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China

Shanghai travel guide

What to watch out for, what to see, what to eat, and how to get around — written for people arriving for the first time.

Last updated 2026-08-09

The Bund, Shanghai
Photo: MNmagic · Public Domain Mark · source

Common scams in Shanghai

10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Shanghai, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.

Common scams in Shanghai — and how to avoid them →

Top places to visit in Shanghai

6 places worth your time in Shanghai, with what each is actually like and when to go.

Top places to visit in Shanghai →

Top food to try in Shanghai

6 dishes to eat in Shanghai, what is in them, and where they belong.

Top food to try in Shanghai →

Traditions and customs in Shanghai

5 customs and traditions in Shanghai — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Traditional things to do in Shanghai →

Getting around Shanghai

How to travel around Shanghai — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Getting around Shanghai: transport and taxi apps →

Rules to follow in Shanghai

4 laws, restrictions, and customs in Shanghai that travellers often break without knowing — and the fines or consequences that follow.

Rules to follow in Shanghai — laws and customs travellers must know →

Emergency contacts in Shanghai

4 emergency services in Shanghai you may need as a traveller — tourist police, ambulance, fire brigade and more. Save these before you go out.

Emergency numbers in Shanghai — police, ambulance, fire and tourist helplines →

Best places to shop in Shanghai

5 markets, malls and shopping districts in Shanghai — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Best places to shop in Shanghai — markets, malls, bazaars and street shopping →

Scam entries describe patterns reported in an area. They are not findings of fact, and they do not allege wrongdoing by any named business.