CANADIAN STUDENT GUIDE

TO SHANGHAI

THE

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai La Chambre de commerce canadienne à Shanghai

上海加拿大商会

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WELCOME TO SHANGHAI!

Created by Canadians living and working in this great city, Our objective has been to provide you with Cana-dian favourites. Every listing in this book comes person-ally 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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GETTING AROUND 4MAPS 5

HOUSING 5SHOPPING 5

FOOD 6PHONES 8HEALTH 8SIGHTS 9

LEARNING CHINESE 10MONEY 10CAREER 11

LINKS 11GOVERNMENT STUFF 11

VISAS 11USEFUL NUMBERS 12

GET INVOLVED 12CONTACT US 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORSAriane Lelarge Emiroglou • Ashleigh Au • Breck Denny • Genevieve Pépin • Malik Yusuf • Kim-Tien Huynh • Sarah Cheng • Timothy Singh • Victoria Yan

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GETTING AROUNDRiding the metro in Shanghai is not for cry babies or claustrophobics. Be sure to assert yourself like the locals, if you’re not careful you could be carried off by the amorphous hoard of commuters.

The metro is also very reasonably priced at 4 RMB for most rides; it sure beats tax-is which start at 14 RMB. However, even if you’re riding in a taxi be sure to keep your transit card on you, you can use it to pay for taxis as well.

A great app for smart phone users is Smart Shanghai, it has most popular des-tinations and a feature that translates the addresses into Chinese characters (use-ful before you’re fluent in Mandarin).

Shanghai Public Transportation Card //Jiaotongka //上海公共交通卡Bypass long metro ticket line-ups and avoid change in buses and taxis with this swipe card. Recharge at metro station service coun-ters /convenience stores /newsstands / banks. 20RMB deposit + desired credit.

The Shanghai MetroThe most efficient way to get around Shanghai. Different hours for each station but general hours are ~ 6 am-11 pm . Shorter lines usually close earliest. 3-6 RMB each way, depending on distance.

Tickets can be purchased at English-lan-

guage vending machines inside stations.

Buses One of the best and cheapest ways to explore the city. 2 RMB each way.

Bus routes in english: www.msittig.wubi.org/bus

Find the best bus route by starting point and destination (Chinese) : http://map.baidu.com

TaxisShanghai’s taxis are relatively cheap. Available cars have their roof light on. Flag one down by holding your arm out into the street with your palm facing down. Give the driver the intersection of your destination as well as the address. Most drivers are willing to call restau-rants, hotels, etc. to ask directions if you provide the phone number. Tips are not expected. Always take your receipt, as any disputes or lost items cannot be re-ported to head office without it. Daytime Fees: 14 RMB for first 3 km, ad-

Fun FactA mall in China features extra wide

parking spaces for women who have a “different sense of distance”.

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Note: Do not assume that the traffic rules you are used to back home apply here as well. For example, relying on traffic sig-nals to tell you when it’s safe to cross the street will probably get you hurt. As someone once said, “don’t trust the little green man!”.

MAPSGoogle MapsFind out how to walk/drive/bus/subway to your destination. Recognizes ad-dresses in pinyin. www.maps.google.com

Baidu MapsPretty much a Chinese version of Google maps. Not as flexible as Google maps when it comes to recognizing addresses in pinyin. Good for finding bus routes by inputting starting point and destination.www.map.baidu.com

Explore Shanghai Metro MapNot only does this website outline Shang-hai’s metro lines, it can also tell the sug-gested route and time between any 2 stations. Also useful, is the site’s “Metro-pedia” which gives you information about every line and station. www.exploreshanghai.com/metro

HOUSINGWhether you want to a roommate, a stu-dio, or a penthouse, Shanghai has a clean and affordable (relatively) place for you. A good place to start your search is www.smartshanghai.com, a great resource for all things Shanghai. A shared apartment in downtown puxi costs about 3000 RMB or 475 CAD.

Paying the bills

ditional 2.4 RMB/km within 10 km and 3.2 RMB/km after 10 km. Nighttime Fees (11 pm-5 am): 18 RMB for first 3 km, additional 3.1 RMB/km within 10 km and 4.1 RMB/km after 10 km.

BikingA fun and interesting way to see the city.

If another vehicle is bigger or faster than yours, always yield to it. Pedestrians will not expect you to stop for them.

Buy: Get one from Carrefour for ~ 300 RMB. Consider buying a cheaper and less attractive bike as bike theft is a very, very, very common occurrence in Shanghai.

Good quality, locally made bikes can also be purchased from this basement cycle store:www.timeoutshanghai.com/venue/Shops__Services-Outdoor_Gear/4957/Phoenix-Bicycles.html

Rent: China Cycle Tours can pick up and drop off bikes at your place, 80 RMB+ / day, depending on the quality of the bi-cycle. +86 1376 111 5050 www.chinacycletours.com/BicycleR-ental_shanghai.asp

In China, there are approximately 200 road accident fatalities per day .

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Most bills such as the water, electricity and internet bill can be paid at the local convenience stores such as Lawson’s or Kedi. Remember to keep your bills just in case there are disputes with the landlord when you leave.

SHOPPINGIf you want it, you got it, go get it, cus-tom fit at a 1/5 of the price. In Shanghai, everything is negotiable, never accept the first offer. On your first time out, try to go with someone who has been there before so you can see how bargaining works. You’ll be glad you did and when your suitcase is overflowing, just hit the fake market where Samsonite knockoffs go for 100 RMB.

GENERAL INFOShops are generally open from 10 am to 10 pm.

BARGAININGWhen bargaining, start at 25-30% of the asking price in the markets especially the more touristy ones. The best times to bargain is during non-busy times such as weekday afternoons.

www.taobao.com (a.k.a. Chinese e-bay) is a good place to see how much you got

ripped off an item would cost.

BOOKS & MAGAZINESBicycle bootleg booksUsually found in expat heavy areas dur-ing lunchtime and the evenings, these vendors sell English bestsellers from the back of bicycles. 10 RMB for thin books, 15 RMB for me-dium books, 25 RMB + for thick booksFuzhou LuStreet filled with bookstores. Also great for stationery addicts. Book City, which is

one of the biggest bookstores in Shang-hai is located on this street.456 Fuzhou Lu,福州路465号

Shanghai Foreign Language Book StoreA large bookstore on Fuzhou Lu that provides a large selection of English lan-guage books.390 Fuzhou Lu, 黄浦区福州路390号 // Line 1 – People’s Square // 10 pm-6 pm // 6322 - 3200.

TAILORMADE CLOTHES It’s not your imagination. Clothing sizes really are smaller here. But you can no worries because you can have clothes custom tailored for a reasonable price in Shanghai.

Shanghai’s custom tailors work best

Remember to choose your roommates wisely

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when they have an original garment (or, at the very least, a photo) to work from. You may have to make two or more trips for fittings.

Liu Jia Bang Fabric Market Shanghai’s largest and busiest tailoring destination where you can replicate the

suits and dresses celebrities are wearing at a fraction of the price. We recommend visiting on a weekday, as weekends are packed with tourists and prices often rise accordingly. 399 Lujiabang Lu, 黄浦区 陆家浜路399号 // Line 4 – Nanpu Bridge // 10 am-6 pm // Suits 500 RMB, Shirts 90 RMB, Dresses 400 RMB.

Shiliupu Road Fabric MarketA slightly less touristy alternative to the Lujiabang Road fabric market. Conve-niently located near Yu Gardens and the Bund. Stall 234 has an excellent reputa-tion for quality cashmere coats made to order within a week or so. 168 Dongmen Lu, 黄浦区东门路168号 // 10 am-6 pm // ~400-450 RMB for a midlength jacket.

CLOTHES North American sized clothes & shoes can be found in places such as Marks & Spencer’s located at the Nanjing Xi Lu metro station. “AUTHENTIC” GOODS

DVDsOne of the greatest perks of living in Shanghai are the DVD stalls/stores scat-tered through-out the city. Prices range from 5-15 RMB depend-ing on the quality. Science & Technology Underground marketOne stop shop for almost anything includ-ing souvenirs, scarves, fake everything and small housewares. Be prepared to bargain hard. Line 2 – Shanghai Museum of Sci-ence & Technology // 10 pm-7 pm. ELECTRONICS

Metro CityThis place has those hard to find batter-ies you’ve been looking for. All kinds of electronics and electronic repair shops.1111 Zhaojiabang Lu, 肇嘉浜路1111号 美罗城// 6426-8888 // www.shmetrocity.com

Xinguang Photography Equip-ment CenterThe first two floors sell the big brand names, the other floors are good for sec-ond hand cameras.288 Luban Lu 鲁班路288号// 5301-9836.

FOOD

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Carrefourw w w . s m a r t s h a n g h a i . c o m /listings/?tag=carrefour

EpermarketAn online grocery store with many of the things you may crave from home includ-ing cheese and imported candy. www.epermarket.com

City ShopTo find many of the edible goods you may find at home, City Shop may have what you are looking for but expect to pay a little bit more. They even have Reese’s Pieces and Smarties!www.cityshop.com.cn/aboutus/en_maps.html

Avacado LadyThe go to place for reasonably priced ex-pat favourites such as avacados, fresh herbs and CHEESE!274 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu (near Wuyuan lu) // Line 7 – Changshu Lu // 10 am-6 pm // 6437-7262.

STREET FOODWherever you go in Shanghai you will come across various street food vendors offering a large variety of food for really low prices (usually under 10 RMB).

For more info:

If you’ve heard anything about the food in China you’ve heard it’s great. There are a wide variety of exciting flavors and textures to try. Shanghai offers its own unique dish – xiaolongbao or soup dumplings, a must have and great way to become more dexterous with your kuazi (chopsticks). But, if you start to miss your poutine, hold on to your tuque because Shanghai’s got all the bases covered. Oh, did I mention it’s cheap?

GENERAL INFO

Most restaurants are generally •open until 10 pm or later. Tipping is not expected in China. •

GROCERIESIf you are looking for a wide range of gro-ceries including imported products check out Carrefour, City Shop, Metro or Tesco. Of these stores, Carrefour is probably the most convenient as there are many loca-tions and it sells almost anything from food, electric bikes, kitchenware, per-sonal care products, etc… It’s a bit like the Chinese version of Superstore .

For fresh fruits and vegetables, the wet markets scattered about Shanghai are also an affordable alternative for stu-dents. Locals recommend going earlier to take advantage of a better selection and occasionally even lower prices.

You won’t find fortune cookies in China. In fact, fortune cookies were invented in the US.

Warning: Beware of the “la du zis”so eat at your own risk.

Fun Fact: China invented toilet paper.

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www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/shang-hai-street-food-breakfast-11738.html

www.cnngo.com/shanghai/eat/shang-hai-food-street-education-018509

www.shanghaifoodist.com/category/sh-street-food/

CANADIAN & CANADIAN OWNED RESTAU-RANTS

Big BambooCanadian-owned sports bar with 3 loca-tions. Good happy hour deals. They also have poutine on their menu. 123 Nanyang Lu, 南阳路123号 // 6256- 2265www.bigbamboo.cn

DELIVERY

McDonald’sOne of the perks of living in Shanghai is that Mcdonald’s delivers 24 hours! Eng-lish service is available. To order : 4008-517-517.Sherpa’s

Sherpa’s is also a popular delivery ser-vice that delivers from many of Shang-hai’s favourite restaurants // 6209-6209 // www.sherpa.com.cn

MORE INFOFor restaurant listings and reviews check out:

www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php/article/restaurants

www.timeoutshanghai.com/FoodDrink.html

www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining

PHONESCELL PHONESSIM cards can be purchased from news-stands, stalls in the subway stations, se-lect convenience stores and of course in China Mobile or China Unicom shops.

For making calls within China, instead of purchasing a phone plan, many people

purchase prepaid cards. These cards are also available at most convenience stores or newstands. SkypeIt’s possible to make callls from your computer as well. Check out:www.skype.com

HEALTHHEALTHCAREGood healthcare is available in Shanghai

Your new best friend

Fun FactThere are over 800 million cell

phone subscribers today in China alone.

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but bear in mind that it may be a bit more expensive, especially if you opt for the hospitals geared towards expats. For more information on healthcare in Shanghai:

www.middlekingdomlife.com/guide/healthcare-system-china.htm

www.entershanghai.info/shininfo/health.php

http: / /home.wangj ianshuo.com/archives/20070123_living_cost_in_shanghai_-_medicine.htm

www.entershanghai.info/shininfo/health.phpLocal HostpitalsMore affordable but you must speak Chi-nese and expect long waits. In order to have access to the local hospitals it is a good idea to bring a translator. That said, some local hospitals have VIP/foreigner clinics which take appointments.

Local HospitalsRuijin Hospital197 Ruijin Er Rd. Tel : 6466-4483

Huadong Hospital221 Yan An Xi LuForeigners Section, 2nd floor Tel : 6248-3180 ext. 3106

Huashan Hospital13/F, Foreigners Guests Building12 Wulumuqi Zhong LuTel : 6248-9999

Expat HospitalsShanghai East International Medical Center551 South Pudong LuTel: 5879-9999www.seimc.com.cn/medical/general.htm

Shanghai United Family HospitalTel: 6291-1635www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com/en/sh/patientsVis/patientserv/0/0/134.html

Parkway HealthTel: 6445-5999www.parkwayhealth.cn

EMERGENCIESFor emergencies you may want to keep with you the address of a well estab-lished hospital such as Shanghai East International Hospital or Shanghai United Family Hospital so that you can show the taxi driver. Do not bother calling an am-bulance because a taxi driver can get you to the hospital faster.

For more information on dealing with emergencies in Shanghai check out: www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/emer-gency-handling-medical-emergency-shanghai-972.html

Show Me the MoneyHospitals will probably not treat you un-less you show payment first. If you don’t have wads of cash with you, word has it that showing a credit card can some-times (emphasis on ‘sometimes’) suffice.

FITNESSCheap transportation and deliciously af-fordable Chinese food probably won’t give you a six-pack or help you fit into your custom made dress but no worries because Shanghai’s sports clubs are var-ied and active.

Fun Fact In 2007 Yunnan First People’s Provincial Hospital opened China’s 1st drunk tank for

foreigners.

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For listings of sports clubs and teams check out Cityweekend’s or That’s Shanghai’s website.

MENTAL HEALTHLifeLine ShanghaiAnonymous telephone hotline for eng-lish-speakers who need confidential counseling.www.lifelineshanghai.com

SIMHA: Shanghai International Mental Health AssociationSIMHA’s website provides a listing of therapists who provide mental health services to the international communities in Shanghai.www.simha.com

SIGHTSThe Bund • Wai TanA newly-expanded pedestrian prome-nade along the bank of the HuangPu Riv-er, featuring European architecture from the early 20th century. Home to some of

Shanghai’s most glamorous restaurants, bars, and shopping. Line 2 – East Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road East Pedestrian Street.

Nanjing Road East Pedestrian Street • Nanjing Dong Lu Bu Xing JieShanghai’s shopping landmark stretching from Xizang Road to Henan Road, past numerous department stores and inter-national chains. Lights up with enormous

neon signs at night.Line 2 – East Nanjing Road. People’s Square • Renmin Guang ChangPeople’s Square and the adjacent People’s Park is home to the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Art Museum, the Mu-seum of Contemporary Art, and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, with an enormous underground shopping mall below.Metro: Lines 1, 2, and 8 – People’s

Fun Fact China’s currently has a signifi-

cant gender imbalance in which there are currently 32 million more boys than girls in China.

Check out People’s Park on Sundays where parents meet in the hopes of hooking up their

single children.

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Square.Yu Gardens • YuyuanA classical Chinese garden made up of six scenic areas, as well as shopping streets with some of the city’s most af-fordable souvenirs – but be prepared to bargain hard!Anren Jie 137, 黄浦区 安仁街137号 // Line 2 – East Nanjing Road (plus 5-minute taxi ride or 20-minute walk south) // 8:30 am-5 pm, shopping street open until about 9 pm // 40 RMB.

Temple of the Town Gods • Cheng Huang MiaoRight near Yu Gardens, this temple was completely rebuilt and restored in the 1990s, having been nearly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.249 Fangbang Zhong Lu // Line 2 – East Nanjing Road // 8:30 am-4:30 pm // 10 RMB.

Shanghai MuseumFrequently named the best museum in China, with 11 state-of-the-art galleries, three exhibition halls on four floors, and an airy, naturally lit central atrium. Excel-lent and affordable gift shop.201 Ren Min Da Dao, 黄浦区 人民大道201号 // Lines 1, 2, 8 – People’s Square // 9 am-5 pm // Free // 6372 3500.

French Concession •FaGuo Zu-JieA residential, retail, restaurant and bar district with atmospheric tree-lined streets in south Shanghai. Perfect for a long stroll when the weather is good.

Xin Tian Di A trendy complex of restored traditional shikumen (stone gate) buildings now oc-cupied by the city’s most stylish restau-

rants, cafés, bars and boutiques.Xintiandi, 卢湾区 地餐饮 // Line 10 – Xintiandi.

Taikang Road Art Centre • Tai-kang LuThis network of old Shanghainese shiku-men and alleyways is home to galleries, boutiques, cafés and restaurants.Taikang Lu, 卢湾区 泰康路.

Oriental Pearl Tower • Dongfang Mingzhu Dianshi TaBest viewed at night, this tower, with three tapering levels of pink spheres (pearls) is Asia’s tallest TV tower and the third-tallest in the world.1 Century Avenue, 浦东新区 世纪大道1号 // Line 2 – Luji-azui, Exit 1 // 50-150 RMB (depending on how high you choose to go) // 8 am-9:30 pm // 5879 1888.

Century Park • Shi Ji GongyuanShanghai’s largest park, with open green space, boats, and walking paths.1 Century Avenue, 浦东新区 世纪大道 // Line 2 – Century Park // 9 am-6 pm // 10 RMB.

LEARNING CHINESELearning Chinese will make your life in Shanghai much more convenient and interesting. It will also make communi-

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cating with your DVD vendor, taxi driver, etc...much more easier too. Plus it’s an asset when job hunting.

Many people who come here opt to learn Chinese through one of the local univer-sities such as Jiaotong University, East China Normal University or Fudan.

For more information on learning Chinese in Shanghai check out:www.echinacities.com/shanghai/city-life/talk-the-talk-mandarin-language-schools-in-shanghai.html

MONEY

Although an increasing amount of stores and restaurants are accepting credit cards, cash is still king in China.

BANKING IN CHINAUnless you plan to store your money in your cereal boxes, you might want to look into a convenient way to manage your money while in China.

It is possible to open a personal account as a foreigner in China. Stick with a repu-table bank such as ICBC or the Bank of China as they are more likely able to re-ceive international SWIFT transfers. Most banks have an English speaking teller

What you need:Choose a bank conveniently located near you Bring: Passport, 30 RMB and a filled form

Patience

CAREERSWhether it is to make some extra cash or to gain more job experience, it is not uncommon for students to take on part time jobs in Shanghai or stay on longer after their studies to explore the career opportunities in China.

Here are a few websites to check out if you’re looking for a job:www.dragonbn.comwww.cancham.asia/?url=JOBSwww.jobs.echinacities.com/shanghai-jobs

LINKSSmart Shanghai Dining and nightlife directory + extensive event listings. Has a extremely useful map feature.www.smartshanghai.com

Shanghai Expat Large expat online community with tips about all aspects of local life and tour-ism.www.shanghaiexpat.com

That’s Shanghai A free Shanghai living magazine with very comprehensive listings of events, restaurants and stores. www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php

City WeekendAnother great resource for those wanting to experience the best of Shanghai’s din-ing, events and night life.

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www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai

Time Out ShanghaiIn addition to great articles about living in Shanghai, Time Out also features ex-tensive listings of events, restaurants and stores.www.timeoutshanghai.com

BEAN ShanghaiLooking for a way to give back to the community? BEAN Shanghai is an non-profit organization of young volunteers from all over the world. http://shanghai.beanonline.org

GOVERNMENT STUFFFor all VISAS, passport, or legal needs be sure to contact the Canadian Consulate. Be sure to obey Chinese law and be re-spectful during your time in China.

Consular & VISA ServicesCanadian Consulate General, ShanghaiThe Consular section of the Embassy of Canada in China serves Canadian citizens and offers 24 hour emergency service to Canadians in distress.Suite 604, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, 上海静安区南京西路1376号上海商城西峰604室 // Mon-Fri 8 am-12 pm; 1 pm-4:30 pm // 3279-2800 // Emergency#: +86 10 5139 4000.

www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/offices-bureaux/shang-hai/index.aspx?lang=eng

Stolen/Lost Passport? The Consulate can assist you with this

but before going to the Consulate you will have to go to the nearest police station to get an official statement and fill out a form. Bring these forms to the consul-ate. For information on the Consulate’s pass-port services:www.canadainternat ional.gc.ca/china-chine/consular_services_con-sulaires/shanghai/passport-passeport.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

VISAS

Visa OfficeFor visa questions and extending your visa. 1500 Minsheng Lu, PudongTel : 2895-1900

For more information on visas:www.shangha iexpa t . com/com-mun i t y / i ndex .php /2008/04 /25 /guide_to_getting_your_z_visa_work_aamp_r?blog=5

USEFUL NUMBERSEmergencyPolice (Emergency): 110(English-speaking Hotline): 6357-6666Fire Department (Emergency): 119Ambulance (Emergency): 120International Medical Care (Emergency): 6295- 0099

Flight Information

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Hong Qiao Airport: 6268-8918Hong Qiao Arrivals/Departures: 6268-3695Pudong Airport: 3848-4500Pudong Arrivals/Departures: 3834-4500

If all else fails call this magic number 962288This is a hotline for foreigners in Shang-hai. If you are lost or looking for a specific place or service you can call this number and the operators can give you the info. If you ever have trouble communication to your taxi driver, you can use this number too.

Remember: 962288

GET INVOLVED!Young Professionals of 28 years of age and younger

The Young Professionals membership is created for individuals 28 and under who wish to grow their knowledge of Canadian and Chinese business, interact with leaders from the Canadian business community in China and expand their so-cial and professional networks.

For only 500 RMB per year, Young Profes-sional members gain:

Preferential membership rates at all Can-Cham eventsInvitations to member-restricted Can-Cham Business and Young Professional EventsParticipation in CanCham’s Access pro-gram which provides complimentary margaritas, beer, bloody marys, desserts and health checks as well as fantastic

discounts from member restaurants, ho-tels and service providersAbility to develop professionally through participation on CanCham committees

CONTACT USIf you have any questions please feel free to drop by our office or call us!

AddressSuite 2805172 Yuyuan Road, Jing An DistrictShanghai, P.R. China 200040

Telephone: 021 6075-8797/98/99Email: info@cancham.asiaTelephone: www.cancham.asia

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai La Chambre de commerce canadienne à Shanghai

上海加拿大商会