11 things to avoid in Shanghai, China

Following up with our monthly series of “things to avoid in ____”, this month we have Shanghai. This post is brought to you by Menty from GustoBeats. She has the insider point of view and has wrote this beautiful post about 11 things you should avoid in Shanghai, China.

Things to avoid in Shanghai

Shanghai is a megacity of China. With over 1.4 billion Chinese population on China, Shanghai contributes to that number with over 24 millions. Besides being the largest city in the country, it is also listed as  the strongest financial centre, the biggest trading port… and much more. This centre of culture, is a massive attraction for tourists: it is the perfect blend of the modern China with the traditional Chinese culture. The city is beautiful, energetic and efficient. However, we have an old Chinese saying: “There are all kinds of fish in the sea!”. Even though this is a fantastic city to discover, you don’t want to meet those weird “fish” while traveling to Shanghai. Here, you have my notes about things not to do or (or to avoid) in Shanghai!

Avoid bringing only your credit cards or big bank notes

Chinese are super tech-savvy about mobile payment and credit card systems. Unfortunately, the mobile payment is only for Alipay and Wechat Pay, methods unavailable for all the non-Chinese tourists. Eventhough Mastercard and VISA symbols are everywhere, it is common that their POS machines reject foreign credit cards. And American Express? Double that possibilities.

So, in summary, if you want a painless trip to Shanghai, credit cards are one of the things to avoid in Shanghai. An alternative are some Chinese YUAN (RMB) notes ranging between 50 and 100 YUAN. And even better, smaller notes. A few 5 or 10 YUAN would be the best option! As I mentioned, people there are so used to mobile payments that they don’t even bother keeping much cash or change around anymore.

Do not trust the apps you normally use

Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter are blocked. Ok, fine, taking it as a chance to do social media detox? Sorry, Google is blocked too! That means, you cannot use Google Maps to find your way or read any review. And, you cannot use Google Translate if you really need to communicate in Chinese. Interestingly, you can see new emails appear in your Gmail inbox but you will not manage to open them or answer them. You may try to search for something in your phone, only to realize the page just keeps on loading. Why? Because your phone is using Google.com! 

Many online services and social media platforms often used abroad cannot be accessed in Shanghai. Even though it is not something you can avoid, come prepared!

The only suggestion to circumvent this block would be to  pay international Data Roaming throughout the whole trip! Although beware, it is ultra-expensive.

How to use your phone in China

Another possibility would be to use a Chinese SIM card and adapt to the blockade following these tips:

First, use Bing.com to replace Google search function. If you are an iPhone user, the default map APP will work! Otherwise, you can still use Baidu or Bing’s map functions.

Also consider that often people keep their online tickets (for hotels, tours and transportation) in their email inbox. This is something you definitely need to avoid in Shanghai for obvious reasons. Before departing, remember to download and save locally. Or maybe print them. You won’t be able to download these emails once in Shanghai. Something else you can do to avoid this problem is to backup all important working or personal emails to another service provider. And make sure the one you choseis not blocked in China. Then, you will be able to continue working and staying in touch with your family and friends with only some minor inconviniences.

Things to avoid in Shanghai for better comfort: carry toilet paper along

In the busiest districts or attractions in Shanghai, some local restaurants might not provide toilet paper. And if they do, you might very likely not be lucky enough to visit the facilites right after the cleaning lady adds the refills.

Stepping out your hotel with empty pockets is one the things you should avoid in Shanghai. Take some from your hotel, or just buy them from the nearest convenient shop. Many of them will run for 24 hours  and they have everything necessary for both the traveller or the local!

Do not to expect everyone to understand your English 

Comparing to other Chinese cities and regions, Shanghai has a much bigger English-speaking community. However, many front-desks at hotels cannot speak or even understand well English. If  you have a bit of an accent, or speak too fast, you may have some additional issues.

If you are lucky with the hotels you book, talking to taxi drivers in English will definitely be a challenge in Shanghai. I have met very few taxi drivers who can speak English and are happy to oblige. However, most often they will not, and sometimes they will get frustrated when you have communication problems.

My suggestion is that you prepare a few sentences or have them written on a paper by someone who speaks the language: The address to your hotel, as well as the places you are planning to visit. Then, if you can add a few Chinese expressions such as “Where is the toilet?”, “How much does that cost?”, “Thank you” and “goodbye”, you’ll be set for a win.

Avoid eating at a local cheap bistro

Shanghai has a vivid restaurant and bar industry. In many tourist-oriented areas, it is possible to find street food stands (under the roof) as well as traditional Chinese bistros. However, eating there is one of the main things to avoid in Shanghai, especially if the place looks a bit too local and cheap. Its looks are not always linked to lack of cleanness, but the food might be too Chinese for a foreigner. Even if it is only because it was prepared with heavy oil, rich sauces and spices.

Unless you are really adventurous and want to try the real local food, the restaurants in the big shopping malls are your best chance.  

Tipping: Important to avoid in Shanghai

Tipping is not culturally expected in Shanghai. Restaurants will not be suprised if you don’t tip. Instead, a simple gesture of gratitude would be more meaningful than the actual money. This fact comes from the intrinsic Chinese culture, where it is rude to bring up the “money” around the table.

If you really appreciate the good service and the nice hospitality, simply say “Xie Xie”, which means thank you in Chinese. Or, if you want to take it up a notch, you can ask to take selfie with them. They absolutely love it!

Do not drink water from the tap

You might be used to drink tap water in the US, Japan or Singapore, but do not drink it in Shanghai. The river that provides water to Shanghai is the Yangtze River, coming from the Tibetan Plateau and following into the East China Sea. The water from this river, while purified for its use, it is not safe to drink.

In restaurants, you can always ask for tap water, however, as locals, we order hot tea or bottled water. Besides, if you are staying at a hotel, you can always get 2 bottles of free water from them daily. Furthermore, the bottled water in Shanghai is very cheap. Depending on where you buy it it can be as cheap as 1/4 the price of a bottle of coca-cola!

Avoid eating or drinking in the metro

Even though there are no laws in  Shanghai to prevent eating or drinking in the metro, it’s still frown-upon. For us locals, avoiding eating and drinking in the metro is considered a good habit to keep the wagons and stations clean as well as cultural tradition.

Do not get on a black taxi

This is serious! There are many licensed taxi companies in Shanghai. It is always better to choose from these ones to make sure you pay as the meter says. You might see these fake (black) taxis right outside the airport. If there’s something not do in Shanghai is definitely not jumping into these taxis.

If you prefer to take a private system such as Uber, you can always go for Didi APP. Didi is just like Uber (since this platform is banned on China) for both private cars and taxis. Unfortunately they require a Chinese bank card and ID, so, either you ask your hotel doorman to get one for you or you ask a friend.

The main problem you’ll encounter if you get into a black taxi is that you will never know the price or where you are going. Also, you will never know the driver’s identity. In many cases, black taxis will show up at night around the areas with lots of nightlife. If you see a taxi driving slowly along a street and asking people for their destinations, beware. This pattern is typical from these fake taxis.

Another important thing to avoid in Shanghai: forget you are a clear target for pickpocketing

Pickpocketing has never been a big problem in Shanghai.  If you pay attention to your surreoundings, you will see how well-equiped Shanghai is in the field of CCTVs. Unfortunately, in crowded places such as metros, shopping malls and highly touristy areas or attractions, it still happens. The best way to avoid pickpocketing is by being more conscious about you and your surroundings. Like in Barcelona, some simple measures will go the long way to make sure you are not targeted.

Do not get your tickets from street vendors

Often, outside many tourist attractions in Shanghai, there are local men trying to sell you tickets. Some of them even speak English to ease you into their scam. In most cases, what they are offering is not the entrance ticket, but a bundle ticket for the entrance and another unrelated activity.

Even though in occasions, purchasing these tickets will make sense, this is one of the things to avoid in Shanghai. One example of this would be when the official tickets are sold out. In this situation, you may consider buying from these vendors the simplest ticket they have. But be warned, these will probably be twice or three times the original price.   

The best way to deal with this situation is to plan your trip ahead. The most popular attractions often sold out so check online a few days ahead the best deals for you. Additionally, once you are in Shanghai you can also ask your hotel or visit the tourism board for suggestions on how and when to book your tickets. Finally, one last option is for you to arrive to the attraction very early on the day. Usually there will be tickets sold locally in the early morning, so if you arrive early enough, you should be able to grab some!

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