Best Time To Visit

Most of Shanghai's attractions are city sights, so the change of seasons has little impact. However, given the weather, it is recommended to visit in spring or autumn, for winter might get too cold and summer too hot for comfort. There is also the possibility of typhoons during summertime and even early autumn. Try to avoid Chinese public holidays, such as between October 1st and 7th, during which the city could be flooded by local tourists.

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Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Shanghai has two airports one of them is the international airport in Pudong, 35 km from the city centre.

From the Pudong Airport, the most enthralling way to travel is on the Maglev (the high-speed magnetic-rail train) to Longyang Road in Pudong. There is an underground station and a taxi rank at Longyang Road for onward travel.

Metro Line 2 is available when departing or arriving at Pudong International Airport. Operating Time 6 am 10 pm and leaves every 8.5 minutes.

A taxi from Pudong Airport to the city centre takes up to an hour. Make sure you have your destination written in Chinese.

The airport has regular shuttle buses to many areas in the city and the major hotels have desks at the airport and will arrange the transfer.

Address: Shanghai Pudong International Airport

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Phone: +86 21 96990

Website: www.shairport.com/ensh/index.html

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Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

Another airport called Hongqiao Airport, which handles domestic flights, lies 15 km from downtown. Both Metro and buses run from this airport. A taxi from Hongquiao Airport will take 30-45 minutes. Make sure you have your destination written in Chinese. Hongqiao Airport has regular shuttle buses to many areas in the city. The major hotels have desks at the airport and will arrange the transfer.

Address: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

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Phone: +86 21 96990

Website: www.shairport.com/ensh/index.html

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Maglev

If you fly into Shanghai’s International Airport in Pudong, be sure to take the Maglev into town rather than a taxi or regular metro. The Maglev is China’s futuristic magnetic levitation train and the fastest ride in its technological repertoire. The journey only lasts a few minutes, but during that time the train can reach a top speed of 430 kilometres per hour (although the average is closer to 300 km/h).

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Internet Access and VPN in China

Due to the Internet policy of China, certain websites and applications are not accessible from the mainland, including those very commonly used in the West (Facebook, Instagram, X, Google, Skype and more). Some travellers have been able to gain access to those via a VPN service (installed prior to arrival in China).

Make sure you comply with local laws and regulations when deciding on whether or not to employ a VPN, and which one to choose (if you do, only use those explicitly allowed by the Chinese government, and only use them for authorised purposes to avoid any trouble). There have been reports of foreigners in China getting their cell service cut off in response to unauthorised use of VPN being detected; restoring cell service required a trip to the local police station where the contents of the device were investigated and certain apps removed.

Given that Google is banned in China, Google Maps might not be the most accurate and reliable source of information. Some local apps such as Baidu Maps and AutoNavi tend to work better than Google Maps.

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Metro

The Shanghai Metro is an efficient, affordable, and user-friendly mode of transportation for visitors. Its network has over 400 stations connecting major business districts, tourist attractions, residential areas, and airports. All metro stations and trains have signs and announcements in both Chinese and English, making it easier for non-Chinese speakers to navigate. Trains run frequently, usually every 2-5 minutes during peak hours and every 5-10 minutes during off-peak times.

You can pay for metro rides using the Shanghai Public Transportation Card (also known as the Shanghai Jiaotong Card), which can be topped up at stations and convenience stores. Mobile payment options like Alipay and WeChat Pay are also widely accepted. There are several mobile apps available that provide real-time information about the metro system, including maps, schedules, and route planners.

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Bus

Buses in Shanghai are usually busy and the network can be complicated to negotiate for non-speakers of Chinese. The 911, which runs along Huaihai Road, can be useful.

Keep some loose change when travelling by bus, coins need to be placed in the slot at the entrance.

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Taxi

In Shanghai, finding a taxi is generally easy, especially in busy areas, commercial districts, and nearby hotels and tourist attractions.

Ride-sharing apps like DiDi, the most popular in China, offer a convenient alternative to traditional taxis.

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Telephone

Country code: +86
Area code: 21

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Electricity

In China, the standard voltage is 220V at a frequency of 50Hz. There are three kinds of sockets widely used in Mainland China: type A, C, and I. Type C, which has two round pins, is the one commonly seen in most European countries.

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Post

The main post office in Shanghai is located at 276 Sichuan North Road in the Hongkou District. It is situated near the northern end of the Bund, making it easily accessible from many central locations in Shanghai. The Shanghai General Post Office provides a full range of postal services, including mail and parcel delivery, express services, and various other postal and financial services.

Address: 276 Sichuan North Road, Shanghai

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Pharmacy

Pharmacies are not hard to find in the city, just look for the green cross. One of the main pharmacy chains in Shanghai is called Yifeng. Besides being a major supermarket chain, Lianhua Supermarket also operates pharmacies within many of its stores, offering a wide range of over-the-counter medications and health products.

Address: Shanghai Yifeng Super Drugstore - Wangyun Road, Huangpu, Shanghai

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Phone: +86 21 6366 5987

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