City Name: Shanghai
Where is it located?: Shanghai is in eastern China on the East China Sea, near the Huangpu River.
Why do people go there?: Shanghai is an enigmatic city filled with modern contradictions still struggling to come to terms with its turbulent history. It’s New China – where an Imperial past wrestles with the Communist present and a neo-Capitalist future. It’s an intoxicating fun
How do travelers get there?: Shanghai has hoards of international flights all day and all night. There are a number of train lines and boats that depart the city for other parts of the country all day.
Currency: Yuan
City Code: 21
Population: 19 million
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin, Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages.
Neighborhoods: Frenchtown
Attractions: The Bund, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Lu
Accommodations: Shanghai Hostels
Tourist Office: China Tourism
Off-the-beaten-path: Huzhou Pagoda
Health Issues: Rabies, Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), Dengue Fever, Malaria, Cholera
When to go: July through Novemeber are the best times travel, although Shanghai always feels like it’s the heart of the tourist season.
Common Phrases: Welcome= huanyíng guanglín, Hello=ni hao, Good morning= zaoan, Good afternoon= wuan, Good evening= wanshànghao
City Specific Events: Shanghai’s, and specifically China, festivals are often based on the lunar calendar. In general, the best Shanghai events are the following: Chinese New Year, The Lantern Festival, The Shanghai International Tea Culture Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day
How to get around?: There are multiple ways to explore Shanghai and it’s often daunting on trying to figure out where to begin. If you don’t want to pay for a taxi, then the subway is your next best best. It’s fairly easy and cheap.
Good to know: Shanghai is the biggest city in China.
Cheapest airport to fly into: The cheapest airports to fly into Shanghai are Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport.
Need more information?: Check out the Shanghai travel guide for more on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.
