The Canadian Student Guide to Shanghai

1. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in China

2. WELCOME TO SHANGHAI!
Created by Canadians living and working in this great city,
Our objective has been to provide you of 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-10
HOUSING 5 LINKS- 11
SHOPPING 5 GOVERNMENT STUFF- 11
FOOD 6 VISAS- 11
PHONES 8 USEFUL NUMBERS- 11
HEALTH 8 GET INVOLVED - 12
SIGHTS 9 CONTACT US- 12
LEARNING CHINESE 10
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4. Find the best bus route by starting point and des- sider buying a cheaper and less attractive bike as
GETTING AROUND tination (Chinese) : bike theft is a very, very, very common occurrence
http://map.baidu.com in Shanghai.
Shanghai Public Transportation Card //Jiaotong-
ka //上海公共交通卡 Rent: China Cycle Tours can pick up and drop off
Bypass long metro ticket line-ups and avoid Taxis bikes at your place, 80 RMB+ / day, depending on
change in buses and taxis with this swipe card. Shanghai’s taxis are relatively cheap. Available cars the quality of the bicycle.
Recharge at metro station service counters /con- have their roof light on. Flag one down by holding
venience stores /newsstands / banks. 20RMB de- your arm out into the street with your palm fac- +86 1376 111 5050
posit + desired credit. ing down. Give the driver the intersection of your www.chinacycletours.com/BicycleRental_shanghai.
destination as well as the address. Most drivers asp
The Shanghai Metro are willing to call restaurants, hotels, etc. to ask
The most efficient way to get around Shanghai. directions if you provide the phone number. Tips Note:
Different hours for each station but general hours are not expected. Always take your receipt, as any Do not assume that the traffic rules you are used to
are ~ 6 am-11 pm . Shorter lines usually close earli- disputes or lost items cannot be reported to head back home apply here as well. For example, relying
est. 3-6 RMB each way, depending on distance. office without it. on traffic signals to tell you when it’s safe to cross
Daytime Fees: 14 RMB the street will probably get you hurt. As someone
Tickets can be purchased at English-language for first 3 km, addi- once said, “don’t trust the little green man!”.
vending machines inside stations. tional 2.4 RMB/km Fun Fact
within 10 km and A mall in China features
Buses 3.2 RMB/km after extra wide parking spaces
One of the best and cheapest ways to explore the 10 km. for women who have a “differ-
city. 2 RMB each way. Nighttime Fees (11
pm-5 am): 18 RMB ent sense of distance”.
for first 3 km, ad-
ditional 3.1 RMB/km
within 10 km and 4.1 RMB/
km after 10 km.
Biking
A fun and interesting 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 In China, there are approximately 200
stop for them. road accident fatalities per day .
Bus routes in english:
www.msittig.wubi.org/bus Buy: Get one from Carrefour for ~ 300 RMB. Con-
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5. net bill can be paid at the local convenience stores would cost.
MAPS such as Lawson’s or Kedi. Remember to keep your
bills just in case there are disputes with the land- BOOKS & MAGAZINES
Google Maps lord when you leave.
Find out how to walk/drive/bus/subway to your Bicycle bootleg books
destination. Recognizes addresses in pinyin. Usually found in expat heavy areas during lunch-
www.maps.google.com time and the evenings, these vendors sell English
bestsellers from the back of bicycles.
Baidu Maps 10 RMB for thin books, 15 RMB for medium books,
Pretty much a Chinese version of Google maps. 25 RMB + for thick books
Not as flexible as Google maps when it comes to
recognizing addresses in pinyin. Good for finding Fuzhou Lu
bus routes by inputting starting point and desti- Street filled with bookstores. Also great for statio-
nation. nery addicts. Book City, which is one of the biggest
www.map.baidu.com bookstores in Shanghai is located on this street.
456 Fuzhou Lu,福州路465号
Explore Shanghai Metro Map
Not only does this website outline Shanghai’s met- Shanghai Foreign Language Book Store
ro lines, it can also tell the suggested route and A large bookstore on Fuzhou Lu that provides a
time between any 2 stations. Also useful, is the large selection of English language books.
site’s “Metropedia” which gives you information Remember to choose your roommates wisely. 390 Fuzhou Lu, 黄浦区福州路390号 // Line 1 – Peo-
about every line and station. ple’s Square // 10 pm-6 pm // 6322 - 3200.
www.exploreshanghai.com/metro
TAILORMADE CLOTHES
SHOPPING It’s not your imagination. Clothing sizes really are
smaller here. But you can no worries because you
HOUSING GENERAL INFO
Shops are generally open from 10 am to 10 pm.
can have clothes custom tailored for a reasonable
price in Shanghai.
A popular site for finding apartments as well as
BARGAINING Shanghai’s custom tailors work best when they
roommates is www.smartshanghai.com.
When bargaining, start at 25-30% of the asking have an original garment (or, at the very least, a
If shared with other roommates, the average price
price in the markets especially the more touristy photo) to work from. You may have to make two or
for a decent apartment in the downtown Puxi area
ones. The best times to bargain is during non-busy more trips for fittings.
is around 3000 RMB.
times such as weekday afternoons.
www.taobao.com (a.k.a. Chinese e-bay) is a good Liu Jia Bang Fabric Market
Paying the bills
place to see how much you got ripped off an item Shanghai’s largest and busiest tailoring destina-
Most bills such as the water, electricity and inter-
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6. tion where you can replicate the suits and dresses AUTHENTIC(ISH) GOODS Xinguang Photography Equipment Center
celebrities are wearing at a fraction of the price. The first two floors sell the big brand names, the
We recommend visiting on a weekday, as week- DVDs other floors are good for second hand cameras.
ends are packed with tourists and prices often rise One of the greatest perks are the DVD stalls/stores 288 Luban Lu 鲁班路288号// 5301-9836.
accordingly. scattered throughout the city. Prices range from
399 Lujiabang Lu, 黄浦区 陆家浜路399号 // Line 4 – 5-15 RMB depending on the quality.
Nanpu Bridge // 10 am-6 pm // Suits 500 RMB, Shirts
90 RMB, Dresses 400 RMB.
FOOD
GENERAL INFO
Shiliupu Road Fabric Market • Most restaurants are generally open until 10
A slightly less touristy alternative to the Lujiabang pm or later.
Road fabric market. Conveniently located near Yu • Tipping is not expected in China.
Gardens and the Bund. Stall 234 has an excellent
reputation for quality cashmere coats made to or- GROCERIES
der within a week or so. If you are looking for a wide range of groceries
168 Dongmen Lu, 黄浦区东门路168号 // 10 am-6 pm including imported products check out Carrefour,
// ~400-450 RMB for a midlength jacket. 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
Science & Technology Underground market products, etc… It’s a bit like the Chinese version
One stop shop for almost anything including sou- of Superstore .
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 City
This place has those hard to find batteries you’ve
been looking for. All kinds of electronics and elec-
CLOTHES tronic repair shops.
North American sized clothes & shoes can be 1111 Zhaojiabang Lu, 肇嘉浜路1111号
found in places such as Marks & Spencer’s located 美罗城// 6426-8888 // www.shmetrocity.com
You won’t find fortune cookies in China. In
at the Nanjing Xi Lu metro station. fact, fortune cookies were invented in the
US.
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7. For fresh fruits and vegetables, the wet markets www.cnngo.com/shanghai/eat/shanghai-food- 123 Nanyang Lu, 南阳路123号 // 6256- 2265
scattered about Shanghai are also an affordable street-education-018509 www.bigbamboo.cn
alternative for students. Locals recommend going
earlier to take advantage of a better selection and www.shanghaifoodist.com/category/sh-street- Osteria
occasionally even lower prices. food/ Italian restaurant. Best bloody Caesars and raw
oysters in town. Great lunch and brunch deals.
Carrefour: Warning: Be ware of the “la du zis”so eat at your 226 Jinxian Lu, 进贤路226号//6256-8998
www.smartshanghai.com/listings/?tag=carrefour own risk. www.osteriaspirit.com
City Shop: Malone’s
To find many of the edible goods you may find at A favourite hangout for expats, Malone’s offers a
home, City Shop may have what you are looking good variety of burgers.
for but expect to pay a little bit more. They even 255 Tongren Lu, near de Nanjing Xi Lu, 铜仁路255号,
have Reese’s Pieces and Smarties! 近南京西路.
www.cityshop.com.cn/aboutus/en_maps.html DELIVERY
Avacado Lady McDonald’s
The go to place for reasonably priced expat favou- One of the perks of living in Shanghai is that Mc-
rites such as avacados, fresh herbs and CHEESE! donald’s delivers 24 hours! English service is avail-
274 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu (near Wuyuan lu) // Line 7 – able. To order : 4008-517-517.
Changshu Lu // 10 am-6 pm // 6437-7262.
STREET FOOD SOME CANADIAN &
Wherever you go in Shang- CANADIAN OWNED RESTAURANTS
hai you will come across
various street food ven- Fun Fact Avalon
dors offering a large vari- China invented toilet Fancy restaurant to impress your date. Good
ety of food for really low paper. steak and home of the surprisingly good bacon
prices (usually under 10 brownies.
RMB). 2/F, Unit 19, 139 Changle Lu, 长乐路139号19室2楼. Your new best friend
For more info: Big Bamboo Sherpa’s
www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/shanghai-street- Canadian-owned sports bar with 3 locations. Good Sherpa’s is also a popular delivery service that de-
food-breakfast-11738.html happy hour deals. They also have poutine on their livers from many of Shanghai’s favourite restau-
menu. rants // 6209-6209 // www.sherpa.com.cn
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8. Huashan Hospital
MORE INFO
For restaurant listings and reviews check out: HEALTH 13/F, Foreigners Guests Building
12 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu
www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php/article/ HEALTHCARE Tel : 6248-9999
restaurants Good healthcare is available in Shanghai but bear
in mind that it may be a bit more expensive, espe- Expat Hospitals
www.timeoutshanghai.com/FoodDrink.html cially if you opt for the hospitals geared towards Shanghai East International Medical Center
expats. 551 South Pudong Lu
www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining For more information on healthcare in Shanghai: Tel: 5879-9999
www.seimc.com.cn/medical/general.htm
www.middlekingdomlife.com/guide/healthcare-
system-china.htm Shanghai United Family Hospital
PHONES www.entershanghai.info/shininfo/health.php
Tel: 6291-1635
www.unitedfamilyhospitals.com/en/sh/patientsVis/
CELL PHONES patientserv/0/0/134.html
SIM cards can be purchased from newsstands, http://home.wangjianshuo.com/
stalls in the subway stations, select archives/20070123_living_cost_in_shanghai_-_ Parkway Health
convenience stores and of course medicine.htm Tel: 6445-5999
Fun in China Mobile or China Uni- www.parkwayhealth.cn
Fact com shops. www.entershanghai.info/shininfo/health.php
There are over 800 EMERGENCIES
For making calls within Chi- Local Hostpitals For emergencies you may want to keep with you
million cell phone More affordable but you must speak Chinese and the address of a well established hospital such as
na, instead of purchasing a
subscribers today in phone plan, many people expect long waits. That said, some local hospitals Shanghai East International Hospital or Shanghai
China alone purchase prepaid cards. have VIP/foreigner clinics which take appoint- United Family Hospital so that you can show the
These cards are also available ments. taxi driver. Do not bother calling an ambulance
at most convenience stores or Local Hospitals because a taxi driver can get you to the hospital
newstands. Ruijin Hospital faster.
197 Ruijin Er Rd.
Skype Tel : 6466-4483 For more information on dealing with emergen-
It’s possible to make callls from your computer as cies in Shanghai check out:
well. Check out: Huadong Hospital www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/emergency-han-
www.skype.com 221 Yan An Xi Lu dling-medical-emergency-shanghai-972.html
Foreigners Section, 2nd floor
Tel : 6248-3180 ext. 3106 SHOW ME THE MONEY
Hospitals will probably not treat you unless you
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9. Fun Fact
show payment first. If you don’t have wads of cash some of Shanghai’s most glamorous restaurants, Yu Gardens •
with you, word has it that showing a credit card bars, and shopping.
China’s currently has a
Yuyuan
can sometimes (emphasis on ‘sometimes’) suffice. Line 2 – East Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road East Pedes- A classical significant gender imbalance in
trian Street. Chinese gar- which here are currently 32 million
FITNESS den made up more boys than girls in China. Check
Cheap transportation and deliciously affordable of six scenic
Chinese food probably won’t give you a six-pack
out People’s Park on Sundays where
areas, as well
or help you fit into your custom made dress but no as shopping parents meet in the hopes of hooking
worries because Shanghai’s sports clubs are varied streets with up their single children.
and active. some of the
city’s most afford-
For listings of sports able souvenirs – but
clubs and teams be prepared to bargain
Fun Fact check out City- hard!
Believe it or not, ping- weekend’s or Anren Jie 137, 黄浦区 安仁街137号 // Line 2 – East
That’s Shang- Nanjing Road (plus 5-minute taxi ride or 20-minute
pong, one of the most popular hai’s website. walk south) // 8:30 am-5 pm, shopping street open
games in China, was not invented until about 9 pm // 40 RMB.
in China but in Britain, where it is
called table tennis. Nanjing Road East Pedestrian Street • Nanjing Temple of the Town Gods • Cheng Huang Miao
Dong Lu Bu Xing Jie Right near Yu Gardens, this temple was completely
Shanghai’s shopping landmark stretching from Xi- rebuilt and restored in the 1990s, having been
zang Road to Henan Road, past numerous depart- nearly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
ment stores and international chains. Lights up 249 Fangbang Zhong Lu // Line 2 – East Nanjing
with enormous neon signs at night. Road // 8:30 am-4:30 pm // 10 RMB.
MENTAL HEALTH Line 2 – East Nanjing Road.
www.lifelineshanghai.com Shanghai Museum
www.simha.com People’s Square • Renmin Guang Chang Frequently named the best museum in China, with
People’s Square and the adjacent People’s Park 11 state-of-the-art galleries, three exhibition halls
is home to the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Art on four floors, and an airy, naturally lit central atri-
SIGHTS Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, with an
um. Excellent and affordable gift shop.
201 Ren Min Da Dao, 黄浦区 人民大道201号 // Lines
The Bund • Wai Tan enormous underground shopping mall below. 1, 2, 8 – People’s Square // 9 am-5 pm // Free // 6372
A newly-expanded pedestrian promenade along Metro: Lines 1, 2, and 8 – People’s Square. 3500.
the bank of the HuangPu River, featuring European
architecture from the early 20th century. Home to
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10. French Concession •FaGuo ZuJie Century Park • Shi Ji Gongyuan
A residential, retail, restaurant and bar district with Shanghai’s largest park, with open green space, MONEY
atmospheric tree-lined streets in south Shanghai. boats, and walking paths. Although an increasing amount of stores and res-
Perfect for a long stroll when the weather is good. 1 Century Avenue, 浦东新区 世纪大道 // Line 2 – Cen- taurants are accepting credit cards, cash is still king
tury Park // 9 am-6 pm // 10 RMB. in China.
Xin Tian Di
A trendy complex of restored traditional shiku- BANKING IN CHINA
men (stone gate) buildings now occupied by the
city’s most stylish restaurants, cafés, bars and bou-
LEARNING CHINESE Unless you plan to store your money in your cereal
boxes, you might want to look into a convenient
tiques. way to manage your money while in China.
Xintiandi, 卢湾区 地餐饮 // Line 10 – Xintiandi.
It is possible to open a personal account as a for-
Taikang Road Art Centre • Taikang Lu eigner in China. Stick with a reputable bank such
This network of old Shanghainese shikumen and as ICBC or the Bank of China as they are more likely
alleyways is home to galleries, boutiques, cafés able to receive international SWIFT transfers. Most
and restaurants. banks have an English speaking teller
Taikang Lu, 卢湾区 泰康路.
Learning Chinese will make your life in Shanghai What you need:
Oriental Pearl Tower • Dongfang Mingzhu Dian- much more convenient and interesting. It will also • Choose a bank conveniently located near
shi Ta make communicating with your DVD vendor, taxi you
Best viewed at night, driver, etc...much more easier too. Plus it’s an asset • Bring: Passport, 30 RMB and a filled form
this tower, with three when job hunting. • Patience
tapering levels of pink
spheres (pearls) is Many people who come here opt to learn Chinese
Asia’s tallest TV tower
and the third-tallest in
through one of the local universities such as Jiao- CAREERS
tong University, East China Normal University or
the world. Fudan. Whether it is to make some extra cash or to gain
1 Century Avenue, 浦东 more job experience, it is not uncommon for stu-
新区 世纪大道1号 // For more information on learning Chinese in dents to take on part time jobs in Shanghai or stay
Line 2 – Lujiazui, Exit 1 // Shanghai check out: on longer after their studies to explore the career
50-150 RMB (depending www.echinacities.com/shanghai/city-life/talk-the- opportunities in China.
on how high you choose talk-mandarin-language-schools-in-shanghai.html
to go) // 8 am-9:30 pm // Here are a few websites to check out if you’re look-
5879 1888. ing for a job:
www.dragonbn.com
www.cancham.asia/?url=JOBS
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11. www.jobs.echinacities.com/shanghai-jobs http://shanghai.beanonline.org
VISAS
LINKS GOVERNMENT STUFF Visa Office
For visa questions and extending your visa.
Consular & VISA Services 1500 Minsheng Lu, Pudong
Smart Shanghai Tel : 2895-1900
Canadian Consulate General, Shanghai
Dining and nightlife directory + extensive event
The Consular section of the Embassy of Canada in
listings. Has a extremely useful map feature. For more information on visas:
China serves Canadian citizens and offers 24 hour
www.smartshanghai.com www.shanghaiexpat.com/community/index.
emergency service to Canadians in distress.
Suite 604, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, 上海 php/2008/04/25/guide_to_getting_your_z_visa_
Shanghai Expat work_aamp_r?blog=5
静安区南京西路1376号上海商城西峰604室 // Mon-Fri
Large expat online community with tips about all
8 am-12 pm; 1 pm-4:30 pm // 3279-2800 // Emergen-
aspects of local life and tourism.
cy#: +86 10 5139 4000.
www.shanghaiexpat.com
www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/offic-
USEFUL NUMBERS
That’s Shanghai es-bureaux/shanghai/index.aspx?lang=eng
A free Shanghai living magazine with very compre- Emergency
hensive listings of events, restaurants and stores. Police (Emergency): 110
www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/index.php (English-speaking Hotline): 6357-6666
Fire Department (Emergency): 119
Stolen/Lost Passport?
City Weekend Ambulance (Emergency): 120
The Consulate can assist you with this but before
Another great resource for those wanting to ex- International Medical Care (Emergency): 6295-
going to the Consulate you will have to go to the
perience the best of Shanghai’s dining, events and 0099
nearest police station to get an official statement
night life. and fill out a form. Bring these forms to the con-
www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai Flight Information
sulate.
Hong Qiao Airport: 6268-8918
Time Out Shanghai Hong Qiao Arrivals/Departures: 6268-3695
For information on the Consulate’s passport ser-
In addition to great articles about living in Shang- Pudong Airport: 3848-4500
vices:
hai, Time Out also features extensive listings of Pudong Arrivals/Departures: 3834-4500
events, restaurants and stores. www.canadainternational.gc.ca/china-chine/
www.timeoutshanghai.com If all else fails call this magic number 962288
consular_services_consulaires/shanghai/passport-
passeport.aspx?lang=eng&view=d
BEAN Shanghai This is a hotline for foreigners in Shanghai. If you
Looking for a way to give back to the community? are lost or looking for a specific place or service
BEAN Shanghai is an non-profit organization of you can call this number and the operators can
young volunteers from all over the world. give you the info. If you ever have trouble com-
11

12. munication to your taxi driver, you can use this
number too.
Remember: 962288
CONTACT US
GET INVOLVED WITH If you have any questions please feel free to drop
CANCHAM by our office or call us!
Young Professionals of 28 years of age and young-
er Room 2805
172 Yuyuan Road, Jing An District
The Young Professionals membership is created Shanghai, P.R. Chine 200040
for individuals 28 and under who wish to grow
their knowledge of Canadian and Chinese busi-
ness, interact with leaders from the Canadian busi- Tel: 021 6075-8797/98/99
ness community in China and expand their social Email: info@cancham.asia
and professional networks. Web: www.cancham.asia
For only 500 RMB per year, Young Professional
members gain:
• Preferential membership rates at all
CanCham events
• Invitations to member-restricted Can-
Cham Business and Young Professional
Events
• Participation 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 providers
• Ability to develop professionally
through participation on CanCham
committees
12

13. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in China
www.cancham.asia