Shanghai Travel Blog

Finding a tour operator in Shanghai isn’t hard, but finding a good one is. Unless you go through a reputable, large company then you’re likely getting ripped off. The industry standard is a degree or certificate in tour guide skills, English and basic transportation knowledge. Yet some folks continue...

Shanghai is a mega city, it’s one of the largest in the world and as such, it can get a wee bit packed around the holidays. But keep in mind that Christmas and Western New Year are not real holidays in China and only the most “international” of Chinese establishments celebrate the holidays. Coming...

The heat is on in Shanghai, where the humidity is already starting to bring people to their knees crying for cleaner, fresher and crisper air. Still, despite the humidity and all that comes with it (mosquitoes, the easier spread of disease, etc) there are ways to combat the heat in Shanghai that will...

When in China, you may want to stay in contact with folks back home. Buying a Chinese cell phone can be as cheap or expensive as your tastes dictate. You can get a phone for as little as 180RMB ($25 USD) that you can charge with a prepared sim card for 100RMB ($14 USD). This amount of money should last...

Shanghai street hawkers (those who sell merchandise on a freelance basis on the streets of Shanghai) can be quite troublesome — especially on Nanjing Road, around the Yu Gardens area, and sometimes along the Bund. There are other places where hawkers tend to gather but these are the most common...

Shanghai is the biggest city in China. It has nearly twenty districts, most of which are centered in the city itself of Shanghai while the remainder comprise the suburbs and islands surrounding the city center. The map (left) shows the districts and there location relative to the Huangpu River that bisects...

The Shanghai Metro grows each year. For the 2010 World Expo, the city gained four new subway lines, making the flow of traffic bearable. As the largest city in China, and home to the world’s most intricate and largest bus network, its no surprise that the metro is struggling to keep up, weaving...

Shanghai is a great city, but if its your first time heading to the Pearl of the Orient there are a few orientation things you’ll need to know to survive the mad streets of China’s biggest city. First, the city is divided into two main parts, Puxi (west of the rive) and Pudong (east of the...

Shanghai has two main airports. For international traffic, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport is your likely arrival and departure port. For nationwide and Asia international traffic, the Hongqiao Airport is your likely arrival and departure port. The Pudong airport is located to the east of the...

It doesn’t matter where you are from, chances are unless you are a Chinese native you need a visa. A visa is a document that goes into your passport and allows you to enter a foreign country. Anytime you travel outside your home country (or outside the European Union if you hail from that region)...