Shanghai Living

Here's a neighbourhood truth: in central Shanghai, your gym is a bigger daily-life decision than your metro line. The FFC and Jing'an pack more fitness options per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Asia — mega-gyms, boutique studios, 24-hour budget chains, yoga in heritage villas — and the right choice depends entirely on how you actually train. Here's the honest map, from people whose...

If you've spent any time apartment-hunting in the Former French Concession, you've seen the word. Hengfu (衡复). It's in listings, on heritage plaques, in the name of the area's own museum. But most people — including plenty of long-term expats — couldn't tell you exactly what it means or where its edges actually are. Here's the real answer, with the numbers checked. What Hengfu Actually...

Here is the single most important practical fact about life in Shanghai: the city runs on two apps, and until they're on your phone, you can't easily buy a coffee, catch a taxi, rent a share-bike, order lunch, or pay your landlord. The good news — and it is genuinely good news, because this used to be a nightmare — is that in 2026, setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign Visa or Mastercard...

If you have spent any time in Shanghai, you have heard the name. Ju Fu Chang (巨富长). It rolls off the tongue. It appears in every Citywalk guide. It is mentioned in conversations about where to live, where to eat, and where to find the city's most authentic street life. But what exactly is Ju Fu Chang? The name is a shorthand. It refers to three parallel streets in the heart of the...

Somewhere around your second month in Shanghai, a colleague will mention their ayi. Then you'll notice everyone has one — the single guy in the Jing'an loft, the family in the Pudong villa, your most frugal teacher friend. And you'll ask the question every newcomer asks: should I get an ayi, and how does this actually work? Short answers: probably yes, and much more easily than you think. Here's the...

You've landed in Shanghai, picked up your keys, and collapsed onto your new sofa. Congratulations — but before you unpack a single box, there's one piece of paperwork the law expects from you within 24 hours: temporary residence registration (临时住宿登记, línshí zhùsù dēngjì). It sounds more intimidating than it is. The good news: in Shanghai, you can now do the whole thing online in...

If you have spent any time in Shanghai, you have noticed them. Blue bikes. Yellow bikes. Green bikes. Parked neatly in designated zones near metro stations, office buildings, and residential compounds. Shared bikes have become an essential part of daily life in Shanghai. For the 1-3 kilometer trip where walking is too far and taking a taxi feels excessive, they are often the best option. Since the...

Finding the right compound in Shanghai can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of options spread across Jing'an, the Former French Concession, Pudong, and beyond. Each has its own character, amenities, and price point. To make your search easier, we have created a custom Google Map that pinpoints the most popular expat-friendly compounds across Shanghai's downtown area. This is not a comprehensive...

Shanghai in winter is a strange beast. The temperature rarely drops below freezing, yet the cold seeps into your bones in a way that catches most newcomers off guard. It is damp. It is persistent. And if you are moving from a place with central heating, it will be the first thing you complain about come December. This guide explains why Shanghai never had central heating, how residents stayed warm...

As an expat parent, one of your biggest decisions in Shanghai will be your child‘s education. You have three main options: international schools (for foreign passport holders), local public schools (for the academically intense local curriculum), and the increasingly popular middle ground – bilingual schools. This guide focuses on bilingual schools. We will explain what they are, how they...