Is Shanghai a good choice for a first trip to China?+
Yes, it's the most comfortable starting point: the metro is extensive and signed in English, more people speak English downtown, and international hotels and restaurants match the standard of European cities. That said, China's own rules still apply — without mobile payments, a VPN or a foreign eSIM, and online bookings, getting around is difficult, so don't skimp on preparation.
How many days do you need for Shanghai?+
Three days are enough for the Bund, Pudong, the Old Town, the French Concession and one trip to a water town or Suzhou. Five days allow Hangzhou and a more relaxed pace. Shanghai is an ideal starting point for a high-speed-rail loop through eastern China, or onward travel to Beijing.
How do you pay in Shanghai?+
By phone, through Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card — set this up before you leave home. By law everyone must accept cash, but in practice they often lack small change. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at big hotels, malls and international restaurants. Bank of China and ICBC ATMs dispense cash to foreign cards.
Is the maglev worth taking?+
As an experience, definitely: it reaches speeds of up to 300 km/h and covers the route from the airport in eight minutes. But it ends at Longyang Road station outside the center, where you have to transfer to the metro, so the time saved over a taxi is small. A round-trip ticket with a boarding pass is cheaper.
Where's the best view of the Pudong skyline?+
From the Bund promenade after dark, for free, ideally between seven and ten in the evening when the skyscrapers are lit. From the rooftop bars in the Bund's historic buildings, the view is even better with a drink in hand. Looking the other way, toward the Bund, the best views are from the Pudong riverside promenade and the Shanghai Tower observation deck.
Is Shanghai safe?+
Very safe — violent crime is rare and walking around at night poses no problem. Watch out for scams instead: friendly students who invite you to a tea ceremony, a gallery, or a bar on Nanjing Road or near the Bund will lead you to a venue with a bill for hundreds of dollars. Pickpocketing occasionally occurs in the metro and on Nanjing Road.
When is crab season?+
From late September through November, with females at their best in October and males in November. The hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake is Shanghai's autumn obsession, sold in gift boxes and given a whole special menu at restaurants. One crab costs fifty to two hundred yuan depending on size.
Which water town should I choose?+
Zhujiajiao is the nearest and easiest to reach by metro, but it's commercial. Tongli and Wuzhen are prettier and more authentic, but a two-hour trip. Suzhou isn't a small town but a full city with gardens and canals, and it's the fastest to reach by high-speed train. For a single day out of Shanghai, Suzhou is the best compromise.
