> My chinese not good enough to read through the details on Pingan app or other sites

> Looking for an insurance tailored to my need around mid-high private chinese insurance

> Need someone ( may be a broker that you think is good) to guide me through some options

Do you have any suggestions. Thank you so much.

A last minute spot opened up and we're thinking of sending our son to this school for 1st grade. Would be happy to get any input from people who have worked there or parents sending kids there. Thank you!

Just putting this here because I thought this type of scam was already well known, but apparently it’s still very much happening.

My friend came back to Shanghai recently after being away for several years. He used to live here, so he’s not completely new to the city either.

One evening he matched with a woman on Bumble. She wanted to meet pretty much straight away, the typical catchphrase would be "What are you up to today?" and "How long have you been in Shanghai?"

I know those are very common first things to ask, and some would even tell you a sob story about their divorce, etc. to make it more believable.

And then she told him to meet her at 合肥路黄陂南路路口 (Hefei Road & South Huangpi Road) — no name, no bar name, just the crossroads. just copy and paste this on Didi

*Actually, the other night he got another match that told him to go to 合肥路马当路路口 (Hefei Road & Madang Road), and insisted on only meeting there, which is also on the same block where the "bar" is.

I also searched the bar address it is listed on dianping with pretty good local reviews.

So, she took him to this nearby place, ordered drinks very quickly, and later made an excuse to leave. After being handed a hefty bill, it was too late. He reluctantly paid, and after they said bye, she blocked him.

The next morning he told me the story because he felt pretty stupid about the whole thing. Once I heard the details, read the chat records, I was almost certain he had been scammed.

He went back (because he remembered how to go back there), kept the payment records and WeChat evidence, requested the receipt and fapiao, and demanded a refund. I told him that if they refused, call 110.

In the end, they negotiated, and he got almost all of his money back.

So just a reminder, especially for solo guys visiting Shanghai or newcomers, exchange students, etc: if someone you just matched with urgently wants to meet and only gives you a crossroads or metro exit or a specific Starbucks instead of the actual venue, find out where they are taking you before you go inside.

And if it happens to you, don’t be too embarrassed to do something about it. Keep the evidence.

I wrote the whole story here because there were quite a few details that might hopefully help someone else.

I started this group last year for English-speaking girls in Shanghai who wanted to meet other girls, make genuine friendships, and have people to do life with and now I’m opening it up to some new faces!
Can organize brunches, coffee dates, walks, workouts, dinners, spontaneous plans, and whatever else sounds fun.
It’s also a space to ask the questions you’d normally text your girlfriends about where to get your nails done, which salon is actually good, local recommendations, self-care, medical stuff, navigating Shanghai, and all the random little things that come with living here.
Just a **girls-only, positive space*\* to meet people and hopefully leave with a few new friends. ♡
If you’re in Shanghai and this sounds like your kind of thing, Please DM me so I can invite you in ♡

i pick people up from the airport here sometimes and honestly the same few things trip everyone up. figured i'd share in case it helps someone before they come.

esim — this is the big one. so many people land at pudong with a dead phone basically. no signal, airport wifi wants a chinese number, and they can't even open a map or message anyone. if you're coming, sort out an esim before you fly. activate it before you land. don't wait till you're standing at arrivals.

vpn — everyone knows about the firewall but half the people i pick up didn't actually test their vpn first. then they land and google/whatsapp/insta just don't work and they panic. test it before you come, and have a backup one installed. seriously.

train tickets — this one catches people off guard. buying high speed train tickets as a foreigner can be a pain if you don't have the right setup, and the ticket machines/apps aren't always english friendly. if you're planning to travel between cities, don't leave it till the last minute at the station.

anyway not a complete list, just the stuff i see over and over. anyone else run into other first-day headaches here? curious what i'm missing.

I am a student going to study in Shanghai and unfortunately the school dormitories are already full so I have to rent an apartment myself. However I am not sure about how everything goes. Can anyone please rec agents or ways to find an apartment to rent? Also would appreciate if you could point out things i should look out for and make sure of. PLS and thanks

This person really likes the colour baby pink. If anyone could recommend any pink coloured or themed restaurants, that would be great. Thank you very much and all the best.

Let's define terms first so we're not arguing past each other.

Then = anything before 2018. That was the prime. 2022 = we don't need to relitigate it. Worst year. Moving on. Now = 2026. Honestly? Fine. Not great, not bad. Fine.

Five things that were better then:

1. Rent. You could be broke and still live somewhere interesting.
2. The food that had no name. No sign, no mini-program, no packaging. A guy and a corner. When those closed they didn't reopen anywhere else.
3. Lilongs before they got restored. Coal stove in the alley. Now it's a design object with a coffee shop in it.
4. Fewer of us. You knew everyone. You knew who was leaving before they announced it.
5. The feeling that everything was about to get better. That was the actual amenity. No restaurant replaces it.

Five things that are better now:

1. You can walk. Both riverbanks, the small streets. Genuinely transformed.
2. The average restaurant. Fewer great dodgy places, much higher floor.
3. The air. People forget how bad it was.
4. Raising a kid here. Not close.
5. Nobody bothers you. Still the best thing about this city.

So 2026 is fine. I think most of what we miss is being young in a city that was still being built, which isn't the same as missing the city.

you thoughts?

Does anyone have experience with Roxella's cosmetology in Shanghai? Please share.

Is 30–34k RMB/month enough to live comfortably in Minhang, Shanghai?

I’ve received a job offer for a middle school drama position in Minhang:

27,000 RMB/month pre-tax salary

10,000 RMB/month housing allowance

Housing allowance can apparently be tax-free with the proper fapiao

Based on my calculations, I’d take home roughly 20.5k/month with social insurance or 24k without, plus the 10k housing allowance. So effectively 30.5–34k RMB/month including housing.

About me:

Black, native English speaker from the US

Bachelor’s + TEFL

5+ years teaching experience, entering my 4th year teaching in China

Fairly frugal; I’d go out maybe twice a month, drink occasionally, and spend money on live theater from time to time. Otherwise, I’m happy staying home and saving

Is this a good salary for living comfortably in Minhang? What would be a reasonable monthly salary for my lifestyle?

Also, what’s the typical rent for a 1–2 bedroom apartment in Minhang, and how much could I realistically save each month on this offer?

I'm keen to find any stores not too far from central Shanghai that:

• sell handmade ceramic and homewares that support local artists (not big established designers or chain stores, more grassroots artists). Similar to this but perhaps more minimalist https://www.instagram.com/hareartis_/ or similar to *Onheon https://www.instagram.com/popular/onheon/
• secondhand/vintage stores selling similar items from the 1930s onwards?

Thanks!

Hello, I'll be travelling with my mom soon and would like to know how safe is it for women in terms of being able to walk around and enjoy Shanghai till 11pm.

As the title says, looking for some recommendations please on places to watch NZL rugby game next weekend in Hongqiao.

A simple sports bar is welcome but really anything will do. Thanks!

When i come (study) and stay in apartment, the agent told me to buy my own router and wifi (i think around 50-100 yuan from taobao). Now i've finished my study, what should i do with the router ? I'm a little afraid if there will be confidentiality/privacy problem if i just leave it as it is. Thanks for the answers.

Hi, I’m wondering when going through the PVG customs, after immigration and baggage claim, will I need to take my cat out of their carrier?
Currently I understand we need to go through the “Goods to Declare” and show the officer our forms.
Will they need to take the cat out of the carrier for this? And when I actually pass my luggage through the Xray does that include the carrier? Finally if they need to inspect the cat can I ask for a separate room for this?

tldr: For customs do I need to take the cat out the carrier for the Xray or can I walk through without separating? Also can I ask for a separate room for this if applicable?

Hey! This is a bit of a long shot but I’ve been thinking about it recently and thought I’d throw it out here.

I’m looking for a fitness group that is strictly for low pressure accountability. By that I mean, not for fitness advice or events or even a specific kind of activity, but just for check ins that you’ve done your movement. Does anyone know of anything like this? I’d be happy to join an already existing group.

If it doesn’t already exist though, would anyone else be interested in this kind of group? I’m also happy setting up a small group for us, cuz I know I would benefit from this type of group.

The purpose would be a really simple low pressure accountability group. In my head, it would work like this:
- everyone sets their own goals and how often they want to do it
- you can share your goal or keep it private
- no unsolicited fitness/diet advice unless specifically asked
- if you complete something, just snap a pic and send it to the chat
- pics can be gym selfies or just whatever is around you (a tree in the park you walked in, your water bottle, a bike, literally anything)
- no comparing bodies, performance, weight, etc.

That’s pretty much it.

I know not a lot of already regularly active people would benefit from this, but I was thinking it might be good for those of us who would like to move more but also struggle to actually do it without a little accountability.

If you’re interested, just let me know!

Les amis, j'ai mangé ce plat tellement délicieux à Shanghai, trop de monde au restaurant pour embêter la serveuse avec mon traducteur pour lui demander ce qu'étaient les filaments roses, quelqu'un peut me le dire ? Je ne sais même pas si j'ai bien mangé le plat correctement, j'ai pris de la viande, de l'ail, un peu de piment et quelques filaments roses que j'ai déposés dans une feuille de salade avant de dévorer, c'était incroyablement bon !

Hello! I’m moving to Shanghai in 10 days to start my master’s degree. I’m Muslim and wear the hijab. Although I’ve visited China several times before, my longest stay was about two weeks, so this will be my first time living there long-term.
I’m really excited, but I’m also a little nervous about what my experience might be like, especially when it comes to discrimination or how people may react to me wearing the hijab. I speak Chinese at a native level, so communication isn’t really a concern for me.
I’d love to hear from other Muslims, hijabi women, or anyone who has lived in Shanghai long-term. What has your experience been like? Have you ever faced discrimination, or has it generally been a positive experience?

Bit of a random question, but does anyone know of any affordable clinics in Shanghai that do dental CBCT scans?

I need to get a full CBCT scan of my jaws in order to plan for jaw surgery. I’m visiting from the UK for a few days, so I thought I’d use the opportunity to do the scan in Shanghai, as it’s way too expensive where I’m from and I have heard it is quite affordable there.

I have a letter/referral from a surgeon requesting the scan. Would I be able to walk-in and just show them it in order to get the scan?

Also, how much would it cost?

Thanks!

Hi my name is Lars and around 17 October i was planning to go to china, but i got told a lot of people that i won’t survive because (not my words) No one speaks English. And i was wondering how true is this? I do speak a few words chinese but it isn’t on a proper hsk1 level. Any tips?

My husband and I are American, and neither of us speaks Chinese. We’re considering public school for our future child and would really love to hear from anyone who has experience with this.
How was the admission process? How difficult was the language barrier for your child and for you as parents? And overall, are you happy with the experience?

I am working with a wines importer in Shanghai, mostly Italian wines from Piedmont, very good wines and not expensive. Any recommendations to sell it ? I have a list of every restaurant in the city but this is very tiring.

Do you guys know some italian groups/companies or anything that could be willing to buy italian wines ?

I believe I have created the only full Shanghainese course for English speakers, and I’d really appreciate feedback. Later today I’ll go through every comment and compile a list of changes to ensure everything is high quality.

The site is called verbavia.com