Most Useful Shanghai Travel Advisory, Advice & Tips 2025

1. What is the best time to visit Shanghai?

The spring from March to May and the Autumn from September to November are recommended as the best time to pay a visit to Shanghai.

You could check the detailed information about Shanghai weather on our page: Shanghai Weather & Seasonal Activities.

2. What to See in Shanghai?

There are lots of popular tourist sites and some hidden sites to explore in Shanghai, like the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden & Bazaar, Wukang Road, Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, Shanghai Disney Resort, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, People's Square, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Xintaindi, Tiandifang, Zhujiajiao Water Town, etc.

You could check Things to Do in Shanghai with the most popular attractions for your Shanghai sightseeing trip.

3. Is it possible for us to try Shanghai Maglev from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road Station on our arrival in Shanghai from Guilin? Can you arrange this with the local tour in Shanghai?

Yes. Shanghai Maglev Train connects Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)and Longyang Road Station. With a top speed of 431 km/h, it shortens the 30 km distance into just 8 minutes train journey.
The Maglev Train departs between about 07:0-21:40. If you want to experience the world's fastest train, please contact us to arrange one for you.

You could check Shanghai Maglev Train to know more about the Maglev Train speed, station, map, operational hours, ticket and interesting facts.

4. Will language barrier be a problem for a Shanghai tour?

Shanghai is a highly internationalized metropolis. The language barrier should not be a problem during your trip to Shanghai. Your Shanghai local tour guide will be able to speak English, and act as translators. Most of Shanghai's hotels staff members can speak English, and a few major restaurants and stores will have at least one employee who is able to speak English.

5. What are the requirements for Shanghai 144 Hours Visa Free Transit?

Shanghai offers 144 Hours Visa Free Transit for visitors who qualified for the following requirements:

• - Hold valid passport (with a validity of 3 months at least) from appointed 53 foreign countries, including US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.;
• - Hold connecting flight/train/cruise ticket to a third country (or region) with confirmed seat and date within 144 hours;
• - Enter Shanghai from one of the 5 ports: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal and Shanghai Railway Station.
• - Exit China from any of the 5 above-mentioned ports or from Hangzhou Xiaoshan Internatioanl Airport, Nanjing Lukou International Airport or Ningbo Lishe International Airport.

6. What are the 53 countries eligible for Shanghai's 144-Hour Visa Free Transit?

Europe (39 countries): Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland; Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco and Belarus.

America (6 countries):United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the Republic of Chile.

Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand;

Asia (6 countries): South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

7. How to apply this the 144-Hour Transit Visa Free?

If you are citizens of one of the above 53 countries, you could ask for help from the staff of your international airline which transit in Shanghai. The staff will help handle this application by reporting to related airport immigration control departments in Shanghai. After landing in Shanghai airport, you just need to go through a few simple steps to get the visa exemption and a Temporary Entry Permit to leave the airport and visit Shanghai.

Find more detailed requirements, application guide and important notes from our Shanghai Visa Free Transit Policy.

8. Any other cities providing the 144 Hours Visa Free Transit Policy in China?

Yes, there are totally 20 cities in China have implemented this special privilege, including Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Qingdao, etc.

Read China 144 Hour Visa to know more available cities for a visa-free layover in China!

9. What are the currency and banking services in Shanghai like?

Online payment through Alipay and WeChat is very common and popular in China. However, for foreigners, it is not inconvenient, so we highly recommend you exchange some Chinese Yuan (RMB). In Shanghai, the banking services are highly advanced, so visitors should have no problem exchanging money. Visitors can exchange any amount of money at the Pudong Development Bank, the Pudong Airport, or at any of the Bank of China locations. There are a large number of ATMs located around the city, and most major ATM cards can be used in them.