expat life

There is a specific corner in Shanghai that has become something of a pilgrimage site. At the intersection of Huaihai Middle Road and Wukang Road, a wedge-shaped building shaped like a ship's bow slices through the traffic. Tourists crowd the opposite sidewalk, phones held high, all trying to capture the same perfect shot. This is the Wukang Building. And it is the gateway to one of the most...

If Old Xuhui whispers history through its plane trees and lane houses, Jing'an speaks the language of modern, connected, family-friendly living. It is a district that manages to be both energetic and peaceful, both international and deeply local. For expats moving to Shanghai, Jing'an has become one of the most sought-after neighborhoods – and for good reason. From luxury compounds with resort-style...

There is a particular kind of magic that happens when you turn off a busy Shanghai thoroughfare and duck into a quiet lane house neighborhood. The noise of the city softens. The plane trees grow thicker overhead. And suddenly, you are walking through history. Lane houses – or lilong (里弄) in Chinese – are the architectural soul of Old Shanghai. For decades, they have been the backdrop...

There is a moment, just after you land at Pudong International Airport, when Shanghai first reveals itself to you. The city hums with an energy that is impossible to describe until you have felt it yourself. The lights, the sounds, the endless stream of scooters and taxis and people — all of it moving at a rhythm that somehow feels both frantic and gentle at the same time. If you are reading this,...