The national language of China is Mandarin, also known as Putonghua, but many Chinese also speak their local dialects. In Shanghai, people speak Shanghai dialect as well. But since there are signs written in English and many people here can speak English, it won’t be too difficult for you to get around in Shanghai. However, if you wish to travel outside Shanghai during your trip, it’s recommended that you should hire an English-speaking guide or book a tour program from a reputable travel agency, like Shanghai China Travel International Co. Ltd.
Shanghai's 45,000 taxis are easy to flag down in leisure hours, but not in rush hours. The taxi drivers are bound to offer you good service. If you do not speak Chinese, it is recommended that you have your destination written down in characters.
The taxi companies listed below are most strongly recommended.
| Main Taxi Company | For Booking | For Complaint | Taxi Color |
| Dazhong | (+86 21)96822 | (+86 21)6258 0780 | Sky blue |
| Qiangsheng/Bashi | (+86 21)62580000 | (+86 21)6258 1234 | Orange |
| Haibo | (+86 21)96933 | (+86 21)6213 0011 | Sapphire blue |
| Jinjiang | (+86 21)96961 | (+86 21)6416 9292 | White |
The service time and the corresponding charge standard of the above taxis are as follows.
| 0~3 KM | 3~10 KM | Above 10 KM | |
| Daytime: (5:00~23:00) | RMB 14 | RMB 2.4 / KM | RMB 3.6 / KM |
| Night: (23:00~5:00) | RMB 18 | RMB 3.1 / KM | RMB 4.7 / KM |
Bullet Train is most welcomed to travel within Chinese main cities, its highest speed could climb to 300 km per hour, so it will be faster than plane if the destination is less than 1,500 KM away. So we highly suggest you to choose bullet train if your want to visit a city not so far from Shanghai.
| Shanghai Railway Administration ticket office | 9510 5105 |
| Enquiries to Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station or Hongqiao Railway Station | (+86)-21-6317-9090 (+86)-21-5436-9511 (+86)-21-5124-5555 |
| Baggage service for Shanghai Railway Station, or Shanghai South Railway Station | (+86)-21-6317-4168 |
| Emergency | ||
| Police - 110 | Fire - 119 | Ambulance - 120 |
| Though Shanghai is a safe city, you may occasionally need help from local police. In case of any burglary or petty theft, dial 110 for police. | Fire is a nightmare in big cities. The situation goes from bad to worse if a skyscraper turns into a fiery building. If you run into such an unfortunate event, do not forget to dial 119. | Roads in Shanghai often get congested and are prone to accidents, so always remember 120. This number may very well determine life or death. |
RMB/Yuan, the official currency in China is a decimalized currency. For current conversion rates you can check online at http://www.xe.net/ucc/convert.cgi or http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic, the estimated exchange rate are: 1 USD: 6.3 RMB, 1 EUR: 8.2 RMB.
One Yuan is worth 100 cents. Coins are issued in denominations of 10 cents, 50 cents and 100 cents. Currency notes are available in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 denominations. Foreign currencies can be conveniently changed at banks with your passport as ID.
Most internationally recognized currencies (like USD, EUR, GBP, SGD) and tourist cheques can be exchanged at commercial banks, top-end hotels and the international airports in Shanghai. All branches of Bank of China and other large banks offer currency exchange services.
Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.) can be used at most hotels, restaurants and major shops. Some credit cards can be used at Bank of China ATM machines.
| Calling to: | ||||
| Int’l Access Code | Country Code | City Code | Phone No. | |
| Shanghai | 00 | 86 | 21 | 1234-5678 |
| Beijing | 00 | 86 | 10 | 1234-5678 |
| When dialling within China you need to add '0' before the city code. | ||||
Shanghai usually has a relatively short spring and autumn and a long winter and summer. The weather is usually warm and humid. The middle of October in Shanghai is usually cool and dry, with an average temperature of 15-20℃.
There are two official standards for plugs and sockets in the People's Republic of China. The first is the grounded, three-blade CPCS-CCC which is practically interchangeable with the type of socket found in Australia. The second is Chinese non-grounded two-blade plug, very much like a two-blade North American/Japanese plug. No matter what the plug type is, electrical sockets (outlets) in the People's Republic of China usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need.
For further information about outlets and power, please consult with hotel receptionist.