Shanghai Local Tips
Shanghai is one of China's safest and most international cities. Set up WeChat Pay before you arrive, learn the subway, and you'll navigate the city like a local. For food-specific advice, see our Where to Eat guide.
WeChat Pay & Alipay Setup
- Do this before you arrive. Foreigners can now link international credit cards to both WeChat Pay and Alipay
- WeChat Pay: Open WeChat → Me → Services → Wallet → Add Card. Supports Visa/Mastercard
- Alipay: Open Alipay → Me → Bank Cards → Add. May require a quick identity verification
- Cash is increasingly rare — 95% of vendors prefer mobile payment. Carry some ¥100 bills as backup
- Foreign cards work but may have a small transaction fee (1-3%). Still cheaper than ATM withdrawal fees
- Subway gates accept both WeChat Pay and Alipay — scan the QR code at the turnstile
Subway Survival
- Peak hours to avoid: 7:30-9:30 AM and 5:30-7:30 PM — Lines 1, 2, 8, and 9 are packed shoulder-to-shoulder
- Security check: Every station X-rays bags. Takes 10-30 seconds but factor it in
- Payment: Scan WeChat/Alipay at gates — no paper tickets needed anymore
- Line 2 is your best friend: connects Pudong Airport, Lujiazui, Nanjing Road, People's Square, and Jing'an
- Line 10 connects Hongqiao Airport/Station to French Concession and Xintiandi
- Last trains: around 10:30-11:00 PM depending on the line. After that, DiDi or walk
- Navigation: Apple Maps works for subway routing. Baidu Maps is better for walking directions
Money-Saving Tips
- Happy hour at Bund bars (5-7 PM) — ¥50 cocktails with skyline views instead of ¥150+
- Free walking tours (tip-based) run weekends from People's Square — great for orientation
- Museums are mostly free on certain days (Shanghai Museum always free)
- Breakfast on the street: jianbing + soy milk = ¥8-15, better than hotel buffets
- The Bund ferry (¥2) gives you river views for a fraction of the tourist boat price
- Eat lunch in office-building cafeterias — ¥15-25 for a full meal, open to the public
- Century Park is free before 6 AM (joggers' entrance on the east side)
Nightlife & Safety
- Shanghai is very safe at night — violent crime is extremely rare. Women can walk alone at 2 AM without issue
- Watch your drink — drink spiking is rare but has been reported in bars targeting solo travelers
- Bar street areas: Found 158 (Julu Road), Xintiandi, and the Bund for cocktails. Yongkang Road for craft beer
- Last call: No official closing time, but most bars wind down around 2-3 AM. Clubs go to 5 AM
- Late-night food: 24-hour congee shops and hotpot chains (Haidilao) for post-drinking meals
- DiDi at night: Always available. Confirm the license plate before getting in
Weather & Seasonal Notes
- Plum rain season (梅雨): Mid-June to early July. Constant drizzle, 80% humidity, clothes never dry. Bring an umbrella every day
- Summer: July-August is 35°C+ with humidity. Plan indoor activities midday (museums, malls)
- Typhoon season: August-September. Rare but can shut down the city for a day. Flights cancel, subway pauses
- Winter: December-February is 0-10°C. No central heating in most buildings — pack layers
- Best months: October-November and April-May. Clear skies, 15-25°C, minimal rain
Cultural Etiquette
- Tipping: Not expected anywhere. Leaving money on the table causes confusion
- Bargaining: Expected at markets (AP Plaza, Qipu Road). Start at 30% of asking. NOT in restaurants, taxis, or malls
- Chopsticks: Never stick them upright in rice (funeral symbol). Use the chopstick rest
- Queuing: Shanghai is better than most Chinese cities, but subway doors get competitive. Stand firm
- Loud conversations: Restaurant noise is normal. Don't take it personally
- Spitting: Less common in Shanghai than other cities, but you'll still see it. Ignore it
💡 Insider Secrets
- • Best Bund photos from the riverside promenade on the Pudong side — looking back at the colonial buildings
- • Propaganda Poster Museum (宣传画艺术中心) is hidden in an apartment basement — incredible Cold War collection, ¥20 entry
- • The free Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is not worth it — take the ¥2 ferry instead for real river views
- • Zhujiajiao water town is 45 min by subway (Line 17) — free entry on weekdays, ¥80 weekends
- • Carrefour and Hema (盒马) in the basement of malls sell cheap prepared meals — great for quick lunches
- • Carry toilet paper — most public restrooms don't provide any (even in malls)
Things to Watch Out For
Shanghai is generally very safe, but a few situations are worth knowing about. These are not common, but awareness helps:
- Tea ceremony invitations — Occasionally, friendly strangers near People's Square invite tourists to a "traditional tea ceremony" that ends with an inflated bill (¥500-2000). Politely decline invitations from people approaching you on the street.
- Art gallery visits — "Art students" near the Bund sometimes invite you to see an exhibition, then pressure you to buy overpriced paintings. Legitimate galleries don't recruit visitors this way.
- Unofficial taxis at airports — Drivers inside Pudong or Hongqiao terminals offering rides may charge far above the meter rate. Use the official taxi queue outside, or better yet, book DiDi for upfront pricing.
- Fake monks near temples — People dressed as monks near Jing'an Temple or Yu Garden may hand you a "blessed" item and demand a donation. Real Buddhist monks don't do this — just walk past.