Discover Shanghai

Shanghai has two international airports: Pudong International Airport (PVG), the main hub for long-haul and international flights, and Hongqiao Airport (SHA) for domestic and regional routes.

Direct flights operate from London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore and most major cities worldwide. The Maglev train connects PVG to central Shanghai in just 7.5 minutes at 431 km/h.

Shanghai has one of the world's largest metro systems — 20 lines covering all major districts and both airports. Day passes are available. DiDi (ride-hailing) is affordable and widely used.

For water towns like Zhujiajiao and Qibao, take the metro or join a guided tour. Taxis are plentiful in the city centre. Cycling apps (Meituan, HelloBike) offer bike-share at low cost.

China operates on WeChat Pay and Alipay for virtually all transactions. International visitors can now add foreign Visa/Mastercard to WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account. ATMs in central Shanghai accept foreign cards.

Shanghai is China's most expensive city. Budget travellers can manage on ¥300–400/day; comfortable mid-range travel runs ¥700–1,200/day. High-end dining and luxury hotels rival Tokyo or Paris in price.

4G/5G coverage is excellent throughout Shanghai. Get a Chinese SIM at the airport (Unicom is easiest for foreigners) or use an international eSIM roaming plan. Public Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, cafés and metro stations.

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and most Western apps are blocked. Download a VPN before entering China. ExpressVPN, Astrill and NordVPN generally work well in Shanghai.

China extended visa-free entry to citizens of 38+ countries for stays up to 30 days (2024–2025 policy, expanding regularly). Most EU, UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passport holders are now eligible — check the latest list before travel.

Shanghai also offers a 144-hour (6-day) transit visa exemption for citizens of many nationalities transiting through Pudong Airport, giving a useful short visa-free window to explore the city.

Mandarin is the official language; Shanghainese (a Wu dialect) is heard among older locals. English is spoken in major hotels, tourist areas and many restaurants in the French Concession, but limited elsewhere.

Download Pleco (offline Chinese dictionary) and Google Translate's Chinese offline pack. Most menus in tourist-frequented restaurants have English or photos. Point-and-order works well at street food stalls.

Shanghai cuisine (本帮菜 Benbang cai) is characterised by rich, sweet-savory flavors using sugar, soy sauce and Shaoxing wine. Must-eats include xiaolongbao (soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung or Nanxiang), shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns), hairy crab (September–November), and hong shao rou (red-braised pork).

The French Concession has Shanghai's best international dining. Jing'an has excellent Japanese. The Bund area has fine dining with river views. Street food is concentrated around Yunnan Road and the Old City area.

Shanghai is one of the safest large cities in the world for tourists — street crime is very rare. Tap water is not drinkable; bottled water is cheap and widely available. Air quality is generally good but can be poor during winter inversions.

Summers are hot and humid (35–38°C in July–August); carry water and sunscreen. Typhoon risk exists July–September — monitor forecasts. Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly recommended. PICC and AXA Assistance have good coverage in China.