Shanghai for Foreigners: Visa, Payments, and Internet Basics

Shanghai is easier for foreign visitors than its reputation suggests. The metro has English signage, hotels are used to international guests, and mobile payments now accept many overseas cards. The friction comes from three things: entry rules, the payment setup, and the internet.

This guide covers what to know before you fly and what to do in your first 24 hours. It is practical orientation, not legal or medical advice.

Entry: two visa-free routes

China currently has two policies that matter most:

30-day visa-free entry is available to ordinary passport holders from 50 countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and most EU countries. It covers tourism, business, family visits, and transit, with some exclusions for work, study, and reporting. The United States is not on this list.

240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit covers 57 nationalities, including US passport holders. You must be travelling to a third country or region, hold a confirmed onward ticket, and enter through an eligible port. The permitted stay area for a Shanghai transit entry is Shanghai Municipality; do not assume it lets you visit Suzhou, Hangzhou, or Beijing.

Policies have stated end dates. Check the expiry that applies to your nationality, and confirm with the National Immigration Administration, your airline, or an embassy before booking. My visa guide explains the conditions in detail.

Hong Kong is separate. A mainland China visa or visa-free arrangement does not automatically cover the Hong Kong SAR, and Hong Kong's entry rules do not apply to the mainland. Check both if you are combining them.

Money and payments

The currency is the renminbi (RMB), also called yuan. Prices in Shanghai are commonly written as ¥ or RMB.

Mobile payment dominates. Alipay and WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay) are accepted almost everywhere, from metro gates to street stalls. Many foreign Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club cards can be linked. You do not need a Chinese bank account, but you do need a phone number that can receive SMS codes.

Current rules for international cards linked to Alipay or Weixin Pay, according to Shanghai's official payment guides:

• Transactions up to ¥200 are generally exempt from the platform service fee.
• Above ¥200, a 3% fee may apply to the full transaction amount.
• The current limits are US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year, though your card issuer may set lower limits.

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive. Verification can require your passport and a selfie, and doing it at the airport with poor Wi-Fi is annoying. Add a backup card and keep some cash.

Cash is still useful. Carry ¥300–500 in small notes for older shops, markets, and emergencies. Banks and ATMs accept foreign cards, but not every ATM works with every network. Hotels and large stores usually accept international credit cards; small restaurants often do not.

Tipping is not customary in Shanghai. Restaurants, taxis, and hotels do not expect it, and adding a tip can cause confusion.

For more on costs and payment, see the money guide.

Internet and apps

Many international services are not directly accessible on local Chinese networks, including Google, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and X. This affects hotel Wi-Fi and local SIM cards.

International roaming or a travel eSIM may route your data through your home operator, which can keep some services working, but this depends on your provider and plan. Do not rely on it for a video call or a work emergency. Check your options before you fly, and understand that local laws apply.

What to download before arrival:

• Alipay or WeChat Pay for payments.
• Didi for ride-hailing, with an English interface.
• Apple Maps or Amap (Gaode) for navigation; Google Maps is unreliable in mainland China.
• A translation app with offline Chinese, such as Pleco for words or a camera translator.
• 12306 if you plan to take trains.
• Your airline and hotel apps, and a screenshot of your booking address in Chinese.

Public Wi-Fi in airports and some cafés requires passport or phone verification. Hotel Wi-Fi is common but subject to the same restrictions. A local SIM from China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom requires passport registration and is easy to buy at the airport; an eSIM may be simpler if your phone supports it.

For more detail, see the internet and connectivity guide.

Language

Mandarin is the official language; locals also speak Shanghainese among themselves. English is common in hotels, major attractions, and metro stations, but much less so in neighbourhood restaurants, taxis, and shops.

Useful phrases:

• Ni hao — hello.
• Xie xie — thank you.
• Duo shao qian? — how much?
• Bu yao la — I don't want it (useful for persistent sellers).
• Wo chi su — I am vegetarian.
• Wo dui [nuts] guo min — I am allergic to [nuts].

Show addresses in Chinese. Ask your hotel for a card with the name and address, and use the Chinese name on ride-hailing apps. Do not assume a driver reads English or pinyin.

Getting around

The metro is the best option: fast, cheap, and signed in English. Fares start at ¥3 and rise by distance. You can tap a supported contactless bank card at the gates, use Alipay or WeChat, or buy a single ticket. See the transportation guide for details.

Taxis are metered; use the official queue at airports and stations. Didi is easier if you do not speak Chinese, and it shows the fare in advance. The Maglev connects Pudong Airport to Longyang Road in about eight minutes but does not reach the city centre.

During peak hours, avoid interchanges with luggage. In summer, plan indoor breaks in the middle of the day.

Safety, health, and emergencies

Shanghai is generally a safe city for visitors, but normal precautions apply: keep your phone and wallet secure, avoid unlicensed taxis, and do not follow touts to “tea ceremonies” or bars. Use the safety guide for specifics.

Emergency numbers:

• Police: 110
• Ambulance: 120
• Fire: 119
• Traffic accident: 122
• Shanghai public service hotline (English available): 12345

For anything serious, contact your embassy and your travel insurer. International hospitals such as Parkway, Jiahui, and United Family have English-speaking staff and are expensive; travel insurance with medical cover is essential. Pharmacies are common, but staff rarely speak English, so bring prescriptions and a written list of medications.

Tap water is not drinkable. Hotels provide bottled water or kettles; boiled water is safe. Street food is generally fine when it is cooked hot and busy, but use judgment with raw seafood and unheated items.

Legal and cultural basics

• Carry your passport. Foreigners are required to carry passport or residence permit identification; a photo is not a substitute in every situation.
• Hotels must register foreign guests. Some budget hotels do not accept foreign passports; check before booking.
• Drug laws are severe. Do not accept packages or substances from strangers.
• Photography: do not photograph military sites, police, or security checkpoints. Ask before photographing people.
• Smoking is restricted in indoor public spaces; follow signs.
• Public behaviour: queue for metro security, keep calls quiet on trains, and do not eat or drink on the metro.
• Bargaining is expected in tourist markets, not in shops with fixed prices.
• Religion: temples are places of worship; dress modestly, keep your voice down, and do not photograph worshippers without permission.

Your first 24 hours

1. Clear immigration, collect bags, and buy or activate a SIM/eSIM.
2. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay if you have not done so, with a backup card.
3. Take the metro or a taxi to your hotel; ask the hotel to register you and give you a Chinese address card.
4. Buy bottled water, download offline maps, and check the metro last-train time for your area.
5. Take a short walk, eat a simple meal, and sleep. The city will still be there tomorrow.

The bottom line

The three things that determine an easy first trip are entry eligibility, payment setup, and realistic internet expectations. Sort those out before you fly, carry your passport, and use the metro. Shanghai rewards preparation, but it is not difficult once the basics are handled.

Rules change. Confirm visas, payment limits, and transport details with the official sources below before you travel.