There is a lot written about Shanghai, both in the bookstores and on the web. If you are thinking old gray buildings, limited food selection, and high cost of living, you have to update your understanding. Shanghai is a very modern, diverse, international city. Of all the cities of Asia, Shanghai is one of the least expensive to live well in. Of course, it depends on your expectations, family requirements, and standards. However, there are many good choices for living well.
In a city of over 15 million people and growing, there is no end to the opportunities for an interesting stay. Restaurants offering every cuisine are readily available. Transportation is modern and inexpensive. Shanghai has first-class venues for theater, ballet, sports, and art. New, modern housing is going up in every corner of the city offering many choices for first-class living. There are decent accommodations in almost every area of the city in a range of prices. Expats with a company usually live in Gubei (Puxi), the area around Huashan Road (Puxi), or Pudong. Prices will vary depending on your real estate agent, the length of your lease, location, size of your unit, furnishings, and market at the time. Keep in mind, you will need an agent, friend, guide, or someone who speaks and reads Chinese. Your lease will be in Chinese. You must understand what is written or open yourself to a few surprise rent increases. You will want to find something fairly close to where you will be working, if your company has an office.
If you are seriously considering moving here, it would probably be a good idea to come for a visit. Most international flights arrive in the new Pudong Airport. There are many 4 and 5 star hotels to choose from both in Pudong (East of the river) and Puxi (West of the river). If your company has an office here, find out where it is located and get something relatively close. If not, find a place close to the center of town as a launch pad for exploration of the city.
Concerning language; Mandarin Chinese is the primary language. English is spoken by less than 1% of the population here. Shanghai has its own local dialect and it is really its own language. If you know Putonghua (Mandarin), you will do fine. If you do not know a word of Chinese, it would be a good idea to take some time to start picking it up. It makes everything so much easier, cheaper, and a lot more fun. There are classes and tutors available at a variety of locations.
In general, Shanghai is the most crime-free of Asian cities. It is generally safe to walk on the streets at any hour of the day or night, man or woman, and be totally safe. . This cannot be said about most large cities, even in Western countries. Occasionally, you might get a cab driver who will take you out of your way to get another 50 cents, but that is rare, and non-existent when you get to know where you are going. Police, generally, are visible and helpful if asked.
The monetary unit here is the RMB -- renminbi. Rates fluctuate a bit, but is generally pretty stable in the 8.2 to 8.3 RMB per USD. This may change as China moves to make the RMB fully convertible in the next few years. ATM machines are available all over, and many will work with your bank account back home. You can also open a bank account locally, with certain limitations. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at places frequented by foreigners, though most transactions in smaller stores are cash only. There are no checking accounts.
Private international schools for your children are readily available in most areas where there is a concentration of expats. You should have some compensation from your company if you want to place your children in one of these schools as they tend to be expensive. For people who are doing relocation with a more limited budget, consider using the local school system (your kids will learn Chinese!) or home schooling. I personally know of a couple of expat families who have chosen to use the local schools. It was difficult at first, but adjustment was relatively quick and the academic systems were better than they imagined.
Food is a subject all its own. Suffice to say, if you want to live on pizza and burgers for your stay in Shanghai, you can do it. McDonalds and KFC are all over, as well as Starbucks. There are, however, a range of cuisines and prices for just about anything you want to eat. At the grocery store, vegetables, seafood, and meat are incredibly inexpensive with a decent selection at most supermarkets. Local Chinese restaurants serve a range of regional dishes from Canton, Sichuan and recipes with a local Shanghai flair. There are likely more good restaurants than you have time to try.
Making the MoveWhat you decide to take and what you decide to leave will depend on several things. Your length of stay, what is included in your relocation package, your family situation, and your budget. Most of the time, a company relocation might include a specific weight that they will cover on your shipment. I have heard anywhere from 1600 to 4000 pounds. It is never enough. We moved 1600 pounds, paid for by the company. It was not a lot. The 1600 pounds would have cost us about $4000 if we did it ourselves. We went with Allied as our mover and they were excellent. It did not include any furniture but did include about 20% of what we owned: our books, personal records, pictures, clothes, knick-knacks, computers and some specialty food. There are a few things we would have left.
DO take:
- Personal records -- especially records for filing taxes, property and legal records
- Computers that can run on 220V (most newer ones can)
- Books, and your native-language reading material
- Pictures
- Knick-knacks
- The things that make a house a home
- Clothes - especially if you wear larger sizes
- Clothes for 4 seasons (it does get cold here)
DO NOT take
- Older furniture - you can buy something decent here in any store
- Electronics (stereo, TV, etc) that does NOT run on 220V
- If you are a smaller size, take your favorite clothes and buy the rest here
- Kitchen utensils, dishes, cooking pots and pans - better deals here than the cost to move
- Anything flammable, or chemical
Remember, the mover will have to pack the boxes, or at least look inside what has been packed to write the international manifest. Be present when they pack and make sure everything is listed on the manifest. From the US, they will tell you it's 6-8 weeks. Plan on 9-12 weeks to have the stuff show up at your door. You may to pay a duty on things like computers and stereos. It is not too bad and still cheaper to buy a computer in the US, for instance, and ship it.
Arrive and find your place a few weeks before your shipment comes in. You may need to find temporary accommodation until then. As mentioned, you will need to find a good real estate agent who can help you navigate the negotiations with the landlord and the lease. Plan on looking at least on the same side of the river as your job. The closer the better. There should be good choices available in any area where there is a concentration of expats.
Assuming you have shopped around and found the perfect place to live while you are in Shanghai, you will need to carry enough clothes and personal items with you on the plane to last those few weeks while your shipment is transit. Plan on spending a few hundred USD to buy things like dishes, household items, and electronics (if your apartment or house did not come with a TV.) Make a list of the things you need to set up your house that are not in your shipment. Make a separate list of all the things owned by the landlord, their condition, and value and have them sign off on it. It could help you get your deposit back when you move out.
Chances are there is someone in your company, if they have an office in Shanghai, who will help you find your way. Find out who that is and talk to them. Your company should have someone help you get the proper visas, health certificates (yes, you need to have an exam when you get here) and work permits. You will need paperwork from them, at the very least, to get your visa in order. They can probably suggest some good resources for getting established.
This article is just a brief overview of the business of moving to Shanghai. More details are available on this website and on other sites online. If you have questions, contact china2go or the author.
Michael is a business and technical consultant from the US and has lived in Shanghai since 1999.
