About Shanghai

Shanghai is a city with a fascinating past, a thrilling future and a present that combines the two in a way that few other world-class cities can.

From the space-inspired architecture of recent buildings such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower to the city's unique 'shikumen' (stone gateway) communities and some of the world's finest remaining examples of Art Deco architecture, the physical city sets the tone for this amazing metropolis of contrasts.

Alongside centuries-old historic temples you'll find dazzling shopping malls with enormous wall-screen digital displays hawking the very latest in fashion and electronics.

Lining the western shore of the city's central watercourse, the Huangpu River, is the Bund - a row of magnificent buildings dating from Shanghai's International Settlement era – a time when the city was China's 'window to the west'.

In the early part of the 20th century, Shanghai was truly in full swing - a cosmopolitan trading port that included among its visitors Charlie Chaplin, P.G. Wodehouse, Christopher Isherwood and other such film and literary luminaries – all attracted by Shanghai's reputation as the excitement capital of the East.

Today, it's as an economic powerhouse that Shanghai's making its name. It has regained its place as perhaps China's most forward-looking city and offers travelers an experience unlike any other.

Currency & Banking Services

RMB is the only currency in circulation in China. Most foreign currencies and traveler’s cheques recognized by international can easily be exchanged at the commercial banks, hotels and the international airports. Banks working hours is 9:00-16:00 from Monday to Sunday.

It’s acceptable for such credit cards as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and DinersClub at most of the hotels, restaurants and large shops. Visa, MasterCard can withdraw RMB on automatic teller machines in the commercial banks.

Working Hour

The office hour of the government department: 9:00-17:00 from Monday to Friday

The office hour of business sector such as supermarket and shopping mall: 10:00-22:00

Telecommunication Service

Local Calls: RMB 0.3(about US$ 0.05)/ per min

Domestic Long-distant Calls: RMB 0.8(about US$ 0.14)/ per min

International Calls:RMB9.2(about US$1.5)/per min

(Note: The above price is for reference only.)

For the domestic long-distance calls, just dial the area code first, then the local telephone number.

For the international calls, dial the country code first, then the area code and the local telephone number.

Public Service Numbers

Ambulance: 120

Police: 110

Fire: 119

Public Directory: 114

 Smoking

Ban on smoking in many public places. There are smoking and smoking-free areas in most restaurants.

Power Supply

The voltage in China is 220-240V, 50 Hertz. and the electric shavers socket used in hotels is 110V or 220V.

Transportation Service

Shanghai has two airports: Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport. You can take either the metro or the taxi to both airports.

Taxi service is very handy in Shanghai. The taxi service starts at a charge for RMB 12 for 3 km, and RMB 2.1 for an extra kilometer. Extra cost will be charged in the midnight or for a distance over 10km.