Moving from London to Shanghai in Sept/ Oct

by **Rob M** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:52 pm

I'm a city professional relocating from London to Shanghai from 1 October. Would anyone about to make a similar move/ recently having made a similar move (in any line of work) like to exchange tips and ideas?

Rob

by **Hangzhou** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:21 pm

that's a broad question... so a broad answer! Have a think about what you can't live without at home and find out if you can get one in Shanghai. For me it was a decent oven and lots of books but everyone has their own "must haves." Good luck!

by **Humac** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:26 pm

Bring music. A decent CD shop is very hard to find. Unless you're happy with James Blunt and the softer side of American rock. Classical music is not a problem.
And, for the next hundred days at least, don't count on being able to buy dvds.

by **missmombasa** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:39 pm

Deciding on where you want to live is also important. My suggestion is to take a Service Apt for a month or two until you get you bearings and decide on your location - it will also give you time to have a good look around and make an informed choice.

by **RussianBear** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:56 pm

all that moved

by **gw4khq** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:30 pm

Having a proportion of your salary paid in RMB can make life a lot easier. Also, the pound is going the same way as the dollar so its costs less to send money back to the UK now than it did 6 months ago.
Get a Nationwide credit card for any purchases you want to pay for in RMB or $. pay back in GBP.
Mail redirection service from the UK is excellent and works out over time a lot cheaper than arranging someone to pick up your mail and repost it.

by **BBCExpat** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:15 pm

Bring things that you can get in the UK but you can't in China. Oh yeah, one thing I have tp warn you about. There's not one Fish and Chips bar here.

by **Jimmy_Floyd** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:31 pm

Bring some Branston Pickle with you.

Also, if you're flying Virgin, try not to take too much luggage. They totally shafted me last time I tried that...

by **jeffry3** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:49 pm

CLOTHES!! bring enough since you can't get a big size clothes here!!

by **freedelia** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:39 pm

What is fish and chips bar???? I know a lot places that serve fish and chips -- and are bars -- does this not qualify them as "fish and chips bars" ???

by **gw4khq** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:36 pm

^ only people from the UK will know what real fish and chips are. sometimes they are even more tasty after going to a bar, but they do not mix very well at the same time.
Just to think of them makes me think of going to the 'Cottage' in Cardiff after a Rugby International, having a few beers and then down to Dorothy's Fish Bar in Caroline St, to finish the night off. Wonderful.
Rob M. 2 jars of Bransons pickle please, and SMS me.

by **taffyinchina** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:50 pm

Teabags (believe it or not!!).
And thanks gw4khq for bringing up Caroline street. I have coped for an entire year now without the taste of those chips smothered in Chicken Curry off the bone and now I am salivating at the thought!!!

by **Hangzhou** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:18 am

On the baggage thing - BA have a really good option where you pay £80 (in advance - think it's £120 on the day) for an additional bag of up to (I think) 23kg - works out much much cheaper than getting stung for excess weight and it travels with you that way too.
You can get yorkshire tea, tetleys and twinings (though only with tags which drives me nuts) in city shop.

by **taffyinchina** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:38 am

yes you can get tea bags but you pay a hefty price...instant coffee is expensive too I bring that with me. You can actually get alot of things you get at home here but you have to be willing to pay alot more for it. If it means paying alot in excess baggage it may not be worth it

by **Rob M** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:49 pm

Thanks to everyone for their kind advice - please keep it coming! I will no doubt be calling upon you all again with more specific questions nearer the time.

As for Branstons, personally I don't normally eat it but I suppose I could manage a jar or two if it is going to save lives. And the last thing I expected to be advised to bring to China was tea!

by **newbie35** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:19 am

taffyinchina wrote:yes you can get tea bags but you pay a hefty price...instant coffee is expensive too I bring that with me. You can actually get alot of things you get at home here but you have to be willing to pay alot more for it. If it means paying alot in excess baggage it may not be worth it

I am coming to SH in Aug. I will get a visit to Chippy alley in before departure. This place is know in my circle of friends foundly as dirty Dot's!!!

There seem to be a few from God's Country resident in SH!!

Is this BA extra bag thing cheaper than shipping air freight do you reckon?

Any further advice appreciated.

Fellow Taff

by **taffyinchina** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:19 am

Us Welsh are everywhere ...so beware!!
Haven't used BA and I haven't used Air freight either so no help here. I have used Virgin who seem to pick and choose when they want to charge you for excess baggage. When I first came here I was the same amount overweight as my partner who came 2 weeks before me....he was charged around £300-£400 and me NOTHING!!! go figure!!

by **Typical Scotsman** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:56 am

Bring me a box of jaffa cakes please - I'll meet you at the entrance to the Jin Mao - I'll be wearing a squirrel costume....

by **Hangzhou** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:57 pm

Newbie - From memory the BA additional bag cost was cheaper than airfreight when you book it in advance. I sent a bag back by airfreight recently and I think that cost me £200 (but that might have been for up to 30kg I think and it was from Ireland rather than UK that time). Taking an additional bag if you're already flying on BA cost £80 for 23kg. Guess it depends on how much you've got and what kind of deal you can get on the airfreight.

Us Welsh really are everywhere - I'm Welsh too!

by **taffyinchina** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:24 pm

We should set up a new stream..."so are you welsh and what the devil you doing yer butt!!"

by **kamehamehon** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:30 pm

Welcome to Shanghai
It is quite fun ~

by **rucksack** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:58 am

Tea bags, lots and lots and if you like boxed cereals, bring that too. Hopefully you'll have visitors to China that can keep supplying the things you miss from home.

by **texasgirl** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:55 am

Rob, when we came from Glasgow, we used Emirates Cargo to ship 4 suitcases at around 30kg each and it was only 143 pounds total. If you have alot to ship over, they had the best prices we could find.

And they're all serious about the tea. If you like a specific brand, bring it. I've seen Tetley's but balked at paying 4 pound 50 for a box of 50. And no fish and chips and sadly enough, no donner kebabs. Instead for a late night snack on the way home from the pub you have to eat what is being cooked on the street by these quasi-restaurants that spring up on every street corner on Fri and Sat nite. It always smells so good but after an unfortunate incident with street food in Mexico, I'm a bit skittish.

by **Rob M** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:18 pm

Thanks Texas girl and interesting point about street food. I've travelled quite a lot in various parts of the world and have been pretty lucky so far. Is China quite hygenic? Have people found that you can generally get away with eating from the food stalls or are you seriously risking a couple of days on the c rapper?

by **Magnolia** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:30 pm

On the whole, I would not say that China is topping the hygenic scales. It is also a toss-up with street food... it all depends on the individual seller's quality and cleanliness. I can eat street food without incident (w00t lamb man and meatballs from kedi) but other people are out for the count for days if they have it.

by **jacks** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:01 am

rob,

have you found an apartment yet in shanghai - i am moving there in 3 weeks time

by **Frankenstein** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:09 am

Some people find the street food gives them the runs but after a while you may acclimatize. Do get Hepatitis A and B shots and boosters before you come. And make sure your TB protection is up to date.

Seriously, Shanghai is a blast - it will challenge all your preconceptions, having you laugh and cry with rage on the same day, and either turn you into a patient person or send you screaming off on the first available jet.

Fantastic city. Hope you enjoy it. And you can always try the green tea or oolong tea here. Delicious.

by **The_Meanderer** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:45 am

Just to clarify on the subject of tea, though it has been said already, you WILL be able to buy UK style tea here, it's just that you will pay a premium for it. My personal tip for that is to buy Akbar tea, which is pretty cheap, and really let it stew!

There isn't much that you can't get in Shanghai, and the few edibles that you have to live without make the return to the UK all the sweeter! One thing I would recommend though is deoderant. There are one or two brands available here, but they are scarce.

Other than that, though, I would say come to Shanghai and live here. Don't try to bring the UK with you, if you know what I mean. Shanghai has a lot to offer everyone and if you are open to new experiences and new tastes, you will be a happy bunny

by **micer** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:54 am

The_Meanderer wrote:... Don't try to bring the UK with you, if you know what I mean ...

That's what I'm talking about. :lol:

Moving from London to Shanghai in Sept/ Oct

Moving from London to Shanghai in Sept/ Oct

also from london to shanghai

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