Know Before You Go: Life in Shanghai, China
by Kirsten Nowak
I have loved living in Shanghai this semester. Being able to study abroad here has been an incredible experience so far, and I cannot recommend coming here enough. Should you decide to see this amazing city for yourself, here is a guide to everything you should know about payments, transportation, and more. China is a very phone-dependent place, so I’ve also included all the apps you should download before arriving.
PHONE
Having a working phone in China is an absolute must. I cannot emphasize this enough: having a phone with reliable data is essential here. You can choose to activate an international plan on your current phone or buy a Chinese phone after arriving and using a local data plan. I highly recommend the second – having a local Chinese number allows you to order food delivery, order on Taobao (China’s Amazon), call taxis and cars and jump on local wifi. Plus, it’s typically cheaper than having an international plan. Visit a China Unicom store after arriving in Shanghai to get the best price.
PAYMENTS
China, in general, is mostly a cashless society and relies heavily on phones for payment. However, I still recommend arriving with at least ¥2,000 RMB (about $275 USD) in cash. If your phone dies or has issues with payments, cash is a necessary backup.
You will make most payments with your phone using one of the two apps below. I recommend downloading both. You can link an international bank card on both apps, so it’s not necessary to open up a local Chinese bank account. NYU Shanghai provides the support to open one if needed, but I’ve found that it’s not necessary.
Here are the two apps you need to download for payments:
WeChat (微信): This is the most important app you can download. Not only is this the app you will use to keep in touch with everyone you meet in China, it’s also how you make payments, book restaurants, and buy ticket to attractions. Add your international bank card and verify your identity, then you’re all set to go.
Alipay (支付宝): This is another payment app you can use. Not only can you make payments, you can also activate the transport QR code to easily tap in and out of the Shanghai metro and bus system (plus, the QR code automatically updates to whichever city you're in, making it easy to use public transportation anywhere in China).
TRANSPORTATION
Navigating Shanghai using the metro and bus system is very convenient and cheap. Alternatively, you can use Didi, which is a ride-sharing system in China. Shanghai is also a very bike-friendly city with a number of bike-sharing systems.
Here are three apps I recommend downloading for easy navigation:
Baidu Maps (百度地图): Because Google Maps and Apple Maps are pretty inaccurate in China (even with a VPN on), I highly recommend downloading Baidu Maps. The app is entirely in Chinese, so make sure to get your translating app ready. Once you get the hang of it, it’s very easy to use and it's super accurate, making navigating Shanghai easy.
Didi Ride Hailing in China: Essentially China’s Uber, Didi’s are another cheap and efficient way to get around any city in China. You can also switch the language on the app, making it even easier to use.
HelloRide (哈啰单车): Download this app to use one of the many blue HelloRide bikes in Shanghai. You can pay by the minute or purchase a monthly bike pass.
Shopping/Food
China has plenty of amazing malls and restaurants to visit, as well as a massive online shopping and delivery system. Here are the apps I recommend downloading to help you buy online:
Dianping (点评): This is app is where you can search up restaurants, tourist sites, attractions, and more. You can view ratings, make reservations, and see more details about places you want to see. It’s a super handy app for finding new spots to visit while in Shanghai.
Taobao (淘宝): This is China’s Amazon. You can buy anything on Taobao. And I mean anything: clothes, stationary, games, necessities, live animals (yes, really), and more. Plus, it’s a very affordable site.
Meituan (美团): Using Meituan, you can order food from almost any restaurant and grocery store for a very affordable price to any location you want. It typically takes about 20-40 minutes for the delivery to arrive, and you can easily use the app to contact the vendor or the delivery driver.
CHINESE LANGUAGE CRASH COURSE
You don’t need to be fluent in Chinese, but there are some key phrases I highly recommend knowing before going. Unless you’re in a very touristy area in China, most people don’t speak English, so it’s important for you to have a grasp of some basic sentences and words. Download any language app to practice more.
Numbers (1-100)
一 yī (one)
二 èr (two)
三 sān (three)
四 sì (four)
五 wǔ (five)
六 liù (six)
七 qī (seven)
八 bā (eight)
九 jiǔ (nine)
十 shí (ten)
To count above ten, combine the ten’s place with 十 and then count up normally in the one’s place. For example:
十一 shí yī (11)
二十一 èr shí yī (20)
五十四 wǔ shí sì (54)
How much does this cost?
多少钱？duō shǎo qián
Where is the bathroom?
厕所在哪里？cè suǒ zài nǎ li?
Where is….?
…在哪里? … zài nǎ li?
That’s about all you need to know! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or support. Happy traveling!