Shanghai上海

Shanghai is the first port of entry for most overseas travelers, a mega-city of roughly 24.85 million residents. Founded as a county in 1292 and opened to world trade in the modern era, the city stacks a century of foreign concessions, the stone-gate shikumen lanes, and today's skyscraper skyline into one place. For first-timers to China, it smooths out transport, payment, and language friction—you learn how to "use" China here first, then head farther afield.

Culture & Character

A Shanghai-flavored narrative where Bund-era buildings and shikumen lanes share the same frame

• The Bund's international architecture row facing the Lujiazui skyline across the river
• Former French Concession plane-tree district: a citywalk along Wukang and Anfu Roads
• Shikumen lane houses: two contrasting renovation models in Xintiandi and Tianzifang
• A contemporary art corridor formed by West Bund and the Pudong Art Museum

Tastes of the City

Classic Shanghai flavors and an international food scene run side by side.

• Soup dumplings, pan-fried buns, and rich, dark-glazed Benbang dishes
• Café and craft-beer density ranks among the highest in the country
• Time-honored dim-sum shops and new-wave restaurants share the same streets
• Hairy crabs each autumn are a yearly seasonal ritual

Daily Life

The city that keeps friction out of settling into China

• Extensive metro network with clear English signage throughout
• Alipay / WeChat can be linked to foreign cards, and mobile payments are everywhere
• A dense international community, with English usability at the national top tier
• Costs run high, and your experience depends heavily on which neighborhood you call home