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Tips for living well in Shanghai

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Shanghai Expat Forum Index » City Living Forums » Lifestyle Recommendations

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SnappySammy

Board Buddha

Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 15137

Status: Offline

Posted: Nov 04, 2008 - 09:11 AM

Have someone you know who speaks english and is Chinese, and keep their cell phone number stored in your Phone... Whenever you need to speak to anyone, taxi driver, waiter, etc etc....Just call your English speaking Chinese friend and let them talk for you

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shawk6

Newbie

Joined: Dec 12, 2008
Posts: 1

Status: Offline

Posted: Dec 12, 2008 - 11:15 AM

Most important source for determining the correct prices for electronic goods (and others) in China. www.taobao.com The site is a big e-market for all kinds of goods, small resellers and retailers selling online, like ebay but better. Typing in the english name generally works for most electronic goods. A list will show up, there is generally a recognizable plateau in the prices, a few listings will be obviously too high, the majority will be within a few percent of each other, and then there will be some unrealistically low ones. Take this average price to any electronics market where bargaining is possible and there is no discussion. This is the way to know you got the best price. If you are more adventurous, for more hard to find items, the sellers information is generally listed under the colorful icon on the right hand side of the page. Cell phone numbers are there, send a text message (english has always marginally worked for me, the seller generally knows someone that can interpret) and you can then visit a shop (if exists). The listings are from many cities, so only check the listing for your city (you have to know the chinese character) google translate will return english versions of the pages with passable results. For cell phones use wap.taobao.com for one the spot price comparisons.

yleo

Talker

Joined: Sep 06, 2008
Posts: 94

Status: Offline

Posted: Dec 17, 2008 - 02:21 PM

Quote:

Don't get frustrated at everyday situatlons. Smile, Laugh and treat people as you would expect to be treated. I've found that smiling and being friendly gets you a whole lot further in a situation than being aggressive and demanding.

This is by far the best advice. this is equally true in any Asian country, but seems to work better in China.

spacebabe

Squeeker

Joined: May 21, 2007
Posts: 16

Status: Offline

Posted: Dec 31, 2008 - 05:36 PM

Btw not all taxis take the transport card, I have had quite a few shake their heads and gesticulate that they can't use it for some reason. Ditto on the maroon taxis being dodgy especially the ones lurking at the Yu Yuan Gardens. Also the impossibility of getting most taxis to go from Pudong to Puxi or vice versa in peak hour unless they've got the special light in the front which says they're from the desination area i.e. Puxi or Pudong ...and the fact that 'peak hour' goes from about 3pm to 8pm! Parodoxically some taxis in the Pudong area will try charge 50RMB for an 11RMB trip after 11pm if you're not going very far, they only want the Puxi trips at that hour.

victorinchina

Board Royalty

Joined: Jan 17, 2009
Posts: 7834
Location: Shanghai
Status: Online!

Posted: Jan 21, 2009 - 10:58 AM

When you get your internet installed in your apartment, be sure to test the speed while the service guy is there.
www.speedtest.net/ is a good one for that.
When the result shows a lower speed than you purchased (And there is a very good risk it will) kindly explain to the guy that it does not meet your requirements.
He will argue about it saying something like your laptop being a foreign brand and in that way is the problem. Just stay calm and have him call the internet provider. After a few minutes of talk on the phone he will ask you to restart your laptop and test again. Result, Speed is as requested.

Tried 3 times, same thing happened every time.

Juan_Tamad wrote:

Look right and left, then right and left again, before crossing a street

I know the traffic rules are non-existing here, but one could at least start by looking to the side where traffic is supposed to come from Laughing

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stinky streets

Lurker

Joined: July 17, 2008
Posts: 29
Location: shanghai,nanjing
Status: Offline

Posted: Jan 27, 2009 - 09:34 PM

Be aware in shopping centres/markets to not bump other trollies.
Yes the locals leave them in the middle of the throughfare where people walk,hence the driving skills on road.

Kindly say excuse me in Chinese and you will be greated with a smile and they will move whilst apologising.

yet if in Gubei Carrefour give up , just don't go there it's utter madness and full of snobby expats frowning at locals, and full of locals angry at expats.
Also empty pallets everywhere , boxes all over the place and the expat french dude in the wine says "BONJOUR..you want wine,what type".I say "nope just avoiding the mayhem on the other aisles.But if you want to crack open a bottle now,I'm here for the night".

happy shopping,big smiles,good luck wiht the taxi's outside gubei.

Jerard

Newbie

Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 14, 2009 - 12:21 AM
Post subject: EASE LIVING IN SHANGHAI

Are you new to Shanghai, have some problems in your daily life, need some help but couldn’t find an access?
Maybe you can consider having a shanghai tour, which covers the subway system(buy and charge the card , lines introduction) and taxies, medical environment(expat hospitals, pharmacies and medical equipments), tourist attractions, culture and language barriers, finding essentials and other living related areas. Through this, at a great chance, everything in this fresh land would be much easilier!

Hope my help can ease your settling in
Jimmy
Email: jimmy_wuzhe@hotmail.com
Phone: 15800423361

Marakanis
Wonder Wit

Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3854

Posted: Mar 14, 2009 - 01:40 AM

stinky streets wrote:

Kindly say excuse me in Chinese and you will be greated with a smile and they will move whilst apologising.

"excuse me" sounds like: dway boo chee
I use this to get off subways or around people on stairs. When they hear me say it, they almost immediately move. It is a magic word. Learn to say it properly from a local if you have to.

"thanks" sounds like: shey shey
This is helpful and can help you avoid a lot of trouble because it's polite and locals tend to be less angry at polite people.

"I don't need" or "no" sounds like: boo yaow
I use this for when they ask me if I want plastic bags and other things I don't want.

"No" sounds like: boo yong
I use this for beggars.

You may have been told that "Boo shee" means "No."
But it actually means "Incorrect."
And it REALLY pisses Chinese off when you use it to try and say No to things like plastic bags when you're checking out at the market.
I don't use this word anymore...

SnappySammy

Board Buddha

Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 15137

Status: Offline

Posted: May 06, 2009 - 04:16 AM

"Tips For Living Well In Shanghai" MAKE A LOT OF MONEY

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swfs

Squeeker

Joined: May 13, 2009
Posts: 13

Status: Offline

Posted: May 13, 2009 - 04:51 PM

can someone tell mem about the buses that run im shanghai ... i have found a good sit which tells me where the buses go but i have to click on the bus number to see.. is there a bus website for expats??? yes i do get the bus im not a typical expat riding taxis,.. basically cause im on a bad deal with salary...
trying to live cheap in shanghai

monalisalee

StreetBeater

Joined: May 10, 2005
Posts: 2464
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: May 13, 2009 - 09:08 PM

I guess you have the site I have, which is http://msittig.wubi.org/bus/

It is invaluable, but in combination with www.ddmap.com we can work out any combination of bus/buses to get literally anywhere.

Like you we use buses almost exclusively, to save. In many ways are better.
Only trouble is the second site is Chinese. No prob. for me, as my wife is Chinese.
We sit in front of our 2 computers, and in a few minutes can get the buses, number of stops etc to go from our nearby bustop to anywhere in Shanghai. GREAT.

If you cannot read Chinese you may need to use a friend, or change your requirements on your other thread, and marry one. (Ha Ha, bad joke).

John.

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johnboy88

Marakanis
Wonder Wit

Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3854

Posted: May 13, 2009 - 09:16 PM

How much do the buses cost? I use the subway which seems to be 3-5 kuai per trip.

HiBeverly
LoopKicker

Joined: Feb 02, 2009
Posts: 814
Location: Shanghai

Posted: May 13, 2009 - 09:25 PM

2RMB - it's freakin' ace.

Except when people rush to the door and PUSH AND SHOVE like their life depended on it. But they do that too on the subway...

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8lrr8
Wonder Wit

Joined: Oct 14, 2004
Posts: 3745

Posted: May 13, 2009 - 09:37 PM

^ it can be 1rmb if u're xferring. or 3rmb (& possibly higher?) if u're going way out there (like the boonies). & for those non-a/c buses, it's 1rmb.

but 2rmb is the avg.

Marakanis
Wonder Wit

Joined: Jan 11, 2009
Posts: 3854

Posted: May 13, 2009 - 10:20 PM

Pretty sweet. I guess I'll have to look into it. =)

monalisalee

StreetBeater

Joined: May 10, 2005
Posts: 2464
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: May 13, 2009 - 11:24 PM

8lrr8 is right, and you can get a discount on your card if you use for 2 buses within 30 mns. I think.

WATCH YOUR POCKETS/BAGS.

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johnboy88

Parkson18single

Rocker

Joined: Mar 09, 2009
Posts: 610

Status: Offline

Posted: May 24, 2009 - 08:32 PM

shawk6 wrote:

Your words you spoke it in that moment it was so true, cause I always purchase and get all I want from that www.taobao.com , hehehe.........

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CoffeeHawk_0
Board Deity

Joined: July 14, 2005
Posts: 19090

Posted: May 25, 2009 - 06:10 AM

Beware of the Honeytraps!

Humac
StreetBeater

Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 2273

Posted: June 02, 2009 - 10:53 AM

...

estherISmyNAME

Squeeker

Joined: Dec 08, 2008
Posts: 11

Status: Offline

Posted: July 11, 2009 - 02:18 PM

the convenience store to pay the bills are all days and family mart (at least i go to that store to pay my bills) but they cant do the late bills.

and yes... never take marron taxi, i really had a bad experience with them, they asked me to get another taxi after take me and my baby around around (which is cost me around 50rmb) and its not only once but twice.. since then i only lookin for green taxi.

skyline5k
Board Legend

Joined: Sep 06, 2004
Posts: 10514
Location: is behind you with a knife O_O

Posted: July 20, 2009 - 10:03 AM

Light blue ones are good, as are Light Green & Gold. That's about it.

Dark Blue ones, Maroon ones... not so good unless you're just taking a short stint & you know where you're going.

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monalisalee

StreetBeater

Joined: May 10, 2005
Posts: 2464
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: July 20, 2009 - 11:13 AM

Talking about buses:
Man, I had a strange ride yesterday. Hopped on the 206 to go the 8 stops to Nanjing Rd. After a couple of stops, I was the only one on the bus. The driver asked where I was going. Told him, and he proceeded to Nanjing rd, which was the last stop, without stopping at any stops. Nice fast trip.
Never could have imagined this happening in Shanghai. That bus is usually packed. Was about 3.30 p.m.

Yes, I DID have a shower that morning.

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johnboy88

winexz

Talker

Joined: Jan 05, 2009
Posts: 85
Location: Xinzhuang
Status: Offline

Posted: July 28, 2009 - 06:23 PM

Marakanis wrote:

"I don't need" or "no" sounds like: boo yaow
I use this for when they ask me if I want plastic bags and other things I don't want.

"No" sounds like: boo yong
I use this for beggars.

You may have been told that "Boo shee" means "No."
But it actually means "Incorrect."
And it REALLY pisses Chinese off when you use it to try and say No to things like plastic bags when you're checking out at the market.
I don't use this word anymore...

Yao also works for "want"

Yong is "use"

Bu Shi is more like "not" or "wrong". Also just saying Bu works on some sellers, particularly in an angry tone for the pushy ones. Try Bu Yao or Bu Yong first. Beggers just ignore for the most part.

Bu Dui is closer to "incorrect"

I have never had anyone get made at me for using the wrong word. Gotten really confused but never pissed off, what were you doing?

monalisalee

StreetBeater

Joined: May 10, 2005
Posts: 2464
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: July 28, 2009 - 09:12 PM

Bu Yao works pretty good for the pesky pedlers.

Failing that "FXCK OFF"!! works very well, even though they have NO English.

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johnboy88

TheChemist1981

Seeker

Joined: Jan 29, 2009
Posts: 62
Location: Minhang District
Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 16, 2009 - 10:19 PM

In my view, the number one tip is not to expect things to be the way they are in your home country, because they won't be - in fact they will generally be very different. Accept this fact and you'll be well on your way to living happily here. Patience is another virtue that you will need to have a lot of in order not to go crazy. Wink