Tips & tricks

Fair prices

What locals pay. If you are asked for much more, you are probably being overcharged.

Tickets

Official prices and the only places to buy. Anyone else selling on the street is a reseller.

• Shanghai Tower: Top of Shanghai Observatory (118F)

  Adult CNY 180, child CNY 90, senior CNY 120; Observatory + Sky632 Art Space (125-126F) combo CNY 268; Observatory + Shanghai Guanfu Museum (37F) CNY 280 (city government listings, Sep 2025 and May 2026).

  Buy at: At the tower (official online channels not verified). City half-price days (China Tourism Day around 19 May, Shanghai Tourism Festival in mid-September) cut the price.

  Buy from the tower itself; resold bundles were not checked.

  Go on a clear day: SmartShanghai notes tower views are through often reflective glass. Sky632 and the AI experience floors are extra.

• Oriental Pearl TV Tower

  Sky Walking package + Art Toy Museum CNY 259; Sky Walking package + Huangpu River cruise CNY 279; Oriental Pearl cruise only CNY 130 (city government listing, May 2026).

  Buy at: At the tower (visitor hotline 021-5879-2888).

  Buy from the tower itself; resold packages were not checked.

  Ticket types change often; check the package name before paying.

• Jin Mao Tower 88th-floor Sightseeing Hall

  Adult CNY 120, senior CNY 100, student CNY 90, child CNY 60; under 1 m or age 3 and under free (May 2026). Skywalk extra.

  Buy at: Ticket office in the tower (hotline 021-5047-5101).

  Buy from the tower itself.

  The open-air Skywalk is a separate ticket.

• Yu Garden (Yuyuan) night tour 'Enjoyment of Mountains and Forests'

  CNY 150-218 (2025 launch prices). Daytime garden ticket price not verified.

  Buy at: 'Shanghai Yuyuan' WeChat account (ID yu-garden) or the South Gate ticket office, 279 Yuyuan Old Street.

  The souvenir bazaar around the garden is not the garden: touts and tea-house invitations operate around it.

  Timed entry by batch at the South Gate with the QR code; discount and free tickets need ID; valid on the day only, no re-entry. May-Oct: Tue, Wed, Fri-Sun 18:30-21:50 (last entry 21:00); Jan-Apr and Nov-Dec: Fri-Sun 18:00-21:20 (last entry 20:30).

• Shanghai Museum East

  General entry: no ticket price listed on the museum site; individual visitors need no reservation and enter with original ID scanned at the B1 East Gate. Special exhibitions are ticketed.

  Buy at: shanghaimuseum.net; special-exhibition tickets online or at the Information Desk. The Curio-City and Digital Gallery need a 'Special Reservation'.

  No reservation is needed for general entry, so you do not need a resold ticket.

  10:00-18:00, last entry 17:00, closed Tuesday (except national holidays). No flash, tripods or selfie sticks. Metro Line 2 Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Exit 8.

• Shanghai Museum (People's Square)

  Admission price not verified; visitors with disabilities free.

  Buy at: Official Shanghai Museum WeChat mini program; overseas visitors are told to book through Trip.com.

  Book only through the museum's mini program or Trip.com as the museum says.

  09:00-17:00 (last entry 15:00), or the day-and-evening session 09:00-21:00 (last entry 19:00); closed Monday except national holidays. Bring your original passport. Advance booking is required while the Ancient Civilizations of the Americas exhibition runs.

• Shanghai Disneyland (one-day ticket)

  Date-based tiers from CNY 475 to CNY 799 (tiers 475 / 539 / 599 / 659 / 719 / 799 announced 2024; extra intermediate tiers added from mid-October 2025 within the same range). Discounts for children, seniors and guests with disabilities; infants free.

  Buy at: Official Shanghai Disney Resort website and app (shanghaidisneyresort.com).

  Unauthorised resellers; tickets are real-name since 23 December 2024, so a ticket bought in someone else's name may not get you in.

  Real-name ticketing: the name and passport on the ticket must match the visitor. Metro Line 11 to Disney Resort station.

• Jade Buddha Temple

  Price not verified.

  Buy at: At the temple gate.

  Anyone outside asking for 'donations' or selling incense blessings: legitimate temples do not charge this way (Wikivoyage).

  Open 08:00-16:30, except on major festivals (temple website). Special Spring Festival arrangements are announced on the temple site.

• Shanghai Maglev

  Single CNY 50 economy / CNY 100 VIP (valid on the day); return CNY 80 / CNY 160 (valid 7 days); 20 percent off one single with a same-day air ticket.

  Buy at: Ticket centres on the 2nd floor of Longyang Road and Pudong Airport stations, or tap a contactless card / scan a transport QR code at the gate.

  Only the station ticket centres and gates sell Maglev rides.

  Longyang Road 06:45-21:40, Pudong Airport 07:02-21:42. Children up to 1.3 m free with an adult.

• Huangpu River cruise (Shiliupu Wharf)

  Peak season (26 Feb-25 Nov): day CNY 120, night CNY 150; off-peak (26 Nov-25 Feb): day CNY 100, night CNY 120; public holidays CNY 150. Children under 1.3 m free; 1.3-1.5 m and seniors 70+ half price.

  Buy at: Huangpu River Cruise ticket office at Shiliupu, or its WeChat account 'Huangpu River Cruise'.

  Buy at the Shiliupu ticket office; Wikivoyage warns of commercial photographers on the Bund who pressure you to buy prints.

  The cruise runs from Shiliupu towards Yangpu Bridge and back past the Bund and Lujiazui. For CNY 2 the public ferries cross the same water.

• The Stage Observation Deck (Sinar Mas Plaza)

  Adult CNY 230 full price; early-bird CNY 150 offered on Trip.com and Dianping; children 1-1.4 m CNY 110, under 1 m free (SmartShanghai, 2025).

  Buy at: Trip.com (English) or Dianping (Chinese); six time slots a day.

  Not verified.

  Open-air deck on the former helipad; the 16:30-19:30 slot sells out first. Entrance on LG1 of the mall.

• Suzhou Creek 30-minute cruise

  CNY 60 (city government listing, May 2026).

  Buy at: Official operator's ticket point.

  Not verified.

  Short boat ride on the creek, a different view from the Huangpu cruises.

Traps

• Watch outThe tea house invitation

  Friendly, well-dressed strangers with good English, often posing as students or fellow tourists, start a chat and invite you to a tea tasting, a bar or karaoke; the venue then presents a huge bill, sometimes with threats or card fraud. Wikivoyage says the approach is common around People's Square near the museum entrances. Say no and walk away; if you are trapped, call 110.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outThe 'art student' exhibition

  A variant of the same scam: the new friend is an art student who invites you to a small gallery or exhibition of 'their class' work, where the pressure is to buy overpriced paintings. Decline any invitation from a stranger to go somewhere with them.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outFriendly women and bar or massage invitations

  Strangers who invite you for a drink or a massage take you to a venue that demands a large fee. FCDO lists the 'massage' scam with the tea scam; do not leave drinks unattended and never accept a drink from a stranger (spiking happens).

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outBlack taxis and fixed-price drivers

  At airports and stations, drivers who approach you inside the hall are not licensed taxis. FCDO warns of robbery and assault in unmarked or unmetered cars. Use the marked taxi rank (Pudong T1 Gate 12, T2 Gate 25) or DiDi, and insist on the meter. Wikivoyage describes a Hongqiao scam where an agreed shared-taxi price turns into a transfer to a crowded bus.

  Source: gov.uk, english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outFake notes in your change

  Counterfeit CNY 100 and CNY 50 notes circulate, even from ATMs, and banks will not replace them. Wikivoyage describes drivers swapping your good CNY 100 for a fake and claiming you gave it. Pay by phone where you can and check notes you receive.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outIncense and 'donation' at temples

  A 'guide' or 'monk' asks you to light incense or make a small donation, then says your CNY 10 was per day and asks for 365 times that. Legitimate temples do not charge this way: pay only the posted entry fee at the gate.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outBund photographers and shoe-shiners

  Commercial photographers on the Bund offer a CNY 50 photo, then a group arrives and pressures you to buy all the prints; shoe-shiners start work before naming a price. Agree on the total first, or simply say 'wǒ bú yào' (I don't want it).

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outCounterfeit-goods markets

  Markets next to Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station and under People's Square are full of knock-offs and touts; asking prices are high and some electronics are fake or do not work. Bargain hard, test anything electronic, and do not buy fake brands to take home (customs rules apply at home too).

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outFake QR codes

  Because everything is paid by QR code, criminals stick fake codes over real ones or send phishing codes. Check the payee name shown in Alipay or WeChat before you confirm, and never scan codes sent by strangers.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outHairy crab 'from Yangcheng Lake'

  Far more crabs are sold as Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs than the lake produces; some are 'bathed' briefly in the lake and sold as genuine. Buy from a restaurant you trust rather than a street seller's claims, and pay crab-season prices only for a real crab-roe dish.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org

Local life

• TipBreakfast means the Four Heavenly Kings

  Many Shanghainese start the day with the 'Four Heavenly Kings' (四大金刚): dabing flatbread, youtiao fried dough, cifantuan sticky-rice roll and doujiang soy milk. Look for them at small shops in old neighbourhoods, inside wet markets and near metro exits.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipWrap the youtiao

  The classic local move is to fold a youtiao inside a dabing, soft bread around crisp dough. Cifantuan is the same idea in rice: glutinous rice pressed around a piece of youtiao, often with sugar, pickles or pork floss.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleGo before 9 am

  Breakfast stalls are about fresh oil and hot ovens: go before 9 am, while the youtiao is still hot and the dabing just out of the oven. In popular market stalls some items sell out by 10 am.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipTry the salty soy milk

  Shanghai's savoury doujiang is unlike sweet soy milk: hot soy milk poured over chopped youtiao, seaweed, dried shrimp, pickled mustard greens, scallions and soy sauce, with a dash of vinegar that makes it curdle slightly, somewhere between soy milk and tofu pudding.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipBreakfast inside a wet market

  Locals and food-curious young travellers eat breakfast inside the 菜场 (wet market). Mengxi Market (No 2 West Mengzi Road) grew from the four kings to 20-30 items; Jialing Market (No 508 Jialing Road) has nearly 30 stalls where about CNY 10 buys a full breakfast.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, sixthtone.com
• RuleOrder shengjian by the liang

  At a shengjian (生煎) shop people order by the liang (两): one liang means four buns, from the old rule that one liang of flour made four. Prices at classic shops were CNY 9-13 for four in 2026.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunMuddy water or clear water

  Shengjian fans argue about two styles. Hunshui (浑水) buns are pleated face-down and full of soup from pork aspic; qingshui (清水) buns use fully risen dough, are pleated face-up and are more bread-like, like the 1932 shop Da Hu Chun.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleHow to eat a shengjian without a burn

  Put the bun on a spoon, bite a small hole and sip the broth, then eat the filling, and only at the end dip the crisp base in vinegar. Locals skip vinegar in the first two steps so the pork aroma comes through.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipShengjian comes with curry beef soup

  The standard partner for shengjian in traditional shops is a bowl of curry beef vermicelli soup (咖喱牛肉粉丝汤); its spice and lightness balance the fried buns.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleXiaolongbao: lift, window, sip

  The local rule of thumb for soup dumplings is 'lift gently, move slowly, open a window, then sip the soup' (轻轻提，慢慢移，先开窗，后喝汤). Put the dumpling on a spoon, bite a small opening, sip, then eat it with black vinegar and shredded ginger.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipTaste the crab xiaolongbao before the vinegar

  At crab-roe xiaolongbao specialists, diners often taste the first dumpling without vinegar and only then add a light dip, to notice the difference. Xiaolongbao itself was refined in 1871 in Nanxiang, now Jiading district.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipThe noodle shop menu on the wall

  In a Shanghai 面馆 you build your bowl: choose soup or dry (拌) noodles, then a jiaotou (浇头, topping) from the board on the wall, such as braised intestines (大肠), yellow croaker (黄鱼), braised kaofu gluten or fried pork chop. At some shops you order and pay at the counter before you sit.

  Source: rachelgouk.com
• TipYangchun noodles: the blank canvas

  Yangchun mian (阳春面) is the most basic Shanghai bowl: thin wheat noodles in a light pork-bone broth with a spoon of lard, soy sauce and scallion tops. It is the cheap base many people add a topping to.

  Source: rachelgouk.com
• TipMix the scallion oil noodles from the centre

  Congyou banmian (葱油拌面) arrives as noodles sitting in scallion oil and soy. Lift the noodles from the centre with chopsticks several times until every strand is coated. Many shops add dried shrimp (开洋); classic neighbourhood shops charged CNY 7-8 a bowl in 2026.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, rachelgouk.com
• TipWontons the Shanghai way

  Shanghai's everyday wonton is cairou huntun (菜肉馄饨): pork with bok choy or shepherd's purse (荠菜), in a clear broth with a little lard, egg strips, seaweed and scallions. Shepherd's purse is the filling locals love most.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunThe night-time wonton carriers

  Shanghai once had chaipan huntun (柴爿馄饨) vendors who carried a stove, bowls, seasonings and even a cash box on a bamboo pole and sold cheap wontons late at night. It is the root of the city's late-night wonton habit.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipEat where the seniors eat

  Shanghai has some 500 community canteens (社区食堂), first set up as subsidised meals for the elderly. Anyone can eat there; dishes cost about CNY 3-20 and seniors get 10-20 percent off. Some sit in historic buildings or by the river and have become city-walk stops.

  Source: chinadaily.com.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipQingtuan means spring

  For a few weeks before Qingming Festival (early April) pastry shops fill with qingtuan (青团), green glutinous rice balls coloured with herb juice. Red bean paste is the classic; salted egg yolk with pork floss is the popular savoury one. Shen Da Cheng is a long-time name.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipYanduxian, the spring soup

  When spring bamboo shoots arrive, Shanghai cooks yanduxian (腌笃鲜): salted pork, fresh pork and bamboo shoots simmered in one pot. 'Du' imitates the sound of the pot bubbling on low heat.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipZongzi: Shanghai likes them savoury

  For Dragon Boat Festival Shanghai eats zongzi, and the local favourites are savoury: fresh pork, or pork with salted egg yolk. Old brands such as Shao Wan Sheng on East Nanjing Road marinate the pork in zaolu, a fermented rice-wine brine.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipHot fresh-meat mooncakes and the queue

  Around Mid-Autumn, Shanghai's old brands bake fresh-meat mooncakes (鲜肉月饼) in flaky pastry, sold hot: Guang Ming Cun on Middle Huaihai Road (which draws crowds almost every day), Shen Da Cheng, Wang Bao He and others, with new fillings each year.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipTangyuan for the Lantern Festival

  On the 15th day of the first lunar month families eat tangyuan (汤圆), glutinous rice balls; the name sounds like 'reunion'. Black sesame with pork fat is the Shanghai classic, and crab-roe-and-pork versions are a local savoury twist. Guang Ming Cun's queue gets even longer that day.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikipedia.org
• RuleHairy crab: females first, then males

  The hairy crab (大闸蟹) season peaks in autumn. The old rule is females in the ninth lunar month, for their roe, and males in the tenth, for their creamy 'fat' - roughly October to early December. Yangcheng Lake crabs are the most prized.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, rachelgouk.com
• TipHow a hairy crab is served

  The crab is tied with string, steamed and eaten with a dip of vinegar, ginger and sugar, usually with warm Shaoxing yellow wine. Out of season, crab roe comes back as noodles and crab-roe rice.

  Source: rachelgouk.com
• RuleBeware fake Yangcheng crabs

  Because Yangcheng Lake crabs sell for more, many sellers pass off crabs from other lakes as Yangcheng ones. Buy from a known restaurant or brand rather than a street seller with a Yangcheng sign.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org
• FunButterfly crackers, Shanghai's French pastry

  Haipai (Shanghai-style) Western bakeries sell hudiesu (蝴蝶酥), a less sweet take on the French palmier. The Park Hotel's version on West Nanjing Road (about CNY 30 a bag in 2026) gained new fans after the series Blossoms Shanghai.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunShanghai-style hot pot

  Winter means hot pot, and some Shanghai places offer local broths such as borscht (罗宋汤) or salted pork with bamboo shoots, alongside the old-style clear mutton hot pot that Xin Mei Ju on East Ninghai Road has served since the 1990s.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipLate-night eating until 4 am

  Shanghai's late-night meal (宵夜, xiaoye) runs late: Cantonese, Chaoshan and Macao-style dai pai dong restaurants serve claypot rice, raw marinated seafood and pork bone soup until 3 or 4 am for people coming out of bars and clubs.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunThe 24-hour convenience store pause

  In the small hours, Shanghainese wait for dawn in 24-hour convenience stores such as Lawson and Alldays, with oden simmering by the till and a rice ball in the microwave, or in 24-hour McDonald's branches.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunThe world's coffee city

  Shanghai counted 10,336 coffee outlets in 2025, up from 9,115 in 2024, according to the 2026 China Urban Coffee Development Report released at the Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival. Earlier Chinese research claimed more than New York, London or Tokyo.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, sixthtone.com
• FunCoffee from a hole in the wall

  Many Shanghai cafes are tiny windows in lane houses. The local chain Manner began in 2015 as a two-square-metre hole in the wall; one lane cafe even reuses an old hot-water 'tiger stove' shop.

  Source: sixthtone.com, sixthtone.com
• FunDelivery apps run the city

  Food and almost anything else comes by app: Meituan, Ele.me (now Taobao Flash) and JD.com. In 2025 the three fought a subsidy war with CNY 0-1 coffees and milk teas; Meituan handled about 71 million orders a day.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• TipEveryone scans a QR code

  Shanghainese pay for breakfast, market vegetables and the metro by scanning QR codes or NFC on their phones; coins and notes are rare in daily life. Visitors should set up a mobile wallet before arriving.

  Source: chinadaily.com.cn
• TipTai chi at dawn in the parks

  By 5 am older residents gather in Lu Xun Park for tai chi and diabolo, with pingtan storytelling on portable radios and caged hwamei birds. In Fuxing Park clubbers leaving INS Land pass people doing tai chi under the plane trees.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunSquare dancing

  The 'dancing aunties' of 广场舞 (square dancing) meet early morning and evening in parks, squares and even car parks. The craze began in the mid-1990s among women retired early; noise complaints have made it controversial. Newcomers are often welcome to watch, learn and join in.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, global.chinadaily.com.cn
• FunThe People's Park marriage market

  Every Saturday and Sunday from about noon to 5 pm, parents gather in People's Park to match their unmarried children. Sheets listing age, height, job, income and zodiac hang on strings or sit on open umbrellas. It has run since 2004.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
• FunLilong life is shared life

  In the old lilong lanes and shikumen houses, one house was often split among many families, with shared kitchens and the small tingzijian room above the kitchen. The famous satire 'The 72 Tenant Families' was set in one. Lane residents are far more likely to know their neighbours than high-rise dwellers.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, sixthtone.com
• FunPyjamas on the pavement

  Older Shanghainese have long worn pyjamas outside close to home: a Vogue photographer in 1990 saw people in pyjamas chatting on the pavement with their morning tea.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• RuleSort your rubbish four ways

  Since 1 July 2019 Shanghai law requires households to sort rubbish into wet (food), dry, hazardous and recyclable, and many compounds only open the bins at set times in the morning and evening.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• FunShanghainese and Mandarin

  Shanghainese (上海话) is a Wu dialect that Mandarin speakers cannot understand. From 1992 schools discouraged it and many young Shanghainese no longer speak it fluently; nearly all speakers also speak Mandarin. Younger speakers say 'aq-laq' (阿拉) for 'we', a word borrowed from Ningbo.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org
• FunBlossoms Shanghai brought the dialect back

  Wong Kar-wai's 2023 series Blossoms Shanghai (繁花), shot with a Shanghainese-speaking cast, set off a dialect revival: thousands posted videos learning words such as 'dia' (great, beautiful). Huanghe Road, a main setting, was rebuilt 1:1 at Shanghai Film Park.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, sixthtone.com
• FunShanghainese on the bus and metro

  Shanghainese announcements started across the bus system in 2013, because many elderly people ride buses. Metro Line 16 added them the same year and Line 17 in 2020. Riders from Pudong Airport also hear a Shanghainese voice on the metro.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• FunStand-up in Shanghainese

  Shanghainese stand-up has become a hot ticket: the club SpicyComedy started dialect shows in 2023 and they sold out faster than its Mandarin and English shows. You will not follow the jokes, but the crowd tells you a lot.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• TipThe citywalk

  Since 2023 young Chinese have swapped checklist sightseeing for the 'citywalk': strolling a neighbourhood, browsing shops, coffee and watching seniors play cards on streets like Yuyuan Road and Wukang Road. Shanghai publishes official citywalk maps.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• TipPlane-tree streets after dark

  After 10 pm, when the last metros are still running, locals take the long way home down the quiet plane-tree-lined streets instead of rushing back.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipRun the riverside

  Both banks of the Huangpu River have a joined-up 45 km path, joined up at the end of 2017, with separate lanes for walking, jogging and cycling and parks and art museums along the way. Some retired runners do it every day.

  Source: chinadaily.com.cn, chinadaily.com.cn
• TipWalk Suzhou Creek

  Suzhou Creek has 42 km of connected riverside paths since late 2020, from the outer ring road to Waibaidu Bridge at the Bund, through what was an industrial belt.

  Source: chinadaily.com.cn, sixthtone.com
• FunA city of bicycles

  Shanghai made China's first bicycle in the late 19th century, and its Phoenix and Forever brands were the dream of every household after 1949. Cycling has declined, but the city is still a centre of China's bike culture.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• TipSunrise on the Bund

  Night owls and early risers watch the sun come up on the Bund before 6 am, when it is quiet: try the promenade near East Jinling Road pier, Huangpu Park by Waibaidu Bridge, or the North Bund riverside walkway.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipDisneyland like a local

  Young Shanghainese buy annual passes (from CNY 1,399) and treat Shanghai Disneyland as a place to hang out or study, arriving around noon, picking rides with waits under 30 minutes and timing breaks around the parades and fireworks.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• FunKTV for fitness

  KTV (karaoke) parlours remain a group night out, and the latest trend is 'sing and sweat' sessions with dance routines. People book off-peak hours, weekday mornings or after midnight, when rooms are discounted.

  Source: sixthtone.com
• RulePlum rain season

  The meiyu (梅雨, plum rain) brings weeks of humid drizzle: on average it starts around mid-June and ends around 10 July, but in 2020 it lasted 42 days from 9 June to 21 July. After it ends, 35 C days and afternoon thunderstorms follow.

  Source: chinadaily.com.cn
• RuleTyphoon days

  In summer and early autumn typhoons can stop the city: Bebinca in September 2024, the strongest since 1949, cancelled flights and ferries and suspended trains; Co-May in July 2025 grounded more than 400 flights. Watch the colour-coded warnings and keep a flexible day.

  Source: sixthtone.com, sixthtone.com
• TipA 24-hour shengjian

  Dong Tai Xiang on North Chongqing Road, whose semi-leavened shengjian technique is listed as intangible cultural heritage, is open 24 hours, so a fried bun is possible after a night out or before dawn.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunBuns born at the tiger stove

  Shengjian came from Suzhou in the 1910s and was first sold in Shanghai tea houses and laohuzao (老虎灶, 'tiger stoves'), the old neighbourhood hot-water stations.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn

Money

• TipPay by QR code with a foreign card

  Alipay and WeChat (Weixin Pay) let visitors link Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover and Diners Club cards without a Chinese bank account; register with your foreign mobile number before you fly. You either scan the merchant's QR code or show yours to the cashier.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn, smartshanghai.com
• RuleLimits and the 3 percent fee

  Foreign cards linked to Alipay or Weixin Pay are limited to USD 5,000 per transaction and USD 50,000 a year. Payments of CNY 200 or less are generally free; above CNY 200 a 3 percent service fee on the full amount may apply. The app shows the fee before you confirm.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipPreload a balance for small stalls

  SmartShanghai notes that some small shops, markets and food stalls struggle with direct foreign-card charges; topping up your Alipay or WeChat balance first avoids declined scans.

  Source: smartshanghai.com
• RuleCash must be accepted

  People's Bank of China rules forbid refusing renminbi cash (Announcement No. 10 of 2018, and the PBOC Law); shops and utilities have been fined for it. Rules from 1 February 2026 tighten this, including a cash option at unmanned outlets. In practice almost everyone pays by phone, so carry some small notes as backup.

  Source: pbc.gov.cn, pbc.gov.cn, mothership.sg
• TipATMs and cards

  ATMs showing your card network's logo give cash; foreign cards are generally limited to CNY 3,000 per withdrawal, plus your bank's own limits. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, Discover and UnionPay cards work at participating shops that display the logo; ask first if no logo is shown.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipOverseas e-wallets work too

  Many foreign e-wallets work directly at participating merchants through Alipay+ (for example AlipayHK, Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, Toss Pay, Touch 'n Go, GCash, TrueMoney, Kaspi). Look for the logo at the till.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleNo tipping

  Tipping is not practised in China: waiters may run after you to return money left on the table, and hotel staff are not tipped. High-end bars and hotel venues add a service charge to the bill instead (for example 16.6 percent at the Fairmont Peace Hotel's jazz bar).

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, rachelgouk.com
• TipTax refund when you leave

  Spend at least CNY 200 in one tax-refund store on one day, leave within 90 days of buying and within 183 days of entry, and claim at the airport: the refund is about 9 or 6 percent of the invoice. Up to CNY 20,000 in cash or by bank transfer; Shanghai also pays refunds to Alipay.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipHelp with payments

  One-stop service centres in the international arrival halls of Pudong T1 and T2 and Hongqiao T1 help set up payment apps, SIM cards and transport codes. UnionPay hotline 95516; city hotline 12345 has English support.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn

Before you go

• RuleTurkish passports: visa required

  Ordinary Turkish passport holders need a Chinese visa before travel. The Turkish Embassy in Beijing (notice of 26 Feb 2026) says individual tourist (L) visa applications are not possible, so tourists travel on group visas, and visas cannot be obtained in Hong Kong or Macao for the mainland. Türkiye is on neither China's 50-country 30-day visa-free list nor the 57-country 240-hour transit list (official lists, Aug 2026). The only exemption is airside transit of up to 24 hours without passing passport control or changing terminal, at nine airports including Shanghai Pudong, with checked bags tagged through. Hong Kong and Macao are visa-free for Turkish citizens. (Türkiye's own visa exemption of January 2026 is for Chinese citizens visiting Türkiye, not the other way round.)

  Source: pekin-be.mfa.gov.tr, english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleGerman and Spanish passports: 30 days visa-free

  Germany and Spain are on China's unilateral visa-free list: ordinary passport holders can enter for business, tourism, family visits, transit or exchanges for up to 30 days, extended until 24:00 on 31 December 2026. The 30 days count from midnight after the day of entry; multiple entries are allowed. Check again for trips after that date.

  Source: bio.visaforchina.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleUK passports: 30 days visa-free

  British citizen passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family or friend visits or transit until 31 December 2026 (FCDO); the UK is on the official Shanghai list. Paid work, study, journalism or longer stays need a visa.

  Source: gov.uk, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleUS passports: visa or 240-hour transit

  The United States is not on the 30-day visa-free list, so US citizens need a visa, unless they use the 240-hour visa-free transit: up to 10 days when flying on to a third country or region (not back to where they came from), with a confirmed onward ticket. The US was among the top five nationalities using it in Shanghai in 2025.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleHow the 240-hour transit works

  Nationals of 57 countries can enter visa-free through 65 ports in 24 provincial-level regions and stay up to 240 hours in the permitted areas, if they travel on to a third country or region with a confirmed seat and date. In Shanghai the ports are Pudong Airport, Hongqiao Airport and Shanghai Port (Passenger), which includes Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. Passports need more than three months' validity. Work, study and reporting need a visa. Border officers make the final decision.

  Source: en.nia.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RulePassport validity

  FCDO says your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival and have 2 blank pages; the Turkish Embassy also gives 6 months. Emergency travel documents are not accepted for visa-free entry.

  Source: gov.uk, pekin-be.mfa.gov.tr, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipFill in the arrival card online

  Since 20 November 2025 you can submit the arrival card before the trip on the NIA website (s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC), the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat or Alipay mini program. Otherwise fill it in at the border by QR code, kiosk or paper card. Direct airside transit within 24 hours and same-ship cruise passengers are exempt.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, tr.china-embassy.gov.cn
• RuleRegistration within 24 hours

  You must register your place of stay with the police within 24 hours of arrival; hotels do this at check-in. If you stay with friends or in a private rental, you or your host must register at the local police station or through Shanghai's online self-declaration system. Spot-checks happen.

  Source: gov.uk, english.shanghai.gov.cn, pekin-be.mfa.gov.tr
• Watch outInternet: what is blocked

  Google, Facebook, YouTube and X are permanently blocked and other sites may be blocked at times, especially around key political dates (FCDO). Wikivoyage also lists WhatsApp and Instagram as blocked. Set up WeChat before you fly so you can message people in China.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikivoyage.org
• RuleVPNs: what the law says

  FCDO: 'China's cybersecurity laws state that online products and services (for example, VPNs) need to be licensed by the Chinese government.' Make sure you stay informed and follow Chinese law. Data roaming on a foreign SIM or a foreign eSIM is routed through the home network (Wikivoyage), which is how many visitors keep their usual apps.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipMobile data: roaming, eSIM or a local SIM

  Roaming data and foreign eSIMs work; a Chinese SIM needs your passport and is sold to foreigners only at main and airport branches of China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom (Wikivoyage); the airport service centres help. A Chinese number makes ride-hailing and deliveries easier.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipInstall these apps before you fly

  Alipay and WeChat (link your card and register with your foreign number), Metro Daduhui or Suishenxing for transport, Amap or Apple Maps (Google Maps does not work), DiDi inside Alipay, Trip.com, and the NIA 12367 app for the arrival card. App stores and some sign-ups are easier from home.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipPower plugs

  220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets generally take two-pin European and North American plugs and three-pin Australian-style plugs; check that your devices accept 220 V.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• RuleCarry your passport

  Always carry your original passport: police make random checks, especially during big events, and do not accept printed copies; you may be fined or detained without it. You also need it for trains, museums and SIM cards.

  Source: gov.uk, pekin-be.mfa.gov.tr, shanghaimuseum.net
• Watch outDrugs and drones

  Zero tolerance on drugs, including cannabis: police can test foreigners at random, including on entry, and prosecute for drug use abroad. Drones and drone parts are strictly regulated.

  Source: gov.uk

Transport

• TipTap your own card on the metro

  Since 28 June 2025 you can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB or UnionPay card (or phone wallet) at every metro gate. Turn on small-amount password-free payment first; the gate puts a hold on the card at entry.

  Source: cn.chinadaily.com.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipOne code for bus, metro and ferry

  Locals use the transport QR code in Alipay or WeChat, or the Suishenxing app: you get the same transfer discount as residents (CNY 1 off the metro within 120 minutes of a bus) and 10 percent off after CNY 70 of metro rides in a month.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, smartshanghai.com
• TipCross the river for CNY 2

  The Dongjin ferry (East Jinling Road - Dongchang Road, 07:15-18:30) gives Lujiazui skyline views by day; the Dongfu line (East Fuxing Road - Dongchang Road) runs to about 21:00 for night views; the Taigong line from Gongping Road is known as the sunset ferry (06:00 to about 21:45). Pedestrians CNY 2.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipMaglev or Line 2

  From Pudong the Maglev (8 minutes to Longyang Road, CNY 50) plus Line 2 is fastest; Line 2 all the way is about an hour for about CNY 7. The Maglev stops around 21:40.

  Source: smtdc.com, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipBook taxis on an app

  Most people now order taxis and cars through DiDi, Gaode (Amap) or Xiangdao rather than hailing. If you hail, step 50 m away from intersections, where cabs may not stop. Qiangsheng has an English booking line, 62580.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipShared bikes for the last kilometre

  Hellobike, Meituan and Qingju bikes stand at almost every metro exit; scan to unlock in the app or the Alipay mini program. Wikivoyage puts a ride at about CNY 1-2.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikivoyage.org, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• RuleSecurity checks and luggage

  Every metro station X-rays bags. On the Airport Link Line, each suitcase may not exceed 0.2 cubic metres or 1.8 m in length plus width plus height.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Watch outDon't squeeze through closing doors

  Train doors sometimes close before everyone is in; wait for the next train rather than rushing (Wikivoyage).

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• RuleDay passes and their limits

  One-day (CNY 18) and three-day (CNY 45) metro passes from station ticket booths do not cover the Maglev or suburban lines opened in or after 2024 such as the Airport Link Line.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn

Etiquette

• RuleChopsticks

  Never leave chopsticks standing upright in a bowl or pass food from your chopsticks to someone else's (both recall funeral rites), and do not point with them. It is normal to lift your rice bowl to your mouth.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• TipSharing dishes

  Dishes are shared; if no serving chopsticks (公筷 gōngkuài) are provided, use your own to move food to your bowl. Asking for serving chopsticks is fine.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• TipToasts

  'Gānbēi' (干杯) means 'dry glass' and traditionally you empty it. Toasts are one-on-one; return them. Say 'suíbiàn' (随便) to drink only part of the glass.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• TipCalling the waiter

  Call '服务员' (fúwùyuán) to get attention. Avoid 小姐 (xiǎojiě) for a waitress in mainland China: it can mean a sex worker.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outPolitics and protests

  Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and posting or supporting political statements critical of China: it can be treated as illegal. Fights, even if you did not start them, can bring fines or detention.

  Source: gov.uk
• RuleReligious sites

  Only registered religious organisations may hold religious activities; foreigners may worship at registered temples and churches, but preaching and handing out religious material are restricted (rules in force since 1 May 2025).

  Source: gov.uk
• TipBargaining

  In markets you bargain, often by typing numbers on a calculator; the number 4 sounds like 'death' and is avoided in prices. Department stores and malls have fixed prices.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipHave it in characters

  Few taxi drivers speak English: keep your hotel's card and your destinations written in Chinese. Short, simple English sentences work better than polite long ones.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org

Food

• TipHow to eat xiaolongbao

  Bite a small hole first, sip the very hot broth, then dip in dark vinegar (醋 cù) with ginger. In Shanghainese they are 小笼馒头 (xiaolong mantou).

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipShengjian for breakfast

  Shengjian (生煎) are pan-fried buns with a crisp base, sold by the liang (4 pieces) for about CNY 10-13 at old shops such as Da Hu Chun on Middle Sichuan Road (opens 07:00). They squirt hot soup too.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipScallion-oil noodles for CNY 7

  Cong you ban mian (葱油拌面), noodles tossed in scallion oil and soy, are a Shanghai staple: CNY 7 a bowl at Huxi Laolongtang on Dingxi Road, CNY 8 on Weihai Road (city government food guide, 2026).

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipBreakfast is early

  The city's own breakfast guide tells visitors to go before 9 am; breakfast staples include cifan (粢饭), glutinous and japonica rice wrapped round a youtiao (fried dough stick).

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipHairy crab season

  The Shanghai hairy crab (大闸蟹 dàzháxiè) is the autumn delicacy: females are prized when the roe ripens in the ninth lunar month, males in the tenth (roughly October-December), served with Shaoxing wine. Crab-roe xiaolongbao and noodles appear on menus in season.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipOrder by scanning the table

  In many restaurants you order and pay by scanning the QR code on the table, which opens a WeChat or Alipay mini program; foreign-linked cards usually work, a preloaded balance always does.

  Source: smartshanghai.com, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Watch outTap water

  Do not drink tap water unless boiled; domestic bottled water costs CNY 1-2.5 in shops and many hotels give it free.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipVegetarians, watch the tofu

  Tofu is often cooked with meat, shrimp or minced pork. Say 'wǒ chī sù' (我吃素, I eat vegetarian). For halal food, look for Lanzhou noodle (兰州拉面) and Uyghur restaurants.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipTakeaway

  'Dǎbāo' (打包) means pack it to take away; 'zhèbiān chī' (这边吃) means eat here.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety

• TipLow crime, but watch your phone

  Serious crime against foreigners is rare and Wikivoyage calls Shanghai very safe, including for women at night. Pickpockets work in crowded metro carriages and main shopping streets, sometimes in groups.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikivoyage.org
• RuleEmergency numbers

  Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119, traffic police 122. City hotline 12345 has English. Wikivoyage notes a taxi is often the fastest way to hospital; private international clinics speak English but are expensive.

  Source: gov.uk, english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikivoyage.org
• Watch outTyphoons and floods

  Typhoon season runs from May to November on the east coast and can disrupt flights and transport; flooding and storms are common in the same period. Follow China Meteorological Administration warnings and local instructions.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org
• Watch outTaxis

  Use marked, metered taxis, note the cab number, ask for the receipt and do not argue physically over a fare: any altercation can lead to detention regardless of who is to blame.

  Source: gov.uk, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• Watch outDrinks

  Do not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers: spiking happens. Police raid bars and test for drugs on the spot.

  Source: gov.uk
• TipFire and gas safety

  Check fire exits at your accommodation and make sure it has a working smoke and carbon monoxide alarm (FCDO).

  Source: gov.uk
• TipLost passport

  Report it at the nearest police station or Public Security Bureau. Turkish citizens must apply in person to the embassy or consulate (Shanghai: +86 159 2103 6931, 24 h) for a temporary passport, and then need a short stay visa for it, which can take about 7 working days, so flights may need changing.

  Source: gov.uk, pekin-be.mfa.gov.tr, shanghai-cg.mfa.gov.tr

Free

• TipThe Bund and the riverside

  Walking the Bund promenade and the riverside paths costs nothing; the ferries cross the same water for CNY 2.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.wikivoyage.org
• FunSunset ferry

  The Taigong ferry line from Gongping Road (CNY 2) is known locally as the most beautiful sunset ferry route, facing the skyline.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipShanghai Museum East

  General entry needs only your passport and no reservation (special shows extra); the museum is in Pudong at Line 2 Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station. Closed Tuesdays.

  Source: shanghaimuseum.net
• TipCity parks

  People's Park, Jing'an Park, Fuxing Park, Lu Xun Park and Zhongshan Park are free; locals play weiqi (Go) in Fuxing Park and Jing'an Park.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• TipHalf-price days

  On China Tourism Day (19 May, with offers 17-19 May in 2026) and during the Shanghai Tourism Festival in mid-September, dozens of attractions cut prices by half, from the Shanghai Tower to river cruises and museums; in 2025, 33 attractions were free on 13 September for visitors born on that date.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipMetro day pass

  CNY 18 for 24 hours of unlimited metro rides (CNY 45 for 72 hours).

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipCheap local eating

  A basket of xiaolongbao from CNY 13, four shengjian for about CNY 11, a bowl of scallion-oil noodles for CNY 7.

  Source: rachelgouk.com, english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• TipFree city hotline as translator

  Wikivoyage describes calling the city hotline (12345, English option) and handing the phone to a taxi driver or shopkeeper when you are stuck.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, english.shanghai.gov.cn

Fun

• FunYu Garden by night

  Since August 2025 Yu Garden opens some evenings for a light-and-shadow night tour with five shows in the garden (CNY 150-218, timed entry at the South Gate). The Huxin Pavilion teahouse in the lake, over 240 years old, reopened in July 2025 after two years of restoration.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunOpen-air deck on the North Bund

  The Stage, on the old helipad of the Sinar Mas Center, is one of the few outdoor skyscraper decks in China, looking straight at the Bund and the Huangpu bend (from CNY 150 early-bird).

  Source: smartshanghai.com
• FunA new opera house shaped like a fan

  Shanghai Grand Opera House by Snøhetta, nicknamed the 'Chinese Fan', opens on 17 October 2026 by Expo Culture Park with three halls; its spiral public walkway to a 28 m viewing platform opens later by reservation.

  Source: smartshanghai.com
• FunPingtan storytelling in a teahouse

  Pingtan, sung storytelling from Suzhou with pipa and sanxian, is still performed in Shanghai and Suzhou dialects; Wikivoyage points to Xiangyin Shuyuan and cultural teahouses where locals listen over tea.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• FunOld Jazz Band at the Peace Hotel

  The Fairmont Peace Hotel's jazz bar on the Bund still has its veteran Old Jazz Band; CNY 418 minimum spend usable on drinks.

  Source: rachelgouk.com
• FunNight ferry for CNY 2

  The Dongfu ferry between East Fuxing Road and Dongchang Road runs until about 21:00: the cheapest night-time skyline cruise there is.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunSuzhou Creek by boat

  A 30-minute boat ride on Suzhou Creek (CNY 60) shows the creek-side warehouses and bridges rather than the Huangpu skyline.

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunLonghua Temple Fair

  Held since the Ming dynasty on the third day of the third lunar month, when the dragons are said to visit the temple, with its pagoda and peach blossom season.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org
• FunMaglev museum

  Longyang Road Maglev station has a small museum on how magnetic levitation trains work (Wikivoyage), and the train itself still reaches 300 km/h.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikipedia.org
• TipEvening at the Shanghai Museum

  The People's Square museum runs a day-and-evening session to 21:00 (last entry 19:00) on some days; check its WeChat channel for evening dates.

  Source: shanghaimuseum.net
• FunWeiqi players in the park

  Watch locals play weiqi (Go) in Fuxing Park and Jing'an Park; Lu Xun Park in Hongkou has boats for rent on its lake.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• FunSay it in Shanghainese

  Siri speaks Shanghainese; try 'nong hau' (侬好) on a shopkeeper and watch the reaction. Locals call themselves 'aq-la Shanghai-nin' (阿拉上海人, we Shanghainese).

  Source: en.wikipedia.org

When to go

• TipWeather by month

  Average highs (Xujiahui, China Meteorological Administration): Jan 8.7 °C, Feb 10.7, Mar 14.9, Apr 20.9, May 25.8, Jun 28.6, Jul 33.2, Aug 32.6, Sep 28.7, Oct 23.5, Nov 17.8, Dec 11.3. Lows: Jan 2.9 °C, Apr 12.6, Jul 26.2, Oct 17.1. Wettest months: June (225 mm) and August (226 mm); driest: December (50 mm). About 21 days a year reach 35 °C.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org
• TipPlum rain

  The 'plum rain' (梅雨 meiyu) is the East Asian rainy season of late spring and early summer along the Meiyu front; in Shanghai June is one of the wettest months. Pack an umbrella.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
• Watch outTyphoon season

  May to November; typhoons hit Shanghai mainly in summer and early autumn and can cancel flights and ferries.

  Source: gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org
• Watch outGolden Week crowds

  National Day Golden Week, 1-7 October 2026 (20 September and 10 October are working days), brings the year's heaviest crowds on the Bund, at Yu Garden and on trains; Labour Day (1-5 May 2026) is similar. Book trains and tickets early or avoid these weeks.

  Source: en.bjhd.gov.cn, en.wikipedia.org
• TipChinese New Year 2027

  Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat; the Lantern Festival (15th day) is 20 February 2027. The official 2027 holiday dates had not been published in October 2026. Many small family restaurants close for days around New Year. In 2026 the holiday ran 15-23 February.

  Source: hko.gov.hk, en.wikipedia.org, en.bjhd.gov.cn
• TipHairy crab season

  Roughly October to December: female crabs with roe first, males a month later.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• TipMid-Autumn Festival

  15th day of the 8th lunar month (25-27 September in 2026): mooncakes everywhere; in Shanghai it is also called the 'Festival of Unity' (团圆节).

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, en.bjhd.gov.cn
• FunShanghai International Film Festival

  Ten days every June, with over 400 films in about 40 cinemas across the city.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org
• TipShanghai Tourism Festival and China Tourism Day

  Half-price tickets at dozens of attractions around 19 May (China Tourism Day) and during the Tourism Festival in mid-September (13-19 September in 2025).

  Source: english.shanghai.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn
• FunFormula 1 Chinese Grand Prix

  At Shanghai International Circuit on 18 April 2027 (provisional F1 calendar).

  Source: en.wikipedia.org
• TipShanghai Marathon and CIIE

  The Shanghai Marathon runs in late autumn (30 November in 2025); the China International Import Expo is held every autumn (November) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, when hotels near Hongqiao fill up.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, english.shanghai.gov.cn

Words

• Tip你好 nǐ hǎo

  Hello (Mandarin). Shanghainese: 侬好 (nong hau), heard from older locals and shopkeepers.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip谢谢 xièxie / 谢谢侬

  Thank you. In Shanghainese 谢谢 is said 'zhia-ia', and adding 侬 (nong, you) gives 谢谢侬, the warm local 'thank you' ('xia ya nong').

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikipedia.org
• Tip阿拉 aq-la

  Shanghainese for 'we' or 'I': 阿拉上海人 means 'we Shanghainese'. You will hear it constantly; 侬 (nong) is 'you'.

  Source: en.wikipedia.org
• Tip再会 tsé-we

  Goodbye in Shanghainese (Mandarin: 再见 zàijiàn).

  Source: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip几钿？ ci-di

  How much? in Shanghainese. In Mandarin: 这个多少钱？ zhège duōshǎo qián? (How much is this?)

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip我不要 wǒ bú yào

  I don't want it: the phrase for touts, photographers and hawkers.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip买单 mǎidān

  The bill, please. To get the waiter's attention: 服务员 fúwùyuán.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip对不起 duìbuqǐ / 请问 qǐng wèn

  Sorry / excuse me (to ask a question).

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip我听不懂 wǒ tīng bu dǒng

  I don't understand. 你会说英语吗？ nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? means 'Do you speak English?'

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip厕所在哪里？ cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?

  Where is the toilet? Politer: 洗手间在哪里？ xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip我吃素 wǒ chī sù

  I am vegetarian.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip打包 dǎbāo

  To take away (pack it up). 这边吃 zhèbiān chī: to eat here.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip干杯 gānbēi

  Cheers (literally 'dry glass').

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Tip救命！ jiùmìng!

  Help! (emergencies). Police: 110.

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, gov.uk
• Tip小笼馒头 xiaolong mantou

  What Shanghainese call xiaolongbao (Mandarin 小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo).

  Source: en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org

Checked October 2026. Every item links to where it came from.