Guides
Practical Shanghai guides for your first day
No grand travel manifesto here. Just the stuff that helps when you land: payment, internet, maps, airport transfer, taxis, and backup plans.
How to Pay in Shanghai as a Foreigner
The safest payment setup for a first day in Shanghai: Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards, cash, and what to do when one of them fails.
How to Use Alipay in China as a Tourist
Set up Alipay before you fly, test it calmly after landing, and keep a backup for small QR-code surprises.
How to Use WeChat Pay in China as a Tourist
Use WeChat Pay as the second route: useful for QR menus, mini-programs, and moments when Alipay is not enough.
Best Apps for Traveling in Shanghai
The small app stack that actually matters before you land: payment, maps, translation, mobile data, and banking.
Does Google Maps Work in Shanghai?
Google Maps is useful for planning, but AMap Global and Chinese address screenshots are better once you are moving.
How to Get Internet in Shanghai as a Tourist
Choose roaming or an eSIM before departure so maps, payment, taxis, and translation work in the first hour.
Shanghai Airport to City Guide
Simple decision rules for Pudong and Hongqiao: metro, Maglev, taxi, app ride, or hotel transfer.
How to Take Taxis and Ride-Hailing in Shanghai
How to use taxis and ride-hailing without getting stuck on pickup points, Chinese addresses, driver calls, or payment.