Shanghai City Guide GENERAL INFORMATION Shanghai is one of the most unique cities in the world. Apart from being the largest and most densely populated city in all of China, it is also the most westernized. Although it has grown into a great industrial center, Shanghai has been able to keep alive much of its historic and cultural past. It wasn't until the 1840s that Shanghai played a significant role in China. During the Opium War, European powers took control of the city and opened it up to foreign trade. Because of its location near the mouth of the Yangtze River and the foreign concessions, Shanghai became China's main trading port. Over the years, with the combination of a growing number of foreign investors and cheap Chinese labor, Shanghai was built into a thriving industrial city. Not everyone living in Shanghai, however, shared its success. In fact, a great number of the city's population was living in poverty. Accompanying all the money involved in Shanghai's business ventures were many forms of corruption: child labor, opium use, gambling, gangs and prostitution. When the Communist Party took control of China in 1949, foreign businesses were forced to leave, and the city was cleaned up. Illegal establishments were shut down, and the people were rehabilitated. The Communist government began to focus on industrialization, developing both heavy and light industries. As a result, Shanghai now has more than 10,000 factories. Besides being China's center for industrialization, commercialization and trading, Shanghai is one of the most popular cities for tourism in the country. It is home to more than 300 tourist resources and is said to be the best area for shopping in all of China. The streets of Shanghai are often packed with people, as it is one of the most populous cities in all of the world. A walk down the streets can be a frustrating experience for those who don't like crowds. Pollution is a downside, as smoke from the factories often leaves the sky hazy and brown. However, if you visit Shanghai, you are sure to experience a dynamic city, with a personality and culture that reflect its colorful past. WEATHER CONDITIONS Winter lasts from November to February and is usually extremely cold and wet. At the other end of the temperature extreme, summer in Shanghai (July-September) is very hot and sticky. Spring and fall are the best times to visit, as the weather is quite temperate. CITY ORIENTATION Shanghai is the largest city in China, with an area of 2,355 square miles (6,123 sq. km.). Nanjing Road, the street of hundreds of shops, is the center of the city. The main points of interest in Shanghai are the Bund, Frenchtown, Nanjing Donglu and the area along Suzhou Creek. Air distances from Shanghai to: Beijing - 662 miles (1,066km) Berlin - 5,339 miles (8,596km) Calcutta - 2,112 miles (3,400km) Chicago - 7,053 miles (11,355km) Shanghai - 760 miles (1,220km) Hong Kong - 772 miles (1,243km) London - 5,710 miles (9,193km) Los Angeles - 6,477 miles (10,428km) Manila - 1,152 miles (1,855km) Melbourne - 5,005 miles (8,058km) New York - 7,357 miles (11,845km) Quebec - 6,981 miles (11,239km) Rome - 5,667 miles (9,124km) Tokyo - 1,094 miles (1,761km) LOCAL CUSTOMS General: Upon greeting Chinese people, avoid gestures such as backslapping, hugging or kissing on the cheek. Instead, it is preferible to be reserved and polite. Avoid acting flirtatiously towards members of the opposite sex, as the Chinese people have a strict code of morality. Use careful judgment in deciding whether to give a gift to a Chinese person. If people are reluctant to accept a gift, do not pressure them to take it. It is often customary to remove your shoes before entering a Chinese home. If you are not comfortable using chopsticks, it is not rude to request a fork and knife. Business: If you are doing business in China, it is polite to exchange business cards. Make sure that you speak slowly and clearly, or your words may be misunderstood. It is important to keep calm and remain patient while doing business in China. Everyone rises and shakes hands after a business meeting. This is often a time to engage in some polite small talk. MAP OF SHANGHAI MEDIA The media's source of news is the New China News Agency. Radio and television stations operate under the Central Broadcasting Bureau. Most of the books in China are produced by the Publications Bureau, and most of the films are the creation of the Cinema Bureau. The government produces numerous newspapers that are sold all over China. The "China Daily" is printed in English and is distributed mainly for visitors. Foreign magazines and papers are sold in some hotel lobbies. Radio programs, also produced by the government, can be heard throughout China. Types of programs include informational, music, dance, comedy and sports, among others. Chinese television features documentaries, opera, news and films. Since China's television broadcasts are also controlled by the government, the content of the programs is similar to that of the radio broadcasts and newspaper articles. CURRENCY Chinese currency, called renminbi, is issued by the People's Bank of China. The standard unit of currency is the yuan (Y). It is divided in jiao and fen. Ten fen make up one jiao, and 10 jiao make up one yuan. Renminbi comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 and 100 yuan, 1, 2 and 5 jiao and 1, 2 and 5 fen. Foreign tourists will have to pay for many services with Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs). FECs can be obtained from the Bank of China and some of the large department stores with the exchange of foreign currencies or traveler's checks. THINGS TO KNOW Population: 12,640,000 Primary Industries: Machinery, ships, trucks, automobiles, steel, chemicals, lasers, copiers and circuits City Code: 021 Shop Hours: Shops are open daily from 8am to 6 or 7pm Bank Hours: Banks are open from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday Time Zone: (Beijing) GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) + 8 hours; EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) + 13 hours; PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) + 10 hours. Beijing Standard Time is observed throughout China. Tipping: Although the practice of tipping has increased with the rise of tourism in China, the rule of thumb is not to tip at all, as it can be embarrassing or even offensive to the Chinese. It might be a good idea, however, to bring small gifts to give in appreciation to those people who may help you along the way. Almost all hotels and restaurants have a 10% service charge included in the bill. EMERGENCY NUMBERS Police: . (021) 3215380 Medical Referral: International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers at : IAMAT 417 Center St. Lewiston, NY 14092 . (716) 7544883 Hospitals: Shanghai No. 1 People's Hospital 190 Beisuzhou Lu . (021) 3240100 PRACTICAL INFORMATION Using Public Phones: Free local calls are available in specified shops, as there are no public phone booths on the streets of Shanghai. The best phone service available, however, is located inside the hotels. International Access Code: 011 Country Code: 86 City Code: 021 Postal Information: Postal services, including airmail and parcel post, are available at the post office. The deluxe hotels have post centers that offer services. Post Office Location: Express Mail Service and Poste Restante 276 Bei Suzhou Road PERFORMING ARTS The most popular form of entertainment in the city is held at the Shanghai Acrobatic Theater. Skilled acrobats, magicians, animal trainers and other performers put on unbelievable shows almost every night of the week. Another place where you can experience the flavor of Shanghai is the Shanghai Centre Theater, which hosts a number of events. Operas, ballets, concerts, orchestras and plays are just some of the cultural performances held at the theaters. Some form of quality entertainment is always available. Hotel personnel can help you with information about the many different events taking place in Shanghai. Shanghai Acrobatic Theater 400 Nanjing Road West . (021) 2564704 . (021) 2564051 Shanghai Centre Theatre 1376 Nanjing Road West . (020) 2798600 SEASONAL EVENTS A number of festivals and events occur each year in Shanghai. Traditional events such as the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival are set by the Chinese lunar calendar. The New Year Festival is the most popular festival in China. This is traditionally a day for the people to spend with their families. Another popular day in Shanghai is the Moon Festival, where people celebrate by watching the moon and eating "moon cakes" filled with various meats and spices. The Moon Festival is celebrated in the fall. For information about other festivals celebrated in Shanghai, contact the CITS (China International Travel Service) office in the city. CITS 66 Nanjing Road . (021) 4324960 . (021) 3217200 Beijing Real Estate - Xian Real Estate - Shanghai Real Estate - Hong Kong Real Estate - Jinan Real Estate - Guangzhou Real Estate - Guangdong Real Estate - Chengdu Real Estate - Xiamen Real Estate - Zhengzhou Real Estate - Kowloon Real Estate - Shenzhen Real Estate - Beihai Real Estate - Dalian Real Estate - Nanjing Real Estate - Chongqing Real Estate - Hangzhou Real Estate - Harbin Real Estate - Kunming Real Estate - Pudong Real Estate - Qingdao Real Estate - Wuhan Real Estate - Shenyang Real Estate - Tianjin Real Estate - Shaanxi Real Estate - Sichuan Real Estate