What to do once you land

Shanghai

verify before you go

Airport → central Shanghai (fastest legal route)

  1. From PVG (Pudong): follow signs to the Maglev (磁悬浮) → Longyang Rd Station (龙阳路), ~8 min → transfer Metro Line 2 toward the centre (People's Square 人民广场 / East Nanjing Rd 南京东路).
  2. From SHA (Hongqiao): Metro Line 2 or 10 runs directly into the centre from inside the terminal.
  3. Pay the metro by tapping an international card or the Alipay/WeChat metro QR; keep your passport and hotel address to hand.
  4. If you land after the metro closes (~22:30–23:00), use the official taxi queue (出租车排队) — roughly ¥150–200 into central Shanghai; avoid unlicensed touts.

Checked on: 2026-07-04Shanghai Metro official + Maglev; fares/hours change, confirm on-siteOfficial source

Worth seeing · 1

Half-day central loop (under 24h stay)

  1. Metro Line 2/10 to East Nanjing Rd (南京东路) → walk the Bund (外滩) riverfront → back along Nanjing Rd pedestrian street.
  2. Bund building lights come on around sunset — good for photos.
  3. Under 24h: stay central; skip Disneyland and the distant water towns (time + transit-region risk).

Checked on: 2026-07-04General central-Shanghai routing (landmarks public)

Where to stay · 1

Hotels that accept foreign guests

  1. Book an international-brand or 4★+ hotel — these reliably accept foreign passports and complete the required temporary-residence registration (临时住宿登记) at check-in.
  2. Budget hostels / small local guesthouses sometimes cannot register foreigners; when booking, confirm it accepts foreign guests (涉外) — Trip.com/Booking filters or ask directly.
  3. If you stay with friends instead of a hotel, register at the local police station within 24h of arrival.

Checked on: 2026-07-04General guidance (China temporary-residence registration rule)Official source

If you need a doctor · 1

English-speaking medical care

  1. Huashan Worldwide Medical Center (华山医院国际部) — 12 Wulumuqi Middle Rd; tel 021-5288-9999.
  2. Ruijin Hospital International Medical Center (瑞金医院国际部) — 197 Ruijin No.2 Rd; tel 021-6437-8700.
  3. Shanghai United Family Hospital (上海和睦家) — 24h ER hotline 021-2216-3999.
  4. ⚠️ Call ahead to confirm current hours, department and whether an appointment is needed before travelling to any hospital.

Checked on: 2026-07-04internationalinsurance.com / Australian Consulate Shanghai / expatden (2026); verify current details by phoneOfficial source

Paying for things · 1

Set up mobile payment before you rely on it

  1. Install Alipay before arrival: use 'Tour Pass' or link an international card — Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB are accepted; no Chinese bank account or phone number needed.
  2. Complete passport verification in-app to raise limits (single transaction up to ~US$5,000).
  3. Under ¥200 per transaction is free; ¥200 and above carries about a 3% fee. WeChat Pay works similarly.
  4. Keep some cash as a backup for small street vendors.

Checked on: 2026-07-04Trip.com/WildChina/LTL Alipay-for-foreigners guides (2026); limits/fees may changeOfficial source

Phrases to show staff · 4

Transit area boundary check

您好，我用 240 小时过境免签从上海入境。请问［目的地］在江浙沪允许停留的范围内吗？

Hi, I am using China's 240-hour transit policy and entered through Shanghai. Can you help me confirm whether this destination stays inside the Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang allowed area?

Airport to hotel

您好，去［酒店区域］坐磁悬浮换地铁 2 号线最快吗？到站该从哪个口出？

Hi! I just landed at Shanghai Pudong (PVG). Is the Maglev + Metro Line 2 the fastest way to [hotel area]? Which exit should I take?

Hotel foreign-guest check

您好，请问贵酒店可以接待外国护照的客人吗？入住需要办理临时住宿登记。我是用 240 小时过境免签入境的。

Hi, does your hotel accept foreign passport guests and handle the temporary residence registration (临时住宿登记)? I entered on the 240-hour transit / visa-free policy.

English medical

您好，我是外国旅客，需要英文看诊。请问国际部现在开诊吗？需要预约吗？

Hi, I'm a foreign visitor and need an English-speaking doctor. Is the international department open now, and do I need an appointment?