The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai's Student Guide to Shanghai

1. The Canadian Student Guide to Shanghai
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai • La Chambre de commerce canadienne à Shanghai • 上海加拿大商会

2. WELCOME TO SHANGHAI!
Created by Canadians living and working in this great city, Our
objective has been to provide you with Canadian favourites.
Every listing in this book comes personally recommended by at
least one of us. It’s the best of Shanghai as we know and live
it. Of course, in a city changing this fast, there are new gems
to discover every day. The best of Shanghai often reveals
itself just when you think you’ve had it with the traffic, the heat,
or crowding.
Be ready for these moments!
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3. TABLE OF CONTENTS
GETTING AROUND 4 MONEY 10
MAPS 5 CAREER 11
HOUSING 5 LINKS 11
SHOPPING 5 GOVERNMENT STUFF 11
FOOD 6 VISAS 11
PHONES 8 USEFUL NUMBERS 12
HEALTH 8 GET INVOLVED 12
SIGHTS 9 CONTACT US 12
LEARNING CHINESE 10
CONTRIBUTORS
Ariane Lelarge Emiroglou • Ashleigh Au • Breck Denny • Genevieve Pépin
Malik Yusuf • Kim-Tien Huynh • Sarah Cheng • Timothy Singh • Victoria Yan
www.cancham.asia 3

4. are ~ 6 am-11 pm . Shorter lines usually close earli- 10 km and 3.2 RMB/km after 10 km.
GETTING AROUND est. 3-6 RMB each way, depending on distance. Nighttime Fees (11 pm-5 am): 18 RMB for first 3 km,
additional 3.1 RMB/km within 10 km and 4.1 RMB/
Riding the metro in Tickets can be purchased at English-language km after 10 km.
Shanghai is not for cry vending machines inside stations.
babies or claustropho- Biking
bics. Be sure to assert Buses A fun and inter-
yourself like the locals, One of the best and cheapest ways to explore the esting way to see
if you’re not careful you city. 2 RMB each way. the city.
could be carried off by
the amorphous hoard of Bus routes in english: If another vehicle
commuters. www.msittig.wubi.org/bus is bigger or faster
than yours, al-
The metro is also very Find the best bus route by starting point and des- ways yield to it.
reasonably priced at 4 tination (Chinese) : Pedestrians will
RMB for most rides; it sure beats taxis which start http://map.baidu.com not expect you to
at 14 RMB. However, even if you’re riding in a taxi stop for them.
be sure to keep your transit card on you, you can In China, there are approximately
use it to pay for taxis as well. Taxis 200 road accident fatalities per day .
Shanghai’s taxis are relatively cheap. Available cars Buy: Get one
A great app for smart phone users is Smart Shang- have their roof light on. Flag one down by holding from Carrefour for ~ 300 RMB. Consider buying a
hai, it has most popular destinations and a feature your arm out into the street with your palm fac- cheaper and less attractive bike as bike theft is a
that translates the addresses into Chinese charac- ing down. Give the driver the intersection of your very, very, very common occurrence in Shanghai.
ters (useful before you’re fluent in Mandarin). destination as well as the address. Most drivers are
willing to call restaurants, hotels, etc. to ask direc- Rent: China Cycle Tours can pick up and drop off
Shanghai Public Transportation Card //Jiaotong- tions if you provide the phone number. Tips are bikes at your place, 80 RMB+ / day, depending on
ka //上海公共交通卡 not expected. Always the quality of the bicycle.
Bypass long metro ticket line-ups and avoid take your receipt, as +86 1376 111 5050
change in buses and taxis with this swipe card. any disputes or lost www.chinacycletours.com/BicycleRental_shanghai.
Recharge at metro station service counters /con- items cannot be re- Fun Fact asp
venience stores /newsstands / banks. 20RMB de- ported to head office A mall in China features
posit + desired credit. without it. extra wide parking spaces Note:
for women who have a “dif- Do not assume that the traffic rules you are used to
The Shanghai Metro Daytime Fees: 14 RMB ferent sense of distance”. back home apply here as well. For example, relying
The most efficient way to get around Shanghai. for first 3 km, addition- on traffic signals to tell you when it’s safe to cross
Different hours for each station but general hours al 2.4 RMB/km within the street will probably get you hurt. As someone
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5. once said, “don’t trust the little green man!”. 475 CAD. GENERAL INFO
Shops are generally open from 10 am to 10 pm.
MAPS Paying the bills
Most bills such as the water, electricity and inter- BARGAINING
Google Maps net bill can be paid at the local convenience stores When bargaining, start at 25-30% of the asking
Find out how to walk/drive/bus/subway to your such as Lawson’s or Kedi. Remember to keep your price in the markets especially the more touristy
destination. Recognizes addresses in pinyin. bills just in case there are disputes with the land- ones. The best times to bargain is during non-busy
www.maps.google.com lord when you leave. times such as weekday afternoons.
www.taobao.com (a.k.a. Chinese e-bay) is a good
Baidu Maps place to see how much you got ripped off an item
Pretty much a Chinese version of Google maps. would cost.
Not as flexible as Google maps when it comes to
recognizing addresses in pinyin. Good for finding BOOKS & MAGAZINES
bus routes by inputting starting point and desti-
nation. Bicycle bootleg books
www.map.baidu.com Usually found in expat heavy areas during lunch-
time and the evenings, these vendors sell English
Explore Shanghai Metro Map bestsellers from the back of bicycles.
Not only does this website outline Shanghai’s met- 10 RMB for thin books, 15 RMB for medium books,
ro lines, it can also tell the suggested route and 25 RMB + for thick books
time between any 2 stations. Also useful, is the Remember to choose your roommates wisely
site’s “Metropedia” which gives you information
about every line and station.
www.exploreshanghai.com/metro
SHOPPING
If you want it, you got it, go get it, custom fit at
a 1/5 of the price. In Shanghai, everything is ne-
HOUSING gotiable, never accept the first offer. On your first
time out, try to go with someone who has been
Whether you want to a roommate, a studio, or a there before so you can see how bargaining works.
penthouse, Shanghai has a clean and affordable You’ll be glad you did and when your suitcase is
(relatively) place for you. A good place to start overflowing, just hit the fake market where Sam-
your search is www.smartshanghai.com, a great sonite knockoffs go for 100 RMB.
resource for all things Shanghai. A shared apart- Fuzhou Lu
ment in downtown puxi costs about 3000 RMB or Street filled with bookstores. Also great for statio-
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6. nery addicts. Book City, which is one of the biggest Liu Jia Bang Fabric Market the quality.
bookstores in Shanghai is located on this street. Shanghai’s largest and busiest tailoring destina-
456 Fuzhou Lu,福州路465号 tion where you can replicate the suits and dresses Science & Technology Underground market
celebrities are wearing at a fraction of the price. One stop shop for almost anything including sou-
Shanghai Foreign Language Book Store We recommend visiting on a weekday, as week- venirs, scarves, fake everything and small house-
A large bookstore on Fuzhou Lu that provides a ends are packed with tourists and prices often rise wares. Be prepared to bargain hard.
large selection of English language books. accordingly. Line 2 – Shanghai Museum of Science & Technology
390 Fuzhou Lu, 黄浦区福州路390号 // Line 1 – Peo- 399 Lujiabang Lu, 黄浦区 陆家浜路399号 // Line 4 – // 10 pm-7 pm.
ple’s Square // 10 pm-6 pm // 6322 - 3200. Nanpu Bridge // 10 am-6 pm // Suits 500 RMB, Shirts
90 RMB, Dresses 400 RMB. ELECTRONICS
TAILORMADE CLOTHES
Shiliupu Road Fabric Market Metro City
A slightly less touristy al- This place has those hard to find batteries you’ve
ternative to the Lujiabang been looking for. All kinds of electronics and elec-
Road fabric market. Con- tronic repair shops.
veniently located near Yu 1111 Zhaojiabang Lu, 肇嘉浜路1111号
Gardens and the Bund. Stall 美罗城// 6426-8888 // www.shmetrocity.com
234 has an excellent repu-
tation for quality cashmere Xinguang Photography Equipment Center
coats made to order within The first two floors sell the big brand names, the
a week or so. other floors are good for second hand cameras.
168 Dongmen Lu, 黄浦区 288 Luban Lu 鲁班路288号// 5301-9836.
东门路168号 // 10 am-6 pm // ~400-450 RMB for a
midlength jacket.
It’s not your imagination. Clothing sizes really are
smaller here. But you can no worries because you CLOTHES
FOOD
can have clothes custom tailored for a reasonable North American sized clothes & shoes can be If you’ve heard anything about the food in China
price in Shanghai. found in places such as Marks & Spencer’s located you’ve heard it’s great. There are a wide variety of
at the Nanjing Xi Lu metro station. exciting flavors and textures to try. Shanghai offers
Shanghai’s custom tailors work best when they its own unique dish – xiaolongbao or soup dump-
have an original garment (or, at the very least, a “AUTHENTIC” GOODS lings, a must have and great way to become more
photo) to work from. You may have to make two or dexterous with your kuazi (chopsticks). But, if you
more trips for fittings. DVDs start to miss your poutine, hold on to your tuque
One of the greatest perks of living in Shanghai are because Shanghai’s got all the bases covered. Oh,
the DVD stalls/stores scattered throughout the did I mention it’s cheap?
city. Prices range from 5-15 RMB depending on
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7. Carrefour:
www.smartshanghai.com/listings/?tag=carrefour www.shanghaifoodist.com/category/sh-street-
food/
City Shop:
To find many of the edible goods you may find at
home, City Shop may have what you are looking
Warning:
for but expect to pay a little bit more. They even
Beware of the “la
have Reese’s Pieces and Smarties!
du zis”so eat at
your own risk.
www.cityshop.com.cn/aboutus/en_maps.html
Fun Fact
Avacado Lady
China invented
You won’t find fortune cookies in China. In fact, fortune The go to place for reasonably priced expat favou-
toilet paper.
cookies were invented in the US. rites such as avacados, fresh herbs and CHEESE!
274 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu (near Wuyuan lu) // Line 7 –
GENERAL INFO
Changshu Lu // 10 am-6 pm // 6437-7262.
• Most restaurants are generally open until 10
pm or later. SOME CANADIAN &
• Tipping is not expected in China. CANADIAN OWNED RESTAURANTS
GROCERIES Big Bamboo
If you are looking for a wide range of groceries Canadian-owned sports bar with 3 locations. Good
including imported products check out Carrefour, happy hour deals. They also have poutine on their
City Shop, Metro or Tesco. Of these stores, Carre- menu.
four is probably the most convenient as there are 123 Nanyang Lu, 南阳路123号 // 6256- 2265
STREET FOOD
many locations and it sells almost anything from www.bigbamboo.cn
Wherever you go in Shanghai you will come across
food, electric bikes, kitchenware, personal care
various street food vendors offering a large vari-
products, etc… It’s a bit like the Chinese version Osteria
ety of food for really low prices (usually under 10
of Superstore . Italian restaurant. Best bloody Caesars and raw
RMB).
oysters in town. Great lunch and brunch deals.
For fresh fruits and vegetables, the wet markets 226 Jinxian Lu, 进贤路226号//6256-8998
For more info:
scattered about Shanghai are also an affordable www.osteriaspirit.com
www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/shanghai-street-
alternative for students. Locals recommend going
food-breakfast-11738.html
earlier to take advantage of a better selection and DELIVERY
occasionally even lower prices.
www.cnngo.com/shanghai/eat/shanghai-food-
street-education-018509 McDonald’s
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8. One of the perks of living in Shanghai is that Mc- in China Mobile or China Unicom shops. local hospitals it is a good idea to bring a transla-
donald’s delivers 24 hours! English service is avail- tor. That said, some local hospitals have VIP/for-
able. To order : 4008-517-517. For making calls within China, instead of purchas- eigner clinics which take appointments.
ing a phone plan, many people purchase prepaid
cards. These cards are also available at most con- Local Hospitals
venience stores or newstands. Ruijin Hospital
197 Ruijin Er Rd.
Skype Tel : 6466-4483
It’s possible to make callls from your computer as
well. Check out: Huadong Hospital
Your new best friend www.skype.com 221 Yan An Xi Lu
Foreigners Section, 2nd floor
Sherpa’s Tel : 6248-3180 ext. 3106
Sherpa’s is also a popular delivery service that de-
livers from many of Shanghai’s favourite restau-
HEALTH Huashan Hospital
rants // 6209-6209 // www.sherpa.com.cn HEALTHCARE 13/F, Foreigners Guests Building
Good healthcare is available in Shanghai but bear 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu
MORE INFO in mind that it may be a bit more expensive, espe- Tel : 6248-9999
For restaurant listings and reviews check out: cially if you opt for the hospitals geared towards
expats. Expat Hospitals
www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php/article/ For more information on healthcare in Shanghai: Shanghai East International Medical Center
restaurants 551 South Pudong Lu
www.middlekingdomlife.com/guide/healthcare- Tel: 5879-9999
www.timeoutshanghai.com/FoodDrink.html system-china.htm www.seimc.com.cn/medical/general.htm
www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining www.entershanghai.info/shininfo/health.php Shanghai United Family Hospital
Tel: 6291-1635
PHONES http://home.wangjianshuo.com/ www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com/en/sh/patientsVis/
patientserv/0/0/134.html
archives/20070123_living_cost_in_shanghai_-_
CELL PHONES medicine.htm
SIM cards can be pur- Fun Fact Parkway Health
chased from news- There are over 800 million www.entershanghai.info/shininfo/health.php Tel: 6445-5999
stands, stalls in the cell phone subscribers today www.parkwayhealth.cn
subway stations, in China alone. Local Hostpitals
select convenience More affordable but you must speak Chinese and EMERGENCIES
stores and of course expect long waits. In order to have access to the For emergencies you may want to keep with you
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9. the address of a well established hospital such as Line 2 – East Nanjing Road.
Shanghai East International Hospital or Shanghai For listings of sports clubs and teams check out People’s Square • Renmin Guang Chang
United Family Hospital so that you can show the Cityweekend’s or That’s Shanghai’s website.
taxi driver. Do not bother calling an ambulance
because a taxi driver can get you to the hospital MENTAL HEALTH
faster.
LifeLine Shanghai
For more information on dealing with emergen- Anonymous telephone hotline for english-speak-
cies in Shanghai check out: ers who need confidential counseling.
www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/emergency-han- www.lifelineshanghai.com
dling-medical-emergency-shanghai-972.html
SIMHA: Shanghai International Mental Health As-
Show Me the Money sociation
SIMHA’s website provides a listing of therapists
who provide mental health services to the interna-
Fun Fact
tional communities in Shanghai. People’s Square and the adjacent People’s Park
In 2007 Yunnan First People’s Provincial Hospital opened
www.simha.com is home to the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Art
China’s 1st drunk tank for foreigners.
Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, with an
Hospitals will probably not treat you unless you
SIGHTS enormous underground shopping mall below.
Metro: Lines 1, 2, and 8 – People’s Square.
show payment first. If you don’t have wads of cash The Bund • Wai Tan
with you, word has it that showing a credit card A newly-expanded pedestrian promenade along
can sometimes (emphasis on ‘sometimes’) suffice. the bank of the HuangPu River, featuring European
Fun Fact
architecture from the early 20th century. Home to
FITNESS China’s currently has a significant gender imbalance in
some of Shanghai’s most glamorous restaurants,
Cheap transportation and deliciously affordable which here are currently 32 million more boys than girls
bars, and shopping.
Chinese food prob- in China. Check out People’s Park on Sundays where
Line 2 – East Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road East Pedes-
ably won’t give you parents meet in the hopes of hooking up their single
trian Street.
a six-pack or help children.
you fit into your cus- Nanjing Road East Pedestrian Street • Nanjing
tom made dress but Dong Lu Bu Xing Jie Yu Gardens • Yuyuan
no worries because Shanghai’s shopping landmark stretching from Xi- A classical Chinese garden made up of six scenic
Shanghai’s sports zang Road to Henan Road, past numerous depart- areas, as well as shopping streets with some of the
clubs are varied and ment stores and international chains. Lights up city’s most affordable souvenirs – but be prepared
active. with enormous neon signs at night. to bargain hard!
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10. Anren Jie 137, 黄浦区 安仁街137号 // Line 2 – East alleyways is home to galleries, boutiques, cafés Fudan.
Nanjing Road (plus 5-minute taxi ride or 20-minute and restaurants.
walk south) // 8:30 am-5 pm, shopping street open Taikang Lu, 卢湾区 泰康路. For more information on learning Chinese in
until about 9 pm // 40 RMB. Shanghai check out:
Oriental Pearl Tower • Dongfang Mingzhu Dian- www.echinacities.com/shanghai/city-life/talk-the-
Temple of the Town Gods • Cheng Huang shi Ta talk-mandarin-language-schools-in-shanghai.html
Miao Best viewed at night, this tower,
Right near Yu Gardens, this temple was completely with three tapering levels of pink
rebuilt and restored in the 1990s, having been spheres (pearls) is Asia’s tallest TV
nearly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
249 Fangbang Zhong Lu // Line 2 – East Nanjing
tower and the third-tallest in the
world.
MONEY
Road // 8:30 am-4:30 pm // 10 RMB. 1 Century Avenue, 浦东新区 世纪 Although an increasing amount of stores and res-
大道1号 // Line 2 – Lujiazui, Exit 1 // taurants are accepting credit cards, cash is still king
Shanghai Museum 50-150 RMB (depending on how high in China.
Frequently named the best museum in China, with you choose to go) // 8 am-9:30 pm //
11 state-of-the-art galleries, three exhibition halls 5879 1888. BANKING IN CHINA
on four floors, and an airy, naturally lit central atri- Unless you plan to store your money in your cereal
um. Excellent and affordable gift shop. boxes, you might want to look into a convenient
201 Ren Min Da Dao, 黄浦区 人民大道201号 // Lines Century Park • Shi Ji Gongyuan way to manage your money while in China.
1, 2, 8 – People’s Square // 9 am-5 pm // Free // 6372 Shanghai’s largest park, with open green space,
3500. boats, and walking paths. It is possible to open a personal account as a for-
1 Century Avenue, 浦东新区 世纪大道 // Line 2 – Cen- eigner in China. Stick with a reputable bank such
French Concession •FaGuo ZuJie tury Park // 9 am-6 pm // 10 RMB. as ICBC or the Bank of China as they are more likely
A residential, retail, restaurant and bar district with able to receive international SWIFT transfers. Most
atmospheric tree-lined streets in south Shanghai. banks have an English speaking teller
Perfect for a long stroll when the weather is good. LEARNING CHINESE
Xin Tian Di Learning Chinese will make your life in Shanghai
A trendy complex of restored traditional shiku- much more convenient and interesting. It will also
men (stone gate) buildings now occupied by the make communicating with your DVD vendor, taxi
city’s most stylish restaurants, cafés, bars and bou- driver, etc...much more easier too. Plus it’s an asset
tiques. when job hunting.
Xintiandi, 卢湾区 地餐饮 // Line 10 – Xintiandi.
Many people who come here opt to learn Chinese
Taikang Road Art Centre • Taikang Lu through one of the local universities such as Jiao- We think this might be a fake.
This network of old Shanghainese shikumen and tong University, East China Normal University or
10 www.cancham.asia

11. What you need: A free Shanghai living magazine with very compre- 静安区南京西路1376号上海商城西峰604室 // Mon-Fri
• Choose a bank conveniently located near hensive listings of events, restaurants and stores. 8 am-12 pm; 1 pm-4:30 pm // 3279-2800 // Emergen-
you www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php cy#: +86 10 5139 4000.
• Bring: Passport, 30 RMB and a filled form
• Patience City Weekend www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/offic-
Another great resource for those wanting to ex- es-bureaux/shanghai/index.aspx?lang=eng
perience the best of Shanghai’s dining, events and
CAREERS night life.
www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai
Stolen/Lost Passport?
The Consulate can assist you with this but before
Whether it is to make some extra cash or to gain going to the Consulate you will have to go to the
more job experience, it is not uncommon for stu- Time Out Shanghai nearest police station to get an official statement
dents to take on part time jobs in Shanghai or stay In addition to great articles about living in Shang- and fill out a form. Bring these forms to the con-
on longer after their studies to explore the career hai, Time Out also features extensive listings of sulate.
opportunities in China. events, restaurants and stores.
www.timeoutshanghai.com For information on the Consulate’s passport ser-
Here are a few websites to check out if you’re look- vices:
ing for a job: BEAN Shanghai www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/
www.dragonbn.com Looking for a way to give back to the community? consular_services_consulaires/shanghai/passport-
www.cancham.asia/?url=JOBS BEAN Shanghai is an non-profit organization of passeport.aspx?lang=eng&view=d
www.jobs.echinacities.com/shanghai-jobs young volunteers from all over the world.
http://shanghai.beanonline.org
VISAS
LINKS GOVERNMENT STUFF
Visa Office
Smart Shanghai For all VISAS, passport, or legal needs be sure to For visa questions and extending your visa.
Dining and nightlife directory + extensive event contact the Canadian Consulate. Be sure to obey 1500 Minsheng Lu, Pudong
listings. Has a extremely useful map feature. Chinese law and be respectful during your time in Tel : 2895-1900
www.smartshanghai.com China.
For more information on visas:
Shanghai Expat Consular & VISA Services www.shanghaiexpat.com/community/index.
Large expat online community with tips about all Canadian Consulate General, Shanghai php/2008/04/25/guide_to_getting_your_z_visa_
aspects of local life and tourism. The Consular section of the Embassy of Canada in work_aamp_r?blog=5
www.shanghaiexpat.com China serves Canadian citizens and offers 24 hour
emergency service to Canadians in distress.
That’s Shanghai Suite 604, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, 上海
www.cancham.asia 11

12. USEFUL NUMBERS GET INVOLVED! CONTACT US
Emergency Young Professionals of 28 years of age and young- If you have any questions please feel free to drop
Police (Emergency): 110 er by our office or call us!
(English-speaking Hotline): 6357-6666
Fire Department (Emergency): 119 The Young Professionals membership is created Address
Ambulance (Emergency): 120 for individuals 28 and under who wish to grow Suite 2805
International Medical Care (Emergency): 6295- their knowledge of Canadian and Chinese busi- 172 Yuyuan Road, Jing An District
0099 ness, interact with leaders from the Canadian busi- Shanghai, P.R. China 200040
ness community in China and expand their social
Flight Information and professional networks. Telephone: 021 6075-8797/98/99
Hong Qiao Airport: 6268-8918
Hong Qiao Arrivals/Departures: 6268-3695 For only 500 RMB per year, Young Professional Email: info@cancham.asia
Pudong Airport: 3848-4500 members gain:
Pudong Arrivals/Departures: 3834-4500 Telephone: www.cancham.asia
• Preferential membership rates at all
If all else fails call this magic number 962288 CanCham events
• Invitations to member-restricted Can-
This is a hotline for foreigners in Shanghai. If you Cham Business and Young Professional
are lost or looking for a specific place or service Events
you can call this number and the operators can • Participation in CanCham’s Access pro-
give you the info. If you ever have trouble com- gram which provides complimentary
munication to your taxi driver, you can use this margaritas, beer, bloody marys, des-
number too. serts and health checks as well as fan-
tastic discounts from member restau-
Remember: 962288 rants, hotels and service providers
• Ability to develop professionally
through participation on CanCham
committees
12 www.cancham.asia