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

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GETTING AROUNDRiding the metro in Shanghai is not for cry babies or claustropho-bics. 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 taxis 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 Shang-hai, it has most popular destinations and a feature that translates the addresses into Chinese charac-ters (useful before you’re fluent in Mandarin).

Shanghai Public Transportation Card //Jiaotong-ka //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 counters /con-venience stores /newsstands / banks. 20RMB de-posit + 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 earli-est. 3-6 RMB each way, depending on distance.

Tickets can be purchased at English-language 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 des-tination (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 fac-ing down. Give the driver the intersection of your destination as well as the address. Most drivers are willing to call restaurants, hotels, etc. to ask direc-tions 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, addition-al 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 inter-esting way to see the city.

If another vehicle is bigger or faster than yours, al-ways 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.

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

Note: Do not assume that the traffic rules you are used to back home apply here as well. For example, relying on traffic signals to tell you when it’s safe to cross the street will probably get you hurt. As someone

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

Fun FactA mall in China features

extra wide parking spaces for women who have a “dif-ferent sense of distance”.

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once said, “don’t trust the little green man!”.

MAPSGoogle MapsFind out how to walk/drive/bus/subway to your destination. Recognizes addresses 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 desti-nation.www.map.baidu.com

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

HOUSINGWhether you want to a roommate, a studio, 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 apart-ment in downtown puxi costs about 3000 RMB or

475 CAD.

Paying the billsMost bills such as the water, electricity and inter-net 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 land-lord when you leave.

SHOPPINGIf you want it, you got it, go get it, custom fit at a 1/5 of the price. In Shanghai, everything is ne-gotiable, 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 Sam-sonite 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 & MAGAZINES

Bicycle bootleg booksUsually found in expat heavy areas during lunch-time and the evenings, these vendors sell English bestsellers from the back of bicycles. 10 RMB for thin books, 15 RMB for medium books, 25 RMB + for thick books

Fuzhou LuStreet filled with bookstores. Also great for statio-

Remember to choose your roommates wisely

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nery addicts. Book City, which is one of the biggest bookstores in Shanghai 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 language books.390 Fuzhou Lu, 黄浦区福州路390号 // Line 1 – Peo-ple’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 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 destina-tion where you can replicate the suits and dresses celebrities are wearing at a fraction of the price. We recommend visiting on a weekday, as week-ends 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 al-ternative to the Lujiabang Road fabric market. Con-veniently located near Yu Gardens and the Bund. Stall 234 has an excellent repu-tation 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 scattered throughout the city. Prices range from 5-15 RMB depending on

the quality.

Science & Technology Underground marketOne stop shop for almost anything including sou-venirs, scarves, fake everything and small house-wares. Be prepared to bargain hard. Line 2 – Shanghai Museum of Science & Technology // 10 pm-7 pm.

ELECTRONICS

Metro CityThis place has those hard to find batteries you’ve been looking for. All kinds of electronics and elec-tronic repair shops.1111 Zhaojiabang Lu, 肇嘉浜路1111号

美罗城// 6426-8888 // www.shmetrocity.com

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

FOOD 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 dump-lings, 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?

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

GROCERIESIf you are looking for a wide range of groceries including imported products check out Carrefour, City Shop, Metro or Tesco. Of these stores, Carre-four is probably the most convenient as there are many locations and it sells almost anything from food, electric bikes, kitchenware, personal 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 students. Locals recommend going earlier to take advantage of a better selection and occasionally even lower prices.

Carrefour: www.smartshanghai.com/listings/?tag=carrefour

City Shop:To 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 expat favou-rites 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 vari-ety of food for really low prices (usually under 10 RMB).

For more info:www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/shanghai-street-food-breakfast-11738.html

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

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

SOME CANADIAN & CANADIAN OWNED RESTAURANTS

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

OsteriaItalian restaurant. Best bloody Caesars and raw oysters in town. Great lunch and brunch deals. 226 Jinxian Lu, 进贤路226号//6256-8998 www.osteriaspirit.com

DELIVERY

McDonald’s

Warning: Beware of the “la

du zis”so eat at your own risk.

Fun FactChina invented

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

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One of the perks of living in Shanghai is that Mc-donald’s delivers 24 hours! English service is avail-able. To order : 4008-517-517.

Sherpa’sSherpa’s is also a popular delivery service that de-livers from many of Shanghai’s favourite restau-rants // 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 PHONES

SIM cards can be pur-chased from news-stands, stalls in the subway stations, select convenience stores and of course

in China Mobile or China Unicom shops.

For making calls within China, instead of purchas-ing a phone plan, many people purchase prepaid cards. These cards are also available at most con-venience stores or newstands.

SkypeIt’s possible to make callls from your computer as well. Check out:www.skype.com

HEALTHHEALTHCARE

Good healthcare is available in Shanghai but bear in mind that it may be a bit more expensive, espe-cially 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

h t t p : / / h o m e . w a n g j i a n s h u o . c o m /archives/20070123_living_cost_in_shanghai_-_medicine.htm

www.entershanghai.info/shininfo/health.php

Local HostpitalsMore affordable but you must speak Chinese and expect long waits. In order to have access to the

local hospitals it is a good idea to bring a transla-tor. That said, some local hospitals have VIP/for-eigner 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

Fun FactThere are over 800 million

cell phone subscribers today in China alone.

Your new best friend

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the address of a well established 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 ambulance because a taxi driver can get you to the hospital faster.

For more information on dealing with emergen-cies in Shanghai check out: www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/emergency-han-dling-medical-emergency-shanghai-972.html

Show Me the Money

Hospitals will probably not treat you unless you show payment first. If you don’t have wads of cash with you, word has it that showing a credit card can sometimes (emphasis on ‘sometimes’) suffice.

FITNESSCheap transportation and deliciously affordable Chinese food prob-ably won’t give you a six-pack or help you fit into your cus-tom made dress but no worries because Shanghai’s sports clubs are varied and active.

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

MENTAL HEALTH

LifeLine ShanghaiAnonymous telephone hotline for english-speak-ers who need confidential counseling.www.lifelineshanghai.com

SIMHA: Shanghai International Mental Health As-sociationSIMHA’s website provides a listing of therapists who provide mental health services to the interna-tional communities in Shanghai.www.simha.com

SIGHTSThe Bund • Wai TanA newly-expanded pedestrian promenade along the bank of the HuangPu River, 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 Pedes-trian Street.

Nanjing Road East Pedestrian Street • Nanjing Dong Lu Bu Xing JieShanghai’s shopping landmark stretching from Xi-zang Road to Henan Road, past numerous depart-ment stores and international chains. Lights up with enormous neon signs at night.

Line 2 – East Nanjing Road. People’s Square • Renmin Guang Chang

People’s Square and the adjacent People’s Park is home to the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, with an enormous underground shopping mall below.Metro: Lines 1, 2, and 8 – People’s 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 affordable souvenirs – but be prepared to bargain hard!

Fun Fact China’s currently has a significant 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.

Fun Fact In 2007 Yunnan First People’s Provincial Hospital opened

China’s 1st drunk tank for foreigners.

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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 atri-um. Excellent 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 ZuJieA 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 shiku-men (stone gate) buildings now occupied by the city’s most stylish restaurants, cafés, bars and bou-tiques.Xintiandi, 卢湾区 地餐饮 // Line 10 – Xintiandi.

Taikang Road Art Centre • Taikang LuThis network of old Shanghainese shikumen and

alleyways is home to galleries, boutiques, cafés and restaurants.Taikang Lu, 卢湾区 泰康路.

Oriental Pearl Tower • Dongfang Mingzhu Dian-shi 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 – Lujiazui, 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 – Cen-tury 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 communicating 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 universities such as Jiao-tong 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

MONEYAlthough an increasing amount of stores and res-taurants 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 for-eigner in China. Stick with a reputable bank such as ICBC or the Bank of China as they are more likely able to receive international SWIFT transfers. Most banks have an English speaking teller

We think this might be a fake.

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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 stu-dents 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 look-ing 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 tourism.www.shanghaiexpat.com

That’s Shanghai

A free Shanghai living magazine with very compre-hensive listings of events, restaurants and stores. www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php

City WeekendAnother great resource for those wanting to ex-perience the best of Shanghai’s dining, events and night life. www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai

Time Out ShanghaiIn addition to great articles about living in Shang-hai, Time Out also features extensive 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 STUFF

For all VISAS, passport, or legal needs be sure to contact the Canadian Consulate. Be sure to obey Chinese law and be respectful 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 // Emergen-cy#: +86 10 5139 4000.

www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/offic-es-bureaux/shanghai/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 con-sulate. For information on the Consulate’s passport ser-vices:www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/consular_services_consulaires/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.shanghaiexpat.com/community/index.php/2008/04/25/guide_to_getting_your_z_visa_work_aamp_r?blog=5

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USEFUL NUMBERS

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

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

If all else fails call this magic number 962288

This is a hotline for foreigners in Shanghai. 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 com-munication to your taxi driver, you can use this number too.

Remember: 962288

GET INVOLVED!

Young Professionals of 28 years of age and young-er

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

For only 500 RMB per year, Young Professional members gain:

Preferential membership rates at all •CanCham eventsInvitations to member-restricted Can-•Cham Business and Young Professional EventsParticipation in CanCham’s Access pro-•gram which provides complimentary margaritas, beer, bloody marys, des-serts and health checks as well as fan-tastic discounts from member restau-rants, hotels and service providersAbility to develop professionally •through participation on CanCham committees

CONTACT US

If 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 6075-8797/98/99

Email: info@cancham.asia

Telephone: www.cancham.asia