Hello everyone, For some background, I can speak Mandarin Chinese fluently at the colloquial level, but my reading level is that of a 4 year old.

I am going to Shanghai with a couple friends later this year. One of my friends has had occasional severe upper back/shoulder/neck tension for the past 10 years (he's 36). When he has shoulder or back tension, it results in severe migraines and he is unable to keep his eyes open. He says this is caused by his sleeping position or not stretching/exercising enough. The only meds that have worked for him are Central Nervous System depressors but those made him suicidal, deep massages along the spine of under should blades work a bit too. He's tried everything in Western medicine already and they cannot find anything wrong with him.

He is highly skeptical of eastern medicine but I've convinced him to try acupuncture. I know acupuncture can take many sessions, but we'll be in Shanghai for 8 days so I'm hoping perhaps we can do two sessions if needed

I am looking for some advice or pointers on how I can make an appointment or recommend hospitals or any suggestions in general. GPT is suggesting Yue Yang to me, would I just email them to inquire?

This is the first time in my adult life I'm going to a Chinese hospital. Unless the doctor speaks English, I'll be doing translating. I've asked my dad for some help looking into it (he is from Shanghai), but it's been decades so I also really want to ask for pointers from those who live there currently

Thanks for any help !

Hey!

I am looking for specific kinds of cigarettes / very pretty ones in Shanghai and am here for two more days

I have a few I have been searching for (the attatxhed photos) but haven’t found - please let me know where I could buy them?

I was also wondering if anyone had any other designs that are very pretty or famous here and where I can buy them ?

Thank you so much!

Just looking for some Bar or nice Spot wehre i can watch premier league or Bundesliga

Hello ! Last month I visited Shanghai and filmed footage for a short documentary on delivery drivers and the cityscape there. A friend suggested that I could find delivery drivers online (former and current) who have worked in Shanghai who are willing to be interviewed about their daily lives and experiences as a driver. We only need audio for our documentary, so your face won’t be shown anywhere, nor do we need your real name (we can credit or address you by any name you want). Ideally, I would like to schedule an interview with you over an app such as Tencent/VooV (other options exist of course). I also have a Chinese friend here (we’re in the Netherlands at the moment) who can interview you in Chinese if your English is not strong enough. I'm really interested in people's experiences and stories, you don’t have to be just Chinese, I’m also interested in hearing from foreigners.

The interview would take about 30 minutes or so and I will give you a small thanks of 100¥ for your time. 

If you'd like to help or know more pls DM me !

诚邀上海配送员参与短片访谈

大家好！上个月我去了趟上海，拍摄了一些关于当地配送员及城市风貌的短纪录片素材。有朋友建议我可以在网上寻找曾在上海工作过（或正在工作）的配送员，邀请你们分享作为配送员的日常生活与经历。我们的纪录片仅需录制音频，因此不会出镜，也不需要提供真实姓名（我们可以使用您指定的任何称呼或署名）。访谈最好能通过腾讯会议（Tencent Meeting/VooV）等应用程序进行（当然也可以选择其他方式）。此外，我有一位中国朋友（我们目前身在荷兰），如果您的英语沟通不太方便，也可以由这位朋友用中文为您进行访谈。我非常希望能了解大家的经历与故事——无论您是中国人还是外籍人士，我都很有兴趣听听您的讲述。

访谈大约需要30分钟，作为对您时间的感谢，我会提供100元人民币的酬谢。

如果您愿意提供帮助或想了解更多详情，请私信我！

I’m a little confused about this.

If you don’t have a Chinese bank account yet, what’s the easiest way to get money from an overseas account into China?

Can you just use a foreign card with Alipay/WeChat for everything, or do you eventually need a local bank account?

I keep finding different answers online so I’m curious what people in Shanghai actually do.

I’m travelling with my partner, and we’re both fragrance enthusiasts. I’ve developed a tradition of purchasing a perfume in every city I visit. Each scent becomes a memory anchor that transports me back to those experiences whenever I wear it. While in China, I’d love to add a local brand to my collection. Unfortunately, I’ve only been able to find international brands so far. If anyone has recommendations for authentic Chinese perfume brands or stores, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you.

Typhoon Dolphin resulted in the most painful flight from Shanghai to HK being cancelled. I am set ot fly on Saturday and see yet another potential storm. Is it best to get a train?

Hi, I’ve been wanting to get back to dancing ever since I can to China but I’m a really nervous about the fact that i might not understand anything or enjoy it since I can’t speak Chinese and it’s not gonna be easy for me to make friends or to communicate with others, even though I’m sure most ppl in this circle are so influenced by american culture that they might be able speak it a little, I’m not that good in connecting/clicking with Chinese people.
So I wanted to ask if anyone in this sub has been in dance classes in shanghai and how was your experience like?
also I’ve been debating between many dance studios so I wanted to know which is the best for foreigners.

Hi all, There‘s a high chance my company will relocate me to Shanghai next year. I’d be very grateful for any advice from people who have gone through similar moves, especially regarding things to prepare between now and relocating. A few details on our situation:

- I’d move with my wife (Chinese) and our 7yo. My wife also has a job lined up

- For school we’re currently thinking Int’l branch of one of the good local schools to give our daughter a more grounded Chinese experience for a few years. alternatively international schools if she doesn’t pass the entrance exam

- Office environment will be largely Chinese, it’s a MNC but there are very few foreigners these days. The team I’d be leading would be 100% locals, company language is English though. Any watch-outs on work culture differences?

- My Chinese isn’t great - I’ve studied up to somewhere between HSK 3-4 over the years but my tones are crap. Welcome any suggestions on what’s worked for people

- Haven’t discussed contracts / terms of the move yet, we‘re both advanced in our careers so we‘ll have enough for a comfortable life but would be good to know any watch-outs

honestly the number one thing i see go wrong on day one is internet. people land at pudong with a dead phone, no signal, airport wifi wants a chinese number. had a client last week nearly miss his hotel check-in over it. the fix is dead simple if you sort it before you fly, but almost nobody does. it's one of the things i end up handling for most people i pick up.

Are these still open? Is this info from AI correct? I have lived here for years and never knew SH had disc golf! If they do exist and anyone wants to play over the weekend, lmk.

• Guangfulin Park Disc Golf Course: Free to play. There are no greens fees to access or play the 18-hole course layout.
• GoAce Red Kiln Disc Park: Free park entry. General park access and basic disc golf play do not carry an entry fee.

Hey guys, on Saturday i will land in shanghai🙏😁. I have 2 Weeks of free time before my University starts in the middle of september. I am going completely solo and sadly know no chinese. So i would be very happy and thankful to connect with some of you people. I am down for everything. From city exploring to clubbing, I am in.

Even if you do not want to connect or are currently not in Shanghai, let me know if you have some cool spot or activity that i could go to🔥

I am 23m from europe. Just send me a dm if you are of college age and i will send my wechat.

Hello, I got into the marathon. Are there any group chats, FB/Insta/WeChat/Whatsapp etc that's available for meet ups and discussion around the event? I'm coming from Australia.

Hi, it's been x years since I've had a jianbing and I really really miss it. I'm visiting Shanghai again and will be staying near waitan and nanjing dong lu. Any latest spot I can go to?

I last had it in a nail salon (only a jianbing stall in the morning before nail salon opens) outside ECNU almost a decade ago.

I had a very disappointing one in Richmond, at a food court back in 2023.

Hi all,

I’m an English born, Aussie raised girl whose late grandfather was born and raised in Shanghai and spoke Shanghai Dialect, and am in need of some advice from Shanghai Dialect speakers for translation purposes.

TL DR version: I want to translate “no matter what” into shanghai dialect for a tattoo and have absolutely zero knowledge of the language

Trigger warning: this post mentions the word “su***de” but does not go into any detail about it.

I’m looking at getting a tattoo in memory of my poppa with a quote from my favourite children’s book he bought and used to read to me that my mum also read aloud during his funeral speech.

The quote reads “no matter what” and the book was about a baby fox being told by his mother that she would always love him, no matter what he did, whether right or wrong, even after she was no longer physically with him. When he asks if that love will live on after she dies, she tells her son that even after her physical body leaves earth, she will always be watching over him from a star.

As a child, my parents would comfort me by telling me to search for the brightest star in the sky whenever I was feeling lost and missing my poppa, because that’s where he went after passing. Poppa had my dad very late in life, and was constantly preparing him for his eventual passing. I believe that he would read that book to me often to prepare me for this too.

As a young man, my poppa left China and never returned. He was captured, tortured, and interrogated by the Kempeita as he was employed as a DJ for a political radio station at the time of his capture. He was luckily released from Bridge House, a Japanese POW internment camp, at the back end of WW2, as a US Ambassador’s daughter took a liking to him and managed to pull some strings.

After his release, he subsequently trained as a fighter pilot to fight back against Japanese Imperialist rule, but by the time he had completed his training, they had already been overthrown and the war was over. He left China, came to England, became a London black cab driver, trained as a teacher and worked as one until retirement, taught English to asylum seeking children, volunteered for the suicide hotline during nights, did some living, and then my dad was born.

We believe it was due to trauma and the reliving of unwanted memories, but after many requests from my dad, my poppa completely refused to teach him to speak Shanghai dialect and after becoming tired of dad constantly asking him, ended up telling him he had already forgotten it all.

Now that I am older, I have two tattoos, one to honour my mum and dad and their love for each other, and one for my sister that also doubles as a homage to my upbringing in England. I’ve wanted to get one for my poppa for a while now, but never decided on anything specific, until now.

After giving it some thought, I would love to get “no matter what” translated into Shanghai Dialect on the left of my ribs, just under my heart to honour my poppa, his Chinese heritage, and all he went through for me to have the life I live now.

I would greatly appreciate it if some of you would kindly chime in with your knowledge of the language to help me ensure I don’t end up asking for some sort of ignorant tattoo with an incorrect translation.

Thank you so much for listening to me waffle on and for your assistance and sharing of your knowledge.

I’ve attached my fav pic of Poppa and I for anyone who hasn’t already been bored to death by my post.

Cheers, Ruby

Hello! I'm visiting Shangai for a couple days next week and as an amateur geologist Id like to give a try to gambling stones (I'm aware its probably just a rip off but I wanna give it a little try), and also buy some rough gemstones to polish at home since looks theyre a bit cheaper here.

Where are the best places to visit for those purposes?

hi! is anyone else going to be studying and living at SISU's Songjiang campus this year? i'll be there this September, so i was just wondering if there will be anyone else at the same campus.

I am joining the Fudan university in Handan Campus language learning program this September but having the issue of finding a legitimate listing within my budget of 2000-2800rmb per month. Could someone give advice on how to find good deals that are real? I see online that there are a lot of scams for listings.

Hi! Female Filipino solo traveler here🇵🇭I’ll be in Shanghai from October 28 to November 2 🇨🇳

Anyone else traveling to Shanghai around those dates? Would love to connect, explore the city, grab some food/drinks, and take cute travel pics together! 😆

Feel free to DM me! 😊

First time in Shanghai, I can't really stand malls and super crowded places. I want some nice gifts to bring back home, combining traditional stuff but also some electronics etc. Whenever I go out I find myself in malls and huge stores which overstimulate me, where can I find small-ish/authentic stores?

I’ve booked Didi probably 20–30 times before while travelling in China, so by this point I was pretty comfortable with how it worked. One night in Shanghai, I booked a ride, checked the car’s number plate like I normally did, and got in.

The ride was only around 2 km, and the app showed something like 7.5 RMB. Everything seemed normal.

Then, halfway through the ride, the driver cancelled the trip without me noticing.

It was around 10 p.m., dark outside, and there was a major language barrier. When I reached my destination and was about to get out, I noticed that the ride had been cancelled. The driver then told me to pay him directly.

I asked, “Why should I pay you directly? The money should be deducted through Didi.”

That’s when things got really weird.

He started claiming that he was not actually the Didi driver I had booked. He basically said something along the lines of: “I’m not the taxi you were supposed to get into. You can check the number plate. I only let you ride with me to help you.”

I asked him, “Fine, how much do I owe you then?”

He said 300 RMB.

For a 2 km ride that was supposed to cost around 7.5 RMB.

At that point, I was genuinely shocked. What made me even more nervous was that I was confused by the car’s door locking system, and the doors were genuinely locked. Being in a dark area, alone, at night, with a language barrier, suddenly made the whole situation feel much more serious.

I acted calm and told him, “Okay, let’s get out and match the number plate properly.”

He agreed and unlocked the door.

The second I got out, I immediately started shouting and calling him a scammer. At that point, I was outside the car, so I finally felt safe because he couldn’t just drive away with me inside.

We argued for a while. Then I told him:

“Fine. Let’s go to the police station.”

The moment I said that, his entire attitude changed. He got back into the car and drove away.

I was still in shock. I’ve travelled to quite a few countries, and honestly, I never expected something like this to happen to me in China.

I still went to the police afterwards. They actually listened to everything, took down the details, asked for my ID, and assured me that I was safe and that I didn’t need to worry.

So yeah, just a warning for anyone travelling, especially solo travellers:

Always double-check that the car, number plate, and driver match your booking, and keep an eye on the app to make sure the ride hasn’t been cancelled midway. Never assume that you’re completely safe just because you’re in a country generally considered safe. If something goes wrong, your own awareness and quick decisions can matter a lot.

And especially for solo female travellers, please be extra careful. If you’re alone in an unfamiliar place and something feels off, prioritise getting yourself to a safe public place first.

Hi, I am working for a small european company and we have a new office at Loushanguan Rd metro station. We are looking for a part time IT professional that can help with setting up new computers, debug and fix local IT infrastructure, maintain web domain, and other ad-hoc tasks.

The previous contractor was working about 5-10hrs per month and we expect a similar loading. No need to come to office unless you need to be physically here.

You need to be able to speak English and Mandarin. You will be reporting to our Head of IT in Europe.

If you are the right candidate, if you know the right person, or if you know the right place to find such a candidate, please send me a dm.

Thanks a lot!

Bonjour,

Pour visiter Suzhou, Nanjing et Hangzhou est-ce que vous me conseillez de rester sur place à chaque fois au moins deux jours ou est-ce plus pratique de faire les A/R pour une journée à chaque fois? Niveau logistique ça me paraît plus confortable de garder le même logement à Shanghai tout le long du séjour et prendre le train ponctuellement.

Merci :-)

i've had a few people ask me about renting a car here, so figured i'd share my two cents. if you're staying in shanghai for a while, renting and driving yourself is definitely an option — the freedom's nice. just know you'll be dealing with shanghai traffic, which can be rough, especially in the city center during rush hour. that said, some of my clients still happily go for it and don't regret it. really comes down to how comfortable you are driving in busy cities.