First Steps in Shanghai Things to Do in Shanghai

First Steps in Shanghai Things to Do in Shanghai

Here are some of the basics things you should do when arriving.

Register to the Police Station & Consulate

Register to the Police Station

You have to get registered at the police station of your district within 72 hours after the beginning of the lease period. This process is very simple: just bring your passport and go there with your leasing contract and ask for a “Zan zhu zhen” to get your Local Shanghai Registration Form Of Temporary Residence. This registration is free of charge.

If you don't know where is the correct local police station you have to go, give us a call, we can help you to find it out for free.

   • If you are living at the hotel, or an international student building at the university, the reception will manage this process on your behalf (they just need a copy of your pass port).
   • If you are living in your own apartment, you have to be registered to the police station of your district. If you do not take time to deal with this, later you will not be allowed to renew your visa; and the Chinese authorities can ask you up to 5000 RMB as penalties.

You can find here a list of the main police stations by districts. It is best you call then before going to confirm the place to register.

District	Tel	Address
Changning Hongkou Huangpu Jing'an Luwan Pudong Putuo Xuhui Yangpu Zhabei	62906290 63242200 63280123 62588800 64735330 50614567 52809966 64868911 65431000 63172110	No.201 Weining Rd. No.260 Minhang Rd. No.174 Jinling East Rd. No.415 Jiaozhou Rd. No.22 Jianguo Middle Rd. No.655 Dingxiang Rd. No.1895 Daduhe Rd. No.901 Tianyaoqiao Rd. No.2049 Pingliang Rd. No.600 Tianmu Middle Rd.

Note also that if you leave the country and come back or move to a new living place, you have to renew this form.

Register to your consulate or embassy

Registration will assist your embassy/consulate in locating you in the event of an emergency or in replacing a lost or stolen passport. It is not compulsory but recommend and it is free of charge. List of the main consulates and embassies in Shanghai.

List of Embassies and Consulates in Shanghai

General Consulate of Argentina in Shanghai, China SUN Plaza Building - 88, Xian Xia Road, West Tower-4th, Floor, Shanghai 200336 Phone: (86-21) 6278- 0300 Fax: (86-21) 6295-8539 Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai, China Level 22, CITIC Square, 1168 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai 200041, China Phone: (021) 2215 5200 Fax: (021) 2215 5252 Consulate General of Austria in Shanghai, China Qi Hua Tower 3A, 1375 Huai Hai Zhong Lu, 200031, Shanghai, China Phone: (+86) (21) 64740268 Fax: (+86) (21) 647 11 554 Embassy of the Republic of Belarus, China 1702F, 2299 Yan'an Rd (W), Shanghai, China 200 336 Phone: + (86 10) 65 32 16 91 Fax: + (86 10) 65 32 64 17 Consulate General of Belgium in Shanghai, China Wu Yi Road 127 200050, Shanghai, China Phone: +86-21-64376579 / 64376772 / 64376628 Fax: +86-21-64377041 British Consulate-General in Shanghai, China Suite 301, Shanghai Centre 1376 Nan Jing Xi Lu Shanghai 200040 China Phone: (+86) (21) 3279 2000 General Fax: (+86) (21) 6279 7651 General Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria, Shanghai, China 7K, Hongqiao Business Center No.2272 Hongqiao Road Shanghai, China Phone: 86-21-62376183 / 62376187 Fax: 86-21-62376189 Consulate General of Cambodia in Shanghai, China Huasheng Commercial Building 9th Floor, Hankou Road 400 Shanghai, China Phone: (8621) 63616681, 63600949 Fax: (8621) 63611437 The Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, China 604, West Tower 1376 Nanjing Road (West) Shanghai, 200040, China Phone: (+86-21) 6279-8400 Fax: (+86-21) 6279-8401 General Consulate of Chile in Shanghai, China Room 1712, Office Tower Shanghaimart Bldg., 2299 Yanan Rd, Shanghai 200036 China Phone: 86(21) 62360770 Fax: 86(21) 62361318 Cuban Consulate in Shanghai, China New Town Mansion Apto. 501, piso 555 Loushanguan, Rd. Shanghai, China Phone: (86-21) 62753078 Fax: (86-21) 62753147 Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai, China 808 New Town Center, 83 Loushan Guan Road83 Loushan Guan Road Shanghai 200336, China Phone: 8621-62369925 Fax: 8621-62369920 Royal Danish Consulate General in China Room 701, Shanghai International Trade Centre, No. 2201, Yan'an Xi Lu, 200336 Shanghai China Phone: +86 (21) 62090500 Fax: +86 (21) 62090504 Ecuadorian Consulate in Shanghai, China 317 Xianxia Lu, Torre B, Piso 17, Oficina 1701 Shanghai 200051, China Phone: (+86 21) 62350532 62350536 Fax: (+86 21) 62350539 Consulate General of Egypt in China 1375 HUAI ZHONG ROAD, QIHUA BUILDING - 19th Floor, A&B, Shanghai, China Phone: (8621) 64331020 / 64330622 / 64330502 Fax: (8621) 64330049 Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai, China CITIC Square 2501-2505, 25 th floor 1168 Nanjing Xi Lu 200041 Shanghai China Phone: +86 21 52929900 Fax: +86 21 52929880 Consulate General of France in Shanghai, China Hai Tong Securities Building 2F 689 Guangdong Lu - 20 0001 Shanghai China Phone: 8621 61032200 Fax: 8621 61352089 Consulate General of Germany in Shanghai, China 181, Yongfu Road, Shanghai 200031, Shanghai, China Phone: (8621) 34010106 Fax: (8621) 64714448 Consulate General of Greece in Shanghai The Center, Suite 3501, No 989 Changle Road, Shanghai, 200031, China Phone: (8621) 54670505 Fax: (8621)54670202 Consulate General of India in Shanghai, China 1008, Shanghai International Trade Centre 2201 Yan An West Road, Shanghai 200336 China Phone: 86-21-62758885 Fax: 86-21-62758881 Consulate General of Ireland in Shanghai, China Suite 700A, Shanghai Centre 1376 Nanjing Road West 200040 Shanghai China Phone: 86 21 62798729 Fax: 86 21 62798739 Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai 7th Floor, New Town Mansion, No.55 Lou Shan Guan Road, Shanghai 200336 China Phone: 86-21-62098008 General Consulate of Italy in Shanghai, China The Center - 19 Floor - 989 Changle Road - 200031 Shanghai China Phone: 8621 54075588 Fax: 8621 64716977 Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai, China 8 Wan Shan Road, Shanghai, China Phone: (86-21) 5257-4766 Fax: (86-21) 6278-8988 Consulate General of Luxembourg in Shanghai, China 12, ZhongShanDongYi Road 200002 Shanghai China Phone: 86 21 5353 0295 Fax: 86 21 5353 0296 Consulate General of Malaysia in Shanghai, China Units 01, Block B - 9th Floor Dawning Centre, No. 500 Hongbaoshi Road Changning District, Shanghai 201103 China Phone: (8621) 52925424 / 5425 Fax: (8621) 5292 5951 Honorary Consulate of Monaco in China Thomson Commercial Building 710 Dong Fang Road, 2F Pudong New Areal, Shanghai China Phone: 8621 58314008 Dutch Consulate in Shanghai, China 10/F East Tower, Dawning Center No. 500 Hongbaoshi Road, Changning District Shanghai 201103, China Phone: 021 2208 7288 Fax: 021 2208 7300 New Zealand Consulate-General in Shanghai Room 1605-1607A, The Centre 989 Chang Le Road, 200031 Shanghai China Phone: 8621-5407-5858 Fax: 8621-5407-5068 Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Shanghai Room 321, 12 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Lu 200002 Shanghai China Phone: 86-21-6323-9988 Fax: 86-21-6323-3938 Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai, China Suite 0, 7/F Hong Qiao Business Center, 2272 Hong Qiao Road Shanghai 200336 CHina Phone: 86 21 6237 7000 Fax: 86 21 6237 7066 Consulate of the Republic of Peru in Shanghai, China Kerry Centre, 1515 Nanjing west road, ofi. 2705 200040 Shanghai China Phone: (86-21) 52985900 Fax: (86-21) 52985905 Consulate General of Philippines in Shanghai, China Suite 301, Metrobank Plaza Building No. 1160 Yaan West Road (corner Fanyu Road) Changning District, Shanghai China Phone: 8621 6281-8020 Fax: 8621 6281-8023 Consulate of Poland in Shanghai, China Jianguo Xilu 618 200031 Shanghai China Phone: (86-21) 64339288 Fax: (86-21) 64330417 Serbian Consulate in Shanghai, China Rm, 302, No.1, Lane 60, Lyon Garden, Ronghua East Road, Gu Bei New Area 201103 Shanghai China Phone: 86-21-62081388 / 62081899 Fax: 86-21-62087412 General Consulate of Singapore in Shanghai, China 89 Wan Shan Road Shanghai 200336 China Phone: 8621-62785566 Fax: 8621-6295-6038 Consulate of Slovakia in Shanghai, China Qi Hua Tower 4A 1375 Huaihai Central Road Shanghai 200031 China Phone: (86-21) 6431-4205 Fax: (+86-21) 6471-3604 South Africa Consulate in Shanghai, China 222 Yan An Road East, 27th Floor, Room 2705/6 Shanghai 200002 China Phone: 86-21-53594977 Fax: 86-21-63352980 General Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai No.60, Wanshang Road Shanghai, China Phone: 86-21-62955000,62952639 Fax: 86-21-62955191,62952629 Consulate-General of Sweden, Shanghai 1521-1541 Shanghai Central Plaza 381 Huaihai Road (Middle) Shanghai 200020 China Phone: 8621 5359 9610 Fax: 8621 5359 9633 Consulate of Switzerland in Shanghai, China 22F, Building A, Far East International Plaza, 319 Xianxia Road, Shanghai, China Phone: (86-21) 62700519, 62700520 Fax: (86-21) 62700522 Royal Thai Consulate General, Shanghai Crystal Century Mansion 15 Floor No. 567 Weihai Road, Shanghai China Phone: (86-21) 62883030 Fax: (86-21) 62889072 Consulate of Turkey in Shanghai, China 13th floor of Qihua Building, Huahai Zhong Lu Phone: 86-21 6474-6838 Fax: 86-21 6471-9896 Consulate of Ukraine in Shanghai, China W502, Sun Plaza, 88, Xian Xia Rd. Shanghai China Phone: 86-21-62953195 Fax: 86-21-62953171 Consulate General of United States in Shanghai, China 1469 Huai Hai Zhong Road (Near Wulumuqi Nan Lu) 200031 Shanghai China Phone: 8621-6433-6880 Fax: 8621-6433-4122 Consulate of Uruguay in Shanghai China 300 Huai Hai Zhong RD, Unit 2403 Hong Kong New World Tower, Shanghai, China Phone: (8621) 63353521, 63353927 Fax: (8621) 63353741

Banking in China/Open A bank Account

It is recommended to have a local bank account to keep small amounts of RMB in it.
The four large banks are Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of Communications and Agricultural Bank of China.
Banks are open weekends as well as week days and close early evening. Some smaller branches will close during lunch hours from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

Money Exchange
You can exchange currency at the airport upon arrival – at the currency exchange counter (after passing through customs). There is no limit to how much you can change here – so if you need large amounts of currency it is a
good idea to change money when you arrive.
The exchange rate in China is government controlled and therefore generally the same at hotels, banks and airport. Don't forget your passport when changing money. There is no problem exchanging Travellers Cheques in China – but you will also need to have your passport with you.

ATM Machines / Credit Cards

ATM Machines are common in Shanghai and many banks are linked to the Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus networks. There is a limit of 2,500RMB per withdrawal but you can withdraw a number of times over from the same machine.

While more and more places in China are starting to accept major credit cards, China does remain a largely cash society. It is important to ensure that you have some cash with you at all times.

Open A Bank Account

There is no cost to open your account and the card is free of charge. Open a bank account is the most convenient way to receive money from abroad and to be paid by your company. You will then be able to receive and emit bank transfers. The cost for these transfers varies according to the receiver’s bank account.
It is very easy to do: 15 minutes are required to obtain your credit card. Your passport and 10 RMB are needed to complete the process. Your will choose your personal password (6 numbers). Your credit card will be activated and you will be able to use it immediately.

Tips:
     • Keep all your receipts when you change money into RMB.

Chinese regulations are very strict concerning the change from RMB into a foreign currency. If this point is not important when you just arrive in Shanghai, it will become more significant when you will leave China. The Chinese regulations allow you to change as much RMB into a foreign currency as you previously change foreign currency into RMB. Your change receipts will then define the amount you can change when you leave the country.
     • Transferring money from abroad takes from 4 days to 2 weeks. Your foreign bank will ask for the name of the bank account holder, your account number, the SWIFT code and address of your bank in Shanghai.
Unless you choose HSBC which is the only foreign bank available to individuals, there are lots of Chinese banks to choose from. They all offer the same basic services: we recommend Bank of China and Industrial Bank of China which are among the most famous.

Buy A SIM Card for Your Phone

As everywhere in the world, you need to have your own cell phone number in Shanghai.
Each cell phone (GSM) is working in China. You can buy a prepaid card everywhere along the street or in specialized shops.
As a foreigner, you can not access to subscription. Foreigners only can use prepaid cards.
The number of different cards existing on the market is simply crazy: some are restricted to Shanghai, others work everywhere but the cost is prohibitive if you phone a number from another network… The best is to go with a Chinese friend to help you for this point.
The price of communication is very low. You will use between 100 and 300 yuans per month according to your use. In China, receiver and caller will pay for a phone call.

Shanghai Clean & Cheap Transportation Airport Transfer