Economically, Shanghai 's performance has been on the uptrend, registering annual double-digit growth since 1991. It became the world's leading container port in 2005, surpassing Singapore 's hold on the title for the first time.
Shanghai is home to a population of 13.6 million as at December 2006, with a land area covering over 6,000 sq km. Geographically, the Huangpu River divides it into two parts – Pudong and Puxi. While Pudong is characterised by its commercial orientation, Puxi is epitomised by its more historical and colonial flair. With the world-famous Bund, Xintiandi, French concession, Nanjing Lu and Huaihai Lu, as well as many other areas to discover, there are more than sufficient entertainment and leisure options for both short- and long-term visitors.
Weather
Shanghai has sub-tropical maritime monsoon climate, with four distinct seasons. Generally, the warm spring and cool autumn are the most comfortable periods of the year. March to May are good months to visit the city as the conditions are pleasant.
November to January are the coldest months, though Shanghai hardly ever experiences snow. Temperatures range between 3.5 ° C (38.3° F) and 13.7° C. July and August are the hottest months, during which temperatures can range between 28° C and 35° C.
Language
Chinese. English is used at major corporations and key places of interest.
Time Difference
GMT +8
Visa
There are various kinds of visas for foreigners entering Shanghai . As policies change from time to time, it is best to seek the advice of the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country to arrange for a visa.
Foreign business travellers will need to bring the passport and registration of temporary residency from your hotel, plus a letter from the business that invited you, to the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau within 30 days of your arrival to apply for the relevant visa.
Generally, longer-term residents and their families will require such visas as Visa Z, Visa X and Visa F.
Visa Z: Issued to foreigners who are to take up posts or employment in China , and to their accompanying family members. To apply for a Visa Z, an Employment Licence of the People's Republic of China for Foreigners (which can be obtained by the employer in China from the provincial or municipal labour authorities) and a visa notification letter/telegram issued by an authorised organisation or company is required.
Visa X: Issued to foreigners who come to China for study, advanced studies or job training for a period of six months or more. To apply for a Visa X, certificates from the receiving unit and the competent authority concerned are required, that is, Application Form for Overseas Students to China (JW201 Form or JW202 Form), Admission Notice and Physical Examination Record for Foreigners.
Visa F: Issued to an applicant who is invited to China on a visit; a study, lecture or business tour; for scientific-technological and cultural exchanges; short-term refresher courses or job training, for a period of no more than six months. To apply for a Visa F, the invitation letter from the inviting unit or the visa notification letter/telegram from the authorised unit is required.
For more details, please visit www.shanghai.gov.cn .
Currency
China uses the Renminbi (RMB), which comes in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Credit cards are widely accepted at bigger establishments.
| 100 RMB = | approxi. 6.54 UK £ |
| = | approxi. 13.30 USD |
| = | approxi. 9.38 Euro |
| = | approxi. 19.51 Singapore $ |
Shopping
Shanghai is a great place to shop, with a wide variety of local products as well as international brand names. Souvenir shops are concentrated along Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road , Sichuan Road North, Yuyuan Bazaar, and Xujiahui. A good introduction to shopping in the city would cover the route from Yuyuan Bazaar to Nanjing Road , and then to Pudong's Zhangyang Road to discover the city's modern as well as heritage-inspired items.
Lacquer ware, paintings, woodcarvings, handicrafts, ceramics and handwoven fabrics would add local flavour to your Fraser Residence home. Made-to-measure apparel is affordable and of high quality, with fabrics from regional countries like Cambodia , India , Thailand and Vietnam , and further afield, Egypt and Europe . Precious metals like gold and silver, and stones like jade, also make good buys.
Gratuity
Tipping is not customary in Shanghai .
Business Hours
Banks: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 11.30am, 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Commercial and government offices: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6.00pm
Shops (hours may vary): Generally open from 10.00am to 10.00pm every day
Eating Out
Some of the best and most interesting cuisines in the world can be found in Shanghai . Chinese dishes like Nanxiang steamed pork dumplings, local river crabs, vegetarian steamed buns, chicken and duck blood soup, and niangao with spare ribs should be tasted at least once during your extended stay in the city. There is also an excellent selection of cuisine from around the world – do check out the restaurant strip along and around the Bund for some of these.
Telephone Network
The three biggest mobile telephone service providers are China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. Shanghai uses the GSM.
Health
Medical facilities are generally good in Shanghai, but over-crowding at public hospitals is a perennial problem.
Electricity
220V, 50 cycles
Public Holidays
New Year's Day (one day), Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (three days), Labour Day (three days), National Day (three days)
