Shanghai is safe, vibrant and cool!
Shanghai was the cultural and economic center of Asia for the first half of the twentieth century and today it is on the fast track to becoming the dominant destination in Asia for business and leisure again. As of today, more than 300 of the Fortune 500 companies have invested in Shanghai. The bustling environment of business brings all kinds of people from all over the globe spanning the range of demographics, endowing Shanghai with the largest foreign community in this nation. The cosmopolitan nature of Shanghai is ever-present in its international citizens, modern skyscrapers, multinational office blocks, local and ethnic restaurants, shopping districts, first class entertainment facilities, attractive individuality of each neighborhood and frequent world events. Nevertheless, if you look beyond the daily hustle and bustle, you will also find that Chinese traditions are preserved around every corner.
Downtown Shanghai
- Puxi area, Shanghai
Shanghai also offers you infinite possibilities for enjoying its beauty, history and lifestyle with numerous museums, temples, galleries, theaters, cinemas and exhibitions dotted around the city, the frequent concerts of all types of music - opera, classical, jazz, rock and world sports events like Formula 1 Grand Prix, Tennis Masters Cup, Motor GP, etc.
Fascinating Shanghai
- Nanjing Road, Shanghai
Shanghai is also a convenient springboard for you to explore all China has to offer. The excellent public transportation system makes the surrounding areas - such as Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and the beach - all easily accessible. There are also numerous flights from Shanghai to Beijing or Hong Kong every day which only take 2 hours to get there. There are night trains with comfortable or deluxe sleepers to Beijing every day as well. Many of our students had spent their weekends there and come back for lessons on Monday. There are many fascinating cities and places near Shanghai too. We can give you “insider tips” and make travel arrangements for you. Of course, you can travel China all around with the Chinese you learnt after your course finishes!
Now let's take a 5 minute tour around Shanghai!
Shanghai is a city rich in history, culture and design. It witnessed the birth of everything considered modern in China for the past two centuries. Not quite Asian, not quite Western, it is a fascinating mix of East and West, a far cry from the ancient imperial history of Beijing. It has historic shikumen houses that blended the styles of Chinese houses with European design flairs, and it has one of the richest collections of art deco buildings in the world. The city has the feel of Paris or Montreal, while Tudor style buildings give a German flair and the 1930s buildings put you in New York or Chicago. Quick Facts Area: 6340 sq km Population: 18.9 million Visa: All foreigners coming to China are required to hold a valid visa to enter the country (except nationals from Brunei, Japan and Singapore may stay in China with only a valid passport for a maximum of 15 days). The airport authorities do not issue visas and you have to apply for a visa in advance.
No specific visa type is required by Chinese government to study Chinese at a language school.
As a general practice guideline, students are suggested to apply for L (tourist) visa for short term course (less than 12 weeks) and F (business) visa for long term course.
Currency: Name: Yuan RMB（Ren Min Bi）
Code: CNY
Symbol: ￥ Dialing Code 0086-21 Time Zone:GMT/UTC +8 (Standard Time) Voltage: 220 V, 50Hz alternating current Emergency:
Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Cost of Living of Shanghai
The following is a list of real prices of major elements in the cost of living of Shanghai that can be used as a general guideline. The prices are recorded in early 2010 by MandarinRocks when the exchange rate of USD to RMB is about 1:6:83. Cell phone 100rmb for normal use or 300rmb for intensive usage (monthly) Food (In supermarket) Beef: 45rmb/kg
Pork: 35rmb/kg
Tomato: 13rmb/kg
Apple: 15rmb/kg
Orange: 10rmb/kg for local oranges, 24rmb/kg for imported(Sunkist)
Mineral Water(550ml): 1.5rmb
Coke(355ml): 2rmb
Beer(355ml): 3-5rmb
Canned Coffee: 5mb
Milk(950ml): 12rmb
Ice cream: 2rmb Restaurant Eat at home:10rmb raw material for a meal
Street snack bar (noodles, dumplings, fried rice, etc): 8-15rmb
Fast food restaurant (McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, etc): 20-30rmb
In Shopping mall (set-meal lunch): 20-30rmb
Local Chinese restaurant (some are really good) 30-70rmb
Upper class Chinese restaurant 150-500rmb
Western restaurant 50-200rmb
Upper class western restaurant 200-700rmb
Coffee shop (Starbucks, Costa, etc)
coffee: 25rmb
Muffin: 7rmb
Cheese cake: 10rmb
Sandwich: 12rmb Pub, Clubs Cheap ones: 20-30rmb
Normal: 50-100rmb Cinema30-70rmb (Avatar in 3D IMAX was 120-150rmb) Gym 1800-3000rmb/yr DVD 10rmb Daily Newspaper 1-2rmb Magazine 10-30rmb Hair Cut Typically 20rmb, some large hairdressers charge 30-80rmb Clothes Largely depend on brands, international brands like H&M, Zara, Gap, Nike, Adidas and luxuries are about the same as anywhere else, local brands are a bit cheaper Souvenir T shirt 35rmb Transportation
Bus: most buses is one price for all stops: 2rmb. Some special buses are higher: 3-4rmb
Subway: 3rmb (within 3 stops)-6rmb, typical 4rmb
Taxi: 12rmb for the first 3 km with 2.4rmb extra for each additional km
Sightseeing
The Bund - The Bund alongside Huangpu River
once was the financial center of the Far East.
It is considered the city's symbol since the 1920s. It is often
referred to as "the museum of buildings", as many
different styles of European buildings can be found here. Now
it is even more attractive as you can also see modern skyscrapers
just opposite the Huangpu River. That gives you a strong contrast
between modern life and the past.
Yuyuan Garden
(Garden of Contentment) - A traditional Chinese Ming style private
garden, originally built in 1559 but ransacked and restored
several times since then. It’s worthwhile to visit the
many exquisite Chinese pavilions, seemingly never-ending paths,
and sculpted gardens within. Near the garden, the famous zigzag
bridge and its teahouse can be visited. The bazaar near the
garden is always crowded with both Chinese and Western tourists.
Nanjing Road - China's most famous shopping
street, leading to People's Parkín gongyuán) and
Jing'an
NanJing'An Temple - Commercial area on East Nanjing Rd
Temple of the Town Gods- A well-known
Taoist temple not far from Yuyuan, the biggest example of traditional
Chinese architecture in Shanghai. You can find local snacks
and food, as well as other traditional Chinese decorations.
Former French Concession - the leafy district
once knows as the Paris of the East, including the refurbished
shikumen houses of Xintiandi. The boutique shopping areas, restaurants and leafy lanes north of Hua Hai Lu are one of the highlights of Shanghai.
Xujiahui - Southwest part of Shanghai, commercial area.
everything considered modern in China for the past two centuries. Not quite Asian, not quite Western, it is a fascinating mix of East and West, a far cry from the ancient imperial history of Beijing. It has historic shikumen houses that blended the styles of Chinese houses with European design flairs, and it has one of the richest collections of art deco buildings in the world. The city has the feel of Paris or Montreal, while Tudor style buildings give a German flair and the 1930s buildings put you in New York or Chicago. 
st.
It is considered the city's symbol since the 1920s. It is often
referred to as "the museum of buildings", as many
different styles of European buildings can be found here. Now
it is even more attractive as you can also see modern skyscrapers
just opposite the Huangpu River. That gives you a strong contrast
between modern life and the past.
