What to Know Before You Visit Shanghai from freeamfva's blog

What to Know Before You Visit Shanghai

Back in 2010, I lived in Shanghai for 3 months. Thanks to a recent business trip, I was able to see Shanghai anew, all fresh and shining.To get more news about Shanghai travel advice, you can visit shine news official website.

As I had already spent a good amount of time in Shanghai, it all seemed pretty normal to me. But since I was visiting the city with colleagues who had never been to China before, I realized that many things in China and Shanghai are quite out of the ordinary. Which is what led me to write this post.If you plan to visit Shanghai for the first time, I hope you’ll find it helpful!

I’ve collected some pearls of wisdom from friends who call Shanghai their home, combined those with my own observations and put together a list full of Shanghai travel tips and important things to know when visiting China for the first time.Shanghai is like no other city in China. One of the main things to know about Shanghai is that it’s the government’s showcase of how modern China can be. Some of the modern advancements came out of necessity, such as the complete abolishment of fuel-powered motorbikes.

The permit to own a fuel-powered motorbike is very expensive and at the same time there are subsidies for purchasing an electric one. The result? All scooters and motorbikes, even the most shabby-looking ones, are nowadays electric.You’ll notice them almost immediately. The cameras pointed at you are everywhere. Big Brother is without a doubt watching your every move.

I found the cameras on the Nanjing Road the most fascinating, as they hang from traffic lights like ripe fruit.If you’re wondering how to travel in Shanghai and get around in the most convenient way, you might consider hopping into a taxi.The taxi prices in China are regulated and haven’t moved an inch for years. That’s good news for us travellers, much less for the actual drivers.

In 2019 a 50km ride from The Bund to Hongqiao Airport cost 100 RMB. That’s $15 or €13. Just remember to get an official taxi, not just any random car off the street. Also, be ready to show your destination address in Chinese as not many drivers speak English.Shanghai subway is so easy to navigate with clear signs helping to direct the thousands of people that pass through every day.

Even though the subway system is convenient I’d recommend taking a taxi if you’re travelling with a heavy suitcase. It’s because when entering any metro station, larger pieces of baggage (that includes also bigger handbags) need to be taken through an X-Ray machine.

Also, if you plan to use the public transport frequently, you might want to get a chip card and put some money on it.If you don’t happen to come across the little neighborhoods with plenty of small local restaurants, then one of my best Shanghai tips is to look for them in the malls.

The most luxurious malls often feature quality (and a bit expensive for China standards) restaurants, while the more ‘obscure’ shopping centers often provide a full on floor full of stands selling local food. Even on the busy shopping street called Nanjing Road.Your Shanghai travel should involve learning about a local culture as well. To get a glimpse of a typical weekend of a Shanghainese, venture into any park. They come alive with people dancing to the tunes of Chinese music, playing badminton, flying kites… and some older folks gamble over chess or cards.

Shanghai’s People’s Park is also special in another way. On the weekends, parents of still unwedded adults come together to exchange the details of their adult children and try to find a match. You can see elderly ladies and gentlemen sitting with a poster-like sheet full of details on how much their child earns, weighs and other important information for a successful matchmaking.