City Guide-Shanghai 

Shanghai, Hu for short, is a renowned international metropolis drawing more and more attention from all over the world. Situated on the estuary of Yangtze River, Shanghai serves as the most influential economic, financial, international trade, cultural, science and technology center in East China.

Shanghai, situated on the estuary of Yangtze River, is the busiest transport hub in eastern China. As an important financial and business center of China and of the world, Shanghai has highly developed infrastructure, including a convenient public transportation network.

General Information

Location: Shanghai Special Municipality, China.

Dialing code: 86.

Population: 17.78 million (metropolitan).

Time zone: GMT + 8

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; two-pin and sockets are standard.

Average January temperatures: 4°C (39.2°F).

Average July temperatures: 28°C (77°F).

Annual rainfall: 1,183mm (46.6 inches)

Transportation

Shanghai is the only city in China with two international Airports.

Pudong Airport is located 30km (19 miles) southeast of Shanghai. Officially opened on 1 October 1999 and growing at a rapid pace, the airport is Shanghai's international hub as well as serving some domestic routes and all Hong Kong and Macau flights. A second terminal and third runway opened in early 2008. Free shuttle buses transfer passengers between T1 and T2, and operate

every 15 minutes between 0600-2100. A third terminal and fourth and fifth runway are in planning stages.

Pudong is about a 45-minute drive from downtown (traffic permitting). In early 2004, a prestigious flagship infrastructure project, the 431km/hour magnetic levitation shuttle train (or maglev), was opened, which covers the 30km distance between the airport and Longyang Lu metro station in Pudong in just short of 8 minutes. An extension connecting Pudong to Hangzhou via Shanghai South Railway Station and Hongqiao International Airport in time for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 has been postponed.

Airport facilities: Although T2 is newer and easier to navigate, both terminals have handy facilities including banks, ATMs, bureaux de change, post offices, car hire, restaurants and tourist information. Most of the major city hotels have reservation desks at the airport. The terminals also have left-luggage, souvenir stalls and other shops, cafes, public telephones and free Wi-Fi Internet access. Business facilities, including fax, Internet and long-distance calls, are available between the international and domestic arrival halls. Fully equipped meeting and conference rooms are provided by the Ramada Pudong Airport Shanghai Hotel (tel: (21) 6885 2886; www.ramadaairportpd.com) and Dazhong Merrylin Air Terminal Hotel (tel: (21) 38799999) located on the central walkway between T1 and T2.

Transport to the city: Shanghai Airport Bus Co and the Shanghai Dazhong Bus Corporation buses depart every 13-21 minutes between 0705-2305 (journey time - 60-90 minutes) from outside T1 and T2 arrivals halls. There are eight routes into the city, with only route five going to Pudong itself. Other routes include a dedicated hotel shuttle, People's Square, Hongkou in the city's northwest district and Hongqiao Airport. Price, route and departure details can be found on Traffic Guide boards throughout the airport. Further information is available from Airport Shuttle Bus Services (tel: (21) 6834 6912 or 6645).

The maglev train (tel: (21) 2890 7777; www.smtdc.com) runs daily every 15-30 minutes between 0700-2130 from the airport to Longyang Li metro station in Pudong, from where you will need to catch a connecting cab or Line 2 metro train to your final destination. In the opposite direction it runs daily every 15-30 minutes between 0645-2130. Ticket machines are easy to use and are in English. To get discounted tickets (available with airline ticket) or a receipt, use the ticket counter.

Metered taxis are available at the official stand outside T1 and T2 arrival halls - the fare to downtown Puxi/Pudong is about RMB150/RMB170 (journey time - 45-60 minutes).

Hongqiao Airport (SHA)

Tel: (21) 6268 3659 or 8918.

Website: www.shanghaiairport.com

Formerly the principal airport, Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport is now used for domestic departures and arrivals (NB: Hong Kong and Macau flights are considered to be ‘international' and use Pudong International Airport). The airport is situated 13km (9 miles) southwest of central Shanghai, about a half-hour taxi ride away.

Airport facilities: Facilities include bureaux de change, banks, ATMs, post office, luggage lockers, car hire, duty-free and other shops, cafes, restaurants and tourist information. There are also hotel reservation services as well as a basic business center in the baggage deposit room of Departure Terminal B.

Transport to the city: A number of public bus routes run from Hongqiao to central Shanghai (see Public Transport section in Getting Around). Shanghai Airport Bus Co. and the Shanghai Dazhong Bus Corporation operate regular shuttle buses, between 0600-2400 (journey time - 30-45 minutes) to destinations including People's Square and Shanghai Railway Station. Luggage space is limited. Tickets are sold on the bus. Transfer buses to Pudong Airport leave from outside domestic arrivals every 30 minutes 0600-2130 (journey time - 60 minutes). Further information is available from Airport Shuttle Bus Services (tel: (21) 6834 6912 or 6645). A metro line 2 extension linking the airport and a new bus terminus is due to be completed in time for the 2010 World Expo.

Metered taxis are available from outside the arrivals hall. The fare is about RMB90 to downtown Puxi, and RMB120 to Pudong, including toll fees (journey time - 30-50 minutes). It is best for tourists either to have the destination written in Chinese or a map handy.

Getting There By Road

Foreign visitors are not encouraged to drive cars in China. Foreign residents can bring their own cars into the country but this involves a huge bureaucratic effort. Expat drivers may need a physical examination and a written exam of local traffic rules to obtain a local license from the vehicle administrative department (VAD) under the Municipal Public Security Bureau. They must already possess a valid International Driving Permit. The license is temporary for residents staying less than a year, permanent if longer. To obtain it, they must present their original driving license and a translated version, passport and local residence certificate.All foreign visitors who want to travel within China by car are advised to hire a car with a local driver.

Routes to the city: Main routes out of Shanghai are denoted by city names such as the Shanghai-Nanjing Highway. The Shanghai-Beijing Expressway provides a (relatively) fast artery to the north. The Hangzhou Bay Bridge, which has the world's longest cross-sea span, connects Shanghai to Ningbo. It opened in May 2008 and has cut the drive between the two cities from four hours to 150 minutes. There are fast-improving road links to Zhouzhuang, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and most of the other regional centers.

Coach services: Coach and bus travel can be very slow, but are improving as domestic travel increases. Nevertheless, bus tickets are cheaper than rail fares and, as the number of services increases, more readily available. There are many service providers, including Shanghai Dazhong Bus Corporation (tel: (21) 5651 3313). Information on coach travel is available from a passenger information and complaint hotline (tel: (21) 3424 1999). There are few facilities at the bus stations and travelers should purchase tickets in person at the ticket office. There are many bus stations around the city, but the main hub is across from the Shanghai Stadium, 666 Tianyaoqiao Lu (tel: (21) 6426 5558) - where buses leave frequently for several local and long-distance locations. In the north, the key station is Hengfeng Lu Bus Station, 270 Hengfeng Lu (tel: (21) 6317 3912), which has buses for Nanjing, Ningbo and Wuxi. In the south, Xujiahui Bus Station, Hongqiao Lu (tel: (21) 6469 7325), located behind Grand Gateway, has departures to Nanjing and Yangzhou.

Getting There By Rail

The national railway service within China, which is operated by the Ministry of Railways, has developed rapidly and is very extensive. Shanghai Railway Station, 385 Meiyuan Lu (tel: (21) 6317 9090), is the main terminus and point of arrival for the hordes of provincial workers and travelers descending on the city. The station has left-luggage facilities, ATMs, tourist information, shops and restaurants.

Rail services: All long-distance Chinese express trains have four different classes - soft sleeper, soft seat, hard sleeper and hard seat. Tickets are available at the station itself, at the Longman Hotel next to the rail station and at the sales office at 77 Wanhangdu Lu (corner Beijing Xi Lu) near Jing'an Temple. Reservations, especially for sleepers, should be made three to five days in advance. Some of the most popular routes include Shanghai to Beijing (journey time - 8 hours), the overnight sleeper from Shanghai to Hong Kong (journey time - 10 hours) and the short hop to Hangzhou (2 hour 30 minutes).

Getting Around

Public Transport

The public buses are rarely used by foreign visitors without a good understanding of Mandarin Chinese. Travel by metro or taxi is by far the easier option. Shanghai Municipal Public Transportation Administration operates a cheap and comprehensive system.

City buses (tel: (21) 1608 8160) run 0500-2300 and can get very crowded during rush hours (0630-0830 and 1700-1900). Fares are paid to the conductor. Major city-center routes are numbered - suburban and long-distance buses only have their destination in characters.

Shanghai metro (operating 0500-2300) is clean, efficient, and easy to navigate. Stations have a red sign resembling an ‘M'. Tickets are available from machines and ticket offices near the entrance. Prices vary depending on the number of stops. Integrated metro, bus, ferry and taxi travel cards are also available if you think your Mandarin is up to asking for one. Signs and station announcements in trains are in Mandarin Chinese and English. Eight lines are running to date, with extra lines and extensions on the agenda for Shanghai's World Expo in 2010. The Number 1 Line operates north-southwest from Gongfu Xincun (passing through Shanghai Railway Station and People's Square) to the southwestern suburb of Xinzhuang. The Number 2 Line runs east-west from Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Pudong to Songhong Lu. The Pearl Line (3) runs a curious-shaped route from north-south from Jiangwan Zhen in the north to Shanghai South Station. The Circle Line (4) passes through Pudong, eastern and western suburbs and the city's northern districts. Line 5, the Light Rail southern extension of Line 1, runs from Xin Zhuang to Min Hang Development Zone. Also Light Rail, Line 6 runs from Wai Gao Qiao in the north to San Lin City in the south. Line 8 runs from New Jiangwan City in the north to Zhongshan South Rd via People's Square. Line 9 runs from Yi Shan Road to Song Jiang Xin Cheng. Line 7 is still under construction.

Taxis

Despite the alarming metal cages around the drivers, Shanghai taxis are actually reliable, plentiful, cheap and safe. A variety of fleet companies operate Shanghai taxis, which are almost uniformly locally manufactured Volkswagens. All taxis are metered. Maps and addresses written in Chinese characters are essential tools for foreigners, as taxi drivers rarely speak any English.

Taxis can be pre-booked from some of the major fleets, including Friendship Taxi (tel: (21) 6258 4584) or Shanghai Eastern taxi Service (tel: (21) 5481 1630; www.shanghai-taxi.com), which has English-speaking drivers and an airport pick-up service.

Driving in the City

The efficiency of Shanghai's public transport combined with the prevalence of taxis and the difficulties of obtaining a local license means there is little sense in hiring a vehicle without very good reason. Bicycles are common and many accidents involve them - drivers are advised to remember this.

Car Hire

If a car of your own is essential, hiring a driver is recommended, given the dense traffic, the Chinese road signs and the general chaos involved. If you still want to hire and drive your own vehicle, an International Driving Permit, air ticket, passport and a credit card to cover the large deposit are required. Regulation now allows non-nationals to drive a car with a temporary license valid for 3 months or a six-year license if they have a residency permit. Avis has a joint venture with Anji Car Rental & Leasing, (tel: (21) 6229 1119; www.avischina.com). Also try Shanghai Rising Car Rental (tel: (21) 5447 8361; www.risingsh.com/en/).