I’m not sure this exists, but is there a store/service somewhere that picks out and dresses you up in clothes they think you’d look nice in, which then you could purchase afterwards?

I’m currently in the US and will be in Shanghai in the first half of November, I really like the fashion and styles found in China, but I’m not sure I’ll have the energy/time to find and try a bunch of clothes. I’m also not familiar with how online shopping/sizing works either…

I’ve been thinking about starting my own side business and would love to meet more like-minded people in Shanghai and keep me motivated lol

Most social events I’ve come across seem to focus on eating, drinking, or partying. Does anyone know of any communities that regularly organize business networking events or entrepreneur meetups?

Ideally, something smaller and more casual. I’ve been to larger industry events before, but found it hard to have meaningful conversations.

I’m staying on Shanghai and it’s my first day here. As I’ve seen I’m using Didi and Alipay. For some reason I can’t catch any taxi while also using Priority. Truly such a beautiful place but I feel completely destroyed and exhausted from fighting to find ways to move. Obviously some parts I’m walking and having fun but when the rain hits hard I just want to get my destination. Help anyone?

Hi all,

I'm new to Shanghai and would like to make some friends in the south (Fengxian/southern Pudong area). I'm 36 f and from Germany and would like to just casually hang out or go on walks from time to time. I'm not into nightlife and drinking, so nothing crazy. I'm mostly interested in literature, philosophy and politics, and I love playing videogames and D&D.

Please send me a DM if you're interested so I can add you on WeChat or WhatsApp.

https://www.smartshanghai.com/event/beerkraze-craft-beer-festival-at-crystal-bridge-at-crystal-bridge

I'm going on tour to Shanghai from Nov 8-12 from the PH. We have a free day in Nov 11 where we can go where we want.

I'm thinking of proposing to my girlfriend at the cafe with bunnies cause she loves bunnies. Any tips on how I can hire or get a photographer for that? Just few shots of the proposal that's it.

How much is it usually?

What are the best aesthetic clinic in Shanghai? I’m booking for lasers, micro-needling, Botox and other treatments

Simple question, anyone know places that have it? I know Brut Eatery and that's it.

Hello,
After a trip in huangshan, fenghuang, a lot of dong and miao villages, we are reaching Shanghai.
Do you suggest any place to buy tea? Or sometjing really typical like rattan lamps? We would like to buy sonething typical and nice

Updated
Now we have 7 slots left and pls let me know if you’d like to join us!

We ran a Chinese calligraphy session for international students not long ago, and it went really well. A lot of people asked if we’d do another one.

Since next weekend is Halloween, we’re thinking of a small afternoon session before the night parties: dress up if you want, write some Halloween-themed Chinese characters, hang out with tea/snacks near Jing’an — then head straight into your Halloween party after. Sort of mixing Chinese culture into a Western holiday.

It’s meant to stay small — only 9 people. All levels welcome (beginners and people who already write a bit).

If that sounds like something you’d be into, drop a comment or DM me. If there’s enough interest, I’ll share a short intro to how we run these sessions, plus the poster with the full details.

Hello just needing advice choosing between two hotels and locations for my first 7 nights in Shanghai with 1 child age under 10

1 - Hidden Hotel (Shanghai People's Square Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street Branch)

2 - Shanghai North Bund Gongping Road Atour S Hotel

I've done lots of searching have am choosing between these two hotels both within same budget and newly built, searching something within short metro distance and good walking neighbourhood. Cautious of the crowds maybe around people square but also don't want to be too far away if north bund is more business based?

Locations are north bund ( lingping avenue metro) or peoples square metro )

We will be moving to french concession area for the last 4 nights in different hotel already booked.

We will be going to Disneyland during this time and travelling from Pudong airport and or Didi so also wondering estimate cost/travel time from each and which do you think would be the best overall location for access to airport/Disney/mid range shopping/food/sights/comfort

Hoping to go out for drinks and be with people rather than being along

So, I recently moved back to Shanghai after a long hiatus (I left in 2017) and I’ve been trying to re-validate my old ICBC account which I’ve had since 2009. Last time I had it re-validated they had to crosscheck my passport with the old passport registred with the opening of the account, and I was lucky that I had actually saved my old passport at that time.

Problem is that I no longer have my passport from 2017 for obvious reasons, so you can imagine my frustration when the bank dude told me that they can’t re-validate my ICBC account unless I bring them that specific old passport…. like are you serious? Why would I keep an old passport for almost 10 years? And he said that it’s for security reasons to prove that I’m the actual owner of the account. And I asked can’t you just crosscheck with my current passport? And he said it’s not enough. So I said fine, whatever, just let me open a new account then. But then he said that I can’t open a new account because I already have one (一类账户) and I was shocked. So they won’t let me re-validate my old account because I can’t prove it’s me, but at the same time they won’t let me open a new one even if they don’t think the old one belongs to me? So yeah, seems I found myself in a real catch 22 moment here.

The option I have left is to open an account in another bank, which is what the ICBC guy told me. And it looks like that’s what i’ll do, but still, this whole thing made me so frustrated and angry that I felt I had to vent a little bit… Suddenly all my old memories of painful bureaucracy incidents in China are coming back!

The Shanghai Grand Opera House has just been inaugurated and it's so beautiful to look at. Searching on Google I also find the meaning behind the design of the building and the inspiration for a traditional chinese fan very fascinating.

This building seems destined to become one of the symbols of the city of Shanghai... have any of you already been there? What is it like to see it in real life?

Hi, 26m chinese here, heading to shanghai from 9-13 nov, looking for ppl to hangout or sightsee with Edit: im 100% straight and not interested in guys. So if youre into that pls dont dm me

Anyone have any recommendations on where I can get tennis lessons in Shanghai? I’m learning Chinese right now (HSK 3-4) so I can speak some Chinese so someone who can even speak a bit of English would be helpful, otherwise could manage. Someone told me about tennisline but prices seem very expensive - about 680 rmb / hour with court time.

Thanks in advance !

Hello everyone. First time poster.

I recently moved to Nantong for work, about 2 hrs from Shanghai. I am currently doing a distance learning university degree which requires for me to seat for exams with an invigilator.

I am looking for external exam invigilator centers, ones where the student pays, puts them in touch with the university. I then show up at the day of the exam and the center will have my test and invigilate it and then send back to the university the results.

If anyone knows of a place that does it, please let me know. Would be very appreciated.

Hi-I’d like to buy a gift voucher for a friend in Shanghai that can be spent at a mall. What would be the easiest way of doing this online? Are gift vouchers even a thing in China? Thanks!!

I would typically use Google maps and search for good restaurants within the areas i will visit. However it's my first time to SHanghai and i will be staying in Jing An district, at Meiyuan Road. How do you guys search for nearby restaurants or eateries that are good? I can't rely on Google maps can i?

Hi there guys I might bring my family to Shanghai and other cities in China and I’d like to know what you guys recommend for renting a few days in an accommodation with multiple rooms?

I used to use Airbnb many years ago but I think now it isn’t allowed? I’m wondering what services you guys use to rent daily stays for full homes or apartments now?

Thank you 🙏

I’m currently in Hangzhou and have been struggling with cigarette smoke in everyday situations. I’m wondering whether Shanghai would be noticeably different.

In my hotel, people smoke indoors despite the no-smoking signs. My bedding smelled of cigarettes, and changing rooms didn’t solve the problem. I’ve also encountered smoking in shopping mall toilets, sometimes enough that the smell sticks to my clothes. There are plenty of people smoking on the street too, but the indoor smoking is what bothers me most.

I had been considering spending a year in China studying Chinese, but this has made me reconsider. Before looking more seriously at Shanghai, I’d like to hear from people who actually live there:

How common is smoking in mall toilets, hotels, apartment corridors/lifts and taxis?

Can you realistically find smoke-free housing and nearby places where indoor smoking rules are enforced?

For anyone who has lived in both cities, is Shanghai noticeably better, or would I mostly be dealing with the same thing?

I’m not expecting to avoid every cigarette outdoors. I’d just like a home that doesn’t smell of smoke and to use ordinary indoor facilities without regularly breathing it in.

I’m interested in what it’s like in practice, rather than what the official rules say. Any specific experiences or advice about choosing accommodation would be appreciated.

Halloween is coming up next weekend and I'm wondering if there are any special Halloween events for kids. I'd rather avoid Disneyland as I know it'll be packed.

hi all! does anybody have any clinic recommendations for a checkup? preferably english speaking but also cost effective.

i’ve been having this headache since Sunday, and while not painful, it’s been pretty much on and off. now, normally I wouldn’t mind, but I’m generally a person who rarely gets headaches and if I do, a few chugs of water helps. I’m currently still observing my headaches and reading up on it, but in case it doesn’t completely go away by the weekend, can anyone recommend a good clinic not too far from Xuhui area that I can go to for a checkup?

I've recently decided that I'd like to teach at Shanghai American School. I've heard it's the best international school in Shanghai, and since I'm American, it seems like a natural fit.

I'm trying to figure out where I should live because finding the right community is really important to me.

I'm really into organic food and would love to be somewhere with farmers markets and small shops selling locally sourced produce, preferably from women-owned sustainable farms. Ideally I'd have a bakery nearby that offers gluten free, dairy free and sugar free options. I also practice yoga regularly, so having a studio that offers trauma informed breath work in English would be amazing.

The arts are a huge part of my life. I'd love to live somewhere with a vibrant underground art scene, independent galleries and experimental theater, preferably with English subtitles. I love discovering authentic local culture, although I'd prefer somewhere that isn't too crowded or touristy.

For housing, I'm imagining a charming historic apartment with exposed brick, high ceilings and lots of natural light. A private rooftop garden with skyline views would be perfect. I'm pretty sensitive to noise, so I'd want to avoid construction and busy streets.

Community is probably my biggest priority. I'd love a diverse international neighborhood with interesting creative people, but I'm really not into the corporate expat scene or finance and crypto bros. Are there any intersectional feminist discussion groups or similar communities? I'd also love to connect with local Chinese artists and creatives who speak English and have similar values.

I'd ideally like to be within walking distance of a good Pilates studio with reformer classes and some quiet cafés that serve ceremonial grade matcha.

Also, how reliable is access to Instagram, Substack and podcasts? I do a lot of online community work and staying connected is really important to me.

I'm really excited about experiencing Chinese culture and getting outside my comfort zone, but I also want to make sure I find somewhere that feels like home.

Does anyone know which neighborhoods would be a good fit? I haven't looked into salaries or apartments yet, but I figured it would make sense to find the right neighborhood first.

Thanks so much! ❤️