Guides
Step-by-step guides to visas, taxes, housing, health and daily life in Shanghai.
Foreigner registration in Shanghai (ไธดๆถไฝๅฎฟ็ป่ฎฐ) โ the complete guide
When and how foreigners must register their accommodation with the police in Shanghai within 24 hours, where to go, what to bring, and why it matters for visas and other paperwork.
China work permit and residence permit for Shanghai โ how to get them
How to get your Foreigner's Work Permit (ๅคๅฝไบบๅทฅไฝ่ฎธๅฏ่ฏ) and Work Residence Permit in Shanghai: the documents your employer needs, timelines, and what to do after you arrive on a Z visa.
Income tax for foreigners in China โ 183-day rule, rates and deductions
How Chinese income tax works for expats in Shanghai: who is a tax resident, the 183-day rule, the 3-45% brackets, the extra foreign-national deduction, and what you must file.
Renting an apartment in Shanghai โ deposits, agents, contracts and platforms
How to rent an apartment in Shanghai as a foreigner: where to search (Lianjia, Ziroom, Wellcee), deposits and agent fees, contracts, police registration, and traps to avoid.
Opening a bank account in Shanghai as a foreigner โ the easy way
How to open a bank account in Shanghai: which banks are foreigner-friendly, what documents you need (passport, work permit, employer letter), and how to set up mobile banking and cards.
Getting a SIM card in Shanghai โ real-name registration, carriers and plans
How to get a Chinese SIM card as a foreigner: passport real-name registration, China Mobile vs Unicom vs Telecom, prepaid plans, and what to watch out for (no eSIM for local numbers).
Social insurance in Shanghai for foreigners โ five insurances and housing fund
What the Chinese 'five insurances and one fund' means for foreign employees in Shanghai: who must join, what you and your employer pay, the medical insurance card, and bilateral agreements.
Driving in Shanghai โ exchange your foreign license to a Chinese one
How to drive in Shanghai with a foreign license: the 3-month rule with an international permit, and how to exchange your foreign license for a Chinese one with just a written test.
Hospitals in Shanghai for foreigners โ registration, insurance and English care
How the Shanghai healthcare system works for expats: 3A public hospitals, international departments, private hospitals with English (Jiahui, Parkway, United Family), and how to book appointments.
China permanent residence (Chinese green card) in Shanghai โ requirements
What it takes to get Chinese permanent residence โ the foreigner's green card โ while working in Shanghai: eligibility categories, income and tax thresholds, and the realistic path.
Extending your visa or stay in Shanghai โ when and how
How to extend a Chinese visa or stay permit in Shanghai: who can extend, the difference between stay extension and visa conversion, where to apply, and realistic timelines.
Suishouban app guide for foreigners (้็ณๅ) โ Shanghai's government super-app
How foreigners can use Suishouban, Shanghai's official government services app: hospital registration, medical insurance, certificates, police registration and more โ in one app.
Alipay and WeChat Pay for foreigners โ bind a foreign card or open a local account
How foreigners in Shanghai can pay for everything: bind a foreign Visa/Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay, use a UnionPay prepaid card, or link a local bank account for full limits.
Getting a dog license in Shanghai (็่ฏ) โ registration, rabies and the rules
How to register your dog in Shanghai: the rabies vaccination, the dog registration certificate (dog license), whether registration costs money, and the rules for walking dogs in the city.
China visa and ID photo specs โ sizes, backgrounds and where to get them
The exact photo requirements for Chinese visas, residence permits and ID documents: 33x48mm, white background, no glasses, and where to get compliant photos in Shanghai in 10 minutes.
Writing and reading Chinese addresses โ format explained for foreigners
How Chinese addresses are structured (from province down to room number), how to write them in English and Chinese for deliveries and forms, and how to read the address you are given.
Motorcycles in Shanghai โ license plates (ๆฒชA/ๆฒชC), buying and riding
Everything expats need to know about motorcycles in Shanghai: the famous ๆฒชA yellow plate and its price, blue plates, where to buy and service bikes, and the rules for riding in the city.
Pets in Shanghai โ vets, adoption, pet shops and traveling with pets
Keeping pets in Shanghai: finding an English-speaking vet, pet hospitals and grooming, adopting stray cats and dogs, and the rules for taking your pet in and out of China.
Secondhand in Shanghai โ Xianyu, flea markets and selling your stuff
How secondhand shopping and selling works in Shanghai: the Xianyu app, electronic and book markets (่ฌๆฑ่ทฏ), flea markets, and what to know about the no-frills Chinese secondhand culture.
Cycling in Shanghai โ riverside paths, bike shops and getting around
Why Shanghai is a great cycling city: the Huangpu riverside greenways, shared bikes (Meituan, Hello, Didi), buying a bike, road-bike culture, and where the safe routes are.
Fishing in Shanghai โ spots, rules and tackle shops
Where to fish in Shanghai: Dianshan Lake, Dishui Lake, rivers and canals, what gear you need, where to buy tackle, and the (surprisingly relaxed) rules for recreational fishing.
Shanghai libraries and study spaces โ free desks, borrowing and the new east library
Where to study and read in Shanghai: the spectacular Shanghai Library East (one of the world's biggest), district libraries, bookstores, and how to get a reader card with a passport.
Gyms and fitness in Shanghai โ where expats train
Finding a gym in Shanghai: international clubs (Pure Fitness), local chains (Will's, LeFit), class studios (Super Monkey), CrossFit boxes, and typical prices for foreigners.
Shanghai 12345 hotline for foreigners โ English service and what it can do
The Shanghai citizen hotline 12345 has an English service: what it can do for foreigners (government questions, complaints, finding offices), what it cannot do, and other useful hotlines.
Shanghai coffee culture โ the city with the most coffee shops on Earth
Why Shanghai is a coffee capital: the sheer number of specialty shops, the neighborhoods to explore (Yongkang Road, Wukang Road, Yuyuan Road), and the local chains worth trying.
Shanghai parks guide โ the best green spaces and which ones charge
Shanghai's best parks for foreigners: Century Park, the riverside greenways, Chenshan Botanical Garden, the zoo โ what they cost, which are free, and the annual pass tricks.