Travel tips · Shanghai · China
Shanghai travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Shanghai has been China's most international city since the 19th century, and its Haipai culture mixes Jiangnan traditions with Western influences seen in its architecture, coffee culture and fashion. Daily life is fast and commercial, but parks and lanes keep older routines such as morning tai chi, ballroom dancing and mahjong.
Key facts
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese and Shanghainese
- Currency
- CNY
- Plugs
- Type A, C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled water is cheap and hotels provide it or boiled…
- Emergency
- 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire
Things to know
- Pushing in queues for the Metro is common at rush hour; stand to one side of the doors and board firmly.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, which recalls funeral offerings.
- Ask before photographing people in temples and residential lanes, where residents live their daily lives.
- At group meals the host usually orders and pays; offering to split the bill evenly is less common than in Europe.
- Remove hats and speak quietly inside temple halls, and walk around rather than across prayer mats.
- Book Shanghai Disneyland ahead: Tickets are date-specific and priced by demand; buy ahead for weekends and holidays.
- Book Shanghai Museum ahead: Entry is free but usually requires a timed reservation with your passport number; book a few days ahead for weekends.
- Book Shanghai Natural History Museum ahead: Tickets are sold by timed slot and can sell out at weekends and in school holidays.
- The Shanghai Museum is free with a reservation, and the Bund, the French Concession and the parks cost nothing.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or most hotels. International hotels and some upmarket restaurants add a service charge of about 10–15% to the bill.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nǐ hǎo | Hello |
| Xièxie | Thank you |
| Duōshǎo qián? | How much is it? |
| Mǎidān | The bill, please |
| Bú yào là | Not spicy, please |
What to wear
Shanghai is fashion-conscious and casual-smart works everywhere; bring a light layer for strong air conditioning in summer and a warm coat for damp winters.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A, C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled water is cheap and hotels provide it or boiled water.
- Emergency number
- 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire
- Phone and internet
- Many international apps and websites are blocked in mainland China; travellers often use an international roaming plan or eSIM. Free Wi-Fi in cafés usually needs a Chinese phone number.
- Time zone
- Asia/Shanghai
Shanghai is generally safe for visitors, but tea-house and bar overcharging scams target tourists around Nanjing Road East and the Bund. Watch for pickpockets in crowds during holidays, and cross roads carefully, as electric scooters often ride silently on pavements and through red lights.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check China's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Shanghai?
Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or most hotels. International hotels and some upmarket restaurants add a service charge of about 10–15% to the bill.
+Can you drink the tap water in Shanghai?
Do not drink tap water; bottled water is cheap and hotels provide it or boiled water.
+What plugs are used in Shanghai?
Type A, C and I sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Shanghai?
Mandarin Chinese and Shanghainese.