommended by locals to make your trip smoother.
N95 Particulate Masks
Why you need it:Shanghai's industrial output in winter can cause severe PM 2.5 smog spikes. Essential for safe urban walking.
Travel Tissue & Hand Sanitizer Kits
Why you need it:Public restrooms, outside of luxury malls, are squat-style and virtually never stock toilet paper or hand soap.
Universal Travel Adapter (Type I & C)
Why you need it:China's grid operates on 220V 50Hz and utilizes hybrid wall sockets. You need adapters if you're coming with UK or grounded US plugs.
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Soup Dumplings
小笼包
A delicate feat of culinary physics: incredibly thin pleated dough wrappers encasing finely minced pork and scalding, rich liquid broth.
Pan-Fried Pork Buns
生煎包
The rugged, street-level cousin of the Xiaolongbao. A thick, yeast-leavened bun packed with soup, steamed on top and aggressively fried on the bottom.
Red-Braised Pork Belly
红烧肉
Perfectly layered blocks of pork belly slow-braised to a translucent, melt-in-the-mouth mahogany texture in a heavily reduced, sticky sweet sauce.
Scallion Oil Noodles
葱油拌面
A masterclass in culinary minimalism: springy wheat noodles tossed in a deep, smoky oil infused with slowly dehydrated, blackened scallions.
Crab Roe Noodles
蟹粉面
An incredibly rich, golden gravy of labor-intensive freshwater 'Hairy Crab' meat and buttery roe poured over plain noodles.
The Perfect 24 Hours in Shanghai
The Silent Bund
"Begin at the Bund before the massive domestic tourist buses arrive. The air is cool and the sweeping granite promenade is relatively empty. Observe the local elderly practicing Tai Chi and water calligraphy against the backdrop of the Pudong skyline. The contrast of slow, ancient human movement against the massive Art Deco banking facades is striking and cinematic."
Subterranean Transit to Pudong
"Enter the East Nanjing Road Station (Metro Line 2) and transit beneath the Huangpu River. This brief, hyper-efficient subway ride strips away the 19th-century colonial aesthetic, emerging directly into the concrete and glass canyons of Lujiazui in Pudong."
The Vertical Ascent
"Ascend the Shanghai Tower. The ear-popping elevator ride to the 118th floor takes seconds. From the observation deck, grasp the sheer, terrifying scale of the city's urban sprawl, followed by inspecting the 1,000-ton tuned mass damper on the 125th floor, a marvel of modern physics."
Classical Gastronomy at Yu Garden
"Take Metro Line 2 back across the river, transferring to Line 10 to reach Yu Garden. Navigate the chaotic, incense-filled bazaar to Jia Jia Tang Bao for a lunch of scalding, delicate Crab and Pork Xiaolongbao. Wander the labyrinthine paths of the classical Yu Garden, crossing the Nine-Zigzag Bridge to ensure spiritual purification."
The French Concession Canopy
"Take a DiDi or taxi westward to the Former French Concession. Disembark near Sinan Road and spend two hours walking under the dense canopy of plane trees, observing the preserved Spanish villas, Art Deco ironwork, and the slow pace of expatriate café culture."
Shikumen Sunset & Caramelized Dinner
"Arrive at Tianzifang just as the sun sets and the red alleyway lanterns ignite. Navigate the narrow longtangs, observing the dense blend of commercial art studios and hanging residential laundry. Dine at Old Jesse (reservations strictly required) for an authentic, heavy feast of Hong Shao Rou (Red Braised Pork) and Scallion Oil noodles."
The Neon River
"Conclude the 24 hours by taking a night ferry across the Huangpu River. As the small boats dodge massive, unlit coal barges, the neon bombardment of both Puxi and Pudong reflects violently off the black water, providing the definitive visceral image of modern, hyper-capitalist China."