Shanghai is China's dazzling showcase city — a vast, electric metropolis on the Yangtze delta where the colonial grandeur of the Bund faces the science-fiction skyline of Pudong across the river. The country's most cosmopolitan and international city, it pairs leafy French Concession streets, classical gardens and world-class dining with cutting-edge finance, fashion and nightlife — a glamorous, fast-moving and endlessly exciting place to live and teach.
Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, sticky summers, cool, damp winters and pleasant springs and autumns. It is home to the largest and most established international community in China, with English widely used across business and its many international schools. Mandarin is the language of daily life, while a higher-than-average (but still reasonable) cost of living, the world's largest metro and superb global connections make it the easiest of the mainland's big cities to settle into.
Location Info
- The largest, most international expat community in China, with a glamorous lifestyle
- Very safe, with low street crime even late at night
- The world's largest metro, plus the Maglev, cheap taxis and ride-hailing
Top Experiences
The Bund
Stroll Shanghai's iconic riverside promenade, a sweeping parade of grand 1920s colonial buildings facing the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu — unmissable, and magical when it all lights up at night.
Pudong & the Skyscrapers
Cross the river to the space-age financial district. Ride to the top of the Shanghai Tower — the world's second-tallest building — or the bulbous Oriental Pearl for vertigo-inducing city views.
Yuyuan Garden & the Old City
Lose yourself in a classical Ming-dynasty garden of pavilions, koi ponds and rockeries, then haggle and snack your way through the bustling bazaar and teahouse that surround it.
The French Concession
Wander the most charming part of the city — leafy, plane-tree-lined streets of art-deco villas, boutiques, cafés and bars, perfect for an aimless afternoon stroll.
Nanjing Road & Shopping
Dive into one of the world's busiest shopping streets, a dazzling river of neon, department stores and crowds running from People's Square down to the Bund.
Water Towns & Disneyland
Escape to the canal-laced "Venice of the East" water towns like Zhujiajiao, or spend a day at Shanghai Disneyland — both an easy trip from the centre.
Getting Around
Shanghai is enormous but superbly connected by the world's largest metro — clean, cheap and fully signed in English — backed by buses and shared bikes on every corner. Didi (China's ride-hailing app) and metered taxis are inexpensive, and the Maglev train hits 300km/h on the dash to the airport. Almost everything is paid for by phone with WeChat Pay or Alipay, so it's worth setting these up soon after you arrive.
When to Go
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most pleasant, with mild, comfortable days. Summers are hot, humid and occasionally hit by a typhoon, winters are cold and damp rather than freezing, and a short plum-rain season in June brings steady drizzle.
Good to Know
- The Chinese yuan (CNY/RMB) is the currency; Shanghai is the priciest mainland city but still reasonable.
- Mandarin is the official language and everyday English is limited, so a translation app is invaluable.
- Almost all payments are by phone — set up WeChat Pay or Alipay early.
- A VPN is needed for many Western sites and apps, so arrange one before you arrive.
- Shanghai is extremely safe, with very low rates of street crime.
- The whole country runs on China Standard Time (GMT+8).
