Essentials
- City
- Shanghai, Municipality, China
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps; usage of a VPN (Shadowsocks/Astrill) is essential for unrestricted access.
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CNY ≈ 0.14 USD. Major banks include ICBC and Bank of China. Digital wallets dominate.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use filtered water or brands like Nongfu Spring (2 CNY/500ml).
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and I sockets.
- SIM Card
- China Unicom or China Mobile. Passport required. Expect 100 CNY for 20GB data.
- Banking for Expats
- Alipay and WeChat Pay are mandatory. Link international Visa/Mastercard to Alipay for payments.
- Accommodation
- Ziroom (long-term), Wellcee (expat-friendly rentals), or high-end serviced apartments like Ascot.
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly. Cash is rarely used; most vendors prefer Alipay/WeChat Pay QR codes.
- Short Term Rentals
- Meituan Homestay or local hotel apps like Trip.com (Ctrip).
- Budget Accommodation
- Captain Hostel (The Bund) - approx. 150 CNY/night for dorms.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Bund or People's Square for central access and skyline views.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Former French Concession (Xuhui) for leafy streets, cafes, and international community.
- Population
- 26,300,000
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (Nanjing Xi Lu) - approx. 2,200 CNY/month for a hot desk.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Baker & Spice (Anfu Road) or Starbucks Reserve Roastery (Nanjing West Rd).
- Networking Events
- AustCham and BritCham Shanghai mixers; events listed on 'SmartShanghai'.
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Shanghai or 'Shanghai Expat' WeChat groups.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- DiDi (integrated in Alipay/WeChat). Very affordable and reliable.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Meituan Bike or HelloBike QR rentals (approx. 1.5 CNY per 15 mins).
- Best Beach Nearby
- Jinshan City Beach (Artificial, 1.5 hours away via Jinshan Rail).
- Top Regional Airline
- Spring Airlines (Budget) or Juneyao Air.
- Top International Airline
- China Eastern Airlines (Hub at Pudong PVG).
- Highway Access
- G2 (Shanghai–Beijing) and G60 (Shanghai–Kunming) expressways.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (High-speed rail hub).
- Public Transport Passes
- Shanghai Public Transportation Card (SPTC) or NFC phone payments via Alipay.
- Regional Travel
- High-Speed Rail to Hangzhou (45 mins) or Suzhou (25 mins) for ~40-90 CNY.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Jiahui International Hospital or United Family Hospital (Foreigner-friendly/English).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pure Yoga (Plaza 66) or ZWYN (Modern fitness & lifestyle).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Will's Gym or Pure Fitness (iapm Mall). Monthly memberships ~800-1,200 CNY.
- Laundry Services
- Dolphin Laundry (App-based pickup/delivery) or local 'Xi Yi' (Dry cleaners).
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai or Ele.me (Blue app).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) at Jia Jia Tang Bao (Huangpu).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Godly (Wuyuan Road) or Pure & Whole (Jing'an).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Luneurs (Ice cream & Bakery) or LeTAO (Japanese cheesecakes).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi (Local branches) or wet markets in Jing'an for produce.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taobao, Tmall, and JD.com (super-fast delivery).
- Grocery Delivery
- Freshippo (Hema) - 30-minute delivery via app.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Found 158 (Expat hub) or Julu Road (758 complex).
- Local Brewery
- Boxing Cat Brewery or Boxing Cat (Sinan Mansions).
- Wine Bars
- Le Verre à Vin (Changle Road) or Sober Company.
- Street Food Stalls
- Shouning Road (famous for crawfish) - check local evening markets.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mercato by Jean-Georges (Italian) at Three on the Bund.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Bund, Pearl Tower, and Shanghai Tower (World's 2nd tallest).
- Museums & Art Venues
- Shanghai Museum (People's Sq) and Power Station of Art.
- Historical Sites
- Yu Garden and City God Temple (Old Town).
- Religious Sites
- Jade Buddha Temple and Jing'an Temple.
- Annual Events
- Chinese New Year (Feb) and Shanghai International Film Festival (June).
- Cultural Districts
- Tianzifang (Art alleyways) and M50 Art District.
- Theater Venues
- Shanghai Grand Theatre and Era Intersection of Time (Circus).
- Local Markets
- South Bund Soft Spinning Material Market (Custom tailoring).
- Music Scene
- JZ Club (Jazz) or System (Electronic/Techno).
- Street Art
- Moganshan Road (near M50) for graffiti walls.
- Cooking Classes
- Cook in Shanghai (Classes on Dumplings and Dim Sum).
- Art Galleries
- Rockbund Art Museum and Pearl Lam Galleries.
- Historic Buildings
- Wukang Mansion (Normandie Apartments) by László Hudec.
- Local Heritage
- Haipai Culture (East-meets-West Shanghai style).
Business
- Tax System
- Resident if present 183+ days; taxed on worldwide income after 6 years.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% for monthly income exceeding 80,000 CNY.
- VAT
- Standard rates of 13%, 9%, or 6% depending on sector.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, China has strict anti-avoidance and CFC legislation.
- Property Tax
- Experimental in Shanghai; approx 0.4%-0.6% for residents on second homes.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed tax approx 1-3%; Value Added Tax approx 5% if sold within 2 years.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; most operate on M (Business) or Z (Work) visas. Tax benefits limited to specific Free Trade Zones.
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 110,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 4,400,000 CNY / $615k USD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 60,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 2,400,000 CNY / $335k USD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 105,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 6,300,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 55,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 3,300,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 100,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 8,000,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 50,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 4,000,000 CNY)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard; 15% for High-Tech Enterprises.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% standard rate.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sheshan Hill or Chongming Island (Wetlands).
- National Parks Nearby
- Taihu Lake (Wuxi) is about 1.5 hours away.
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The West Bund Riverside path (8km+ of dedicated lanes).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Flair Rooftop Restaurant (Ritz-Carlton) for Puxi/Pudong views.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Dongtan Wetland Park (Chongming Island).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited; check private campsites on outskirts like Qingpu.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Best quality) or ZTO Express.
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store (Nanjing East Rd) or Buynow Computer Market (Xujiahui).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables in Jing'an Sculpture Park or local sports bureaus.
- Language Classes
- That's Mandarin or Mandarin Garden (Jing'an).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Shanghai Library (Huaihai Middle Rd) or Tsutaya Books (Columbia Circle).
- Community Centers
- Shanghai Community Center (Expat-focused services).
- Gaming Lounges
- Wangyu Wangka (Internet Cafes across the city).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is illegal in Mainland China (nearest is Macau).