2026

If you have been searching for an apartment in central Shanghai, you have noticed the trade-off. The compounds in Jing’an and the Former French Concession are well-managed and conveniently located, but they were built in the 2000s. The air conditioning works, but the layout feels dated. The flooring is intact, but you can tell it‘s been there for twenty years. Hong Yin Li (鸿印里) changes...

You‘ve landed in Shanghai. You’ve cleared customs. You‘re standing in the arrivals hall, jet-lagged, staring at your phone, and it says "No Service." That’s the moment you realize: you need a Chinese SIM card. And you need it now. It‘s not complicated. But there are a few things you should know before you walk into the first China Mobile shop you see. This guide covers the three major...

Some compounds in Shanghai feel like they were designed by committee – safe, boring, indistinguishable from a dozen others. One Park Avenue is not one of those places. Walk through the entrance on Changde Road, and you step into a different world. The central garden is massive. Mature trees shade winding paths. A small pond sits next to a barbecue area. Willow branches brush the water. Young couples...

Some places feel like they belong on a movie set. Yuyuan Garden is one of them. Tucked away in the middle of Shanghai‘s busiest tourist district, this 400-year-old garden is a time machine. One minute you‘re pushing through crowds near the City God Temple, surrounded by neon signs and souvenir shops. The next minute, you step through an ancient gate and suddenly the noise fades. You‘re standing...

The elevator opens directly into your apartment. No shared hallway. No neighbors walking past your door. That is the first thing you notice about Kingsville. The building sits at 198 Anfu Road, tucked back from the street behind a small courtyard. The twin towers are 29 stories each, but there are only 102 units total. Most floors have just two apartments. On some floors, there is only one. The...

You've moved into your new Shanghai apartment. The furniture is (mostly) assembled. The utility bills are set up on Alipay. But one thing is missing: a reliable internet connection. Whether you work from home, stream 4K movies, game online with friends back home, or just need to stay connected, internet access is essential. The good news? Shanghai has some of the fastest and most affordable home...

If you’ve looked at apartments in Jing‘an, you’ve probably noticed that the area’s most famous compounds—One Park Avenue and Eight Park Avenue—come with premium price tags. But tucked away on a quiet street near the Suzhou Creek is an alternative that offers exceptional value without sacrificing quality. City Castle (远中风华园 / Yuan Zhong Feng Hua Yuan) won’t give you a 50-meter...

Between the towering skyscrapers of Lujiazui and the sleek storefronts of Xintiandi lies a different Shanghai. Here, laundry flutters above narrow alleyways. The scent of sizzling street food mingles with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. And around every corner, a new discovery awaits. This is Tianzifang (田子坊) . A warren of traditional Shikumen (stone-gate) houses transformed into...

Some compounds in Shanghai feel like they could be anywhere. Glass towers. manicured but sterile grounds. A lobby that could be in Singapore or Shenzhen. The Summit (汇贤居) is not one of those places. You feel the difference the moment you walk in. The central garden takes up nearly half the land. There is a walking path that loops around the edge. Parents push strollers. Kids kick a ball. Dog...

You've signed the lease. You've got the keys. Your furniture has arrived (or is on a ship somewhere in the Pacific). You take a deep breath and look around your new Shanghai home. And then the questions start. How do I pay the electricity bill? What does that Chinese text message mean? How do I even find my account number? Moving into a new home is stressful anywhere. Moving into a new home in a...