Shanghai is the bustling new face of China to the world. Home to 18.4 million inhabitants, it is a cosmopolitan mix of foreign influence and Chinese culture. While living in the city can sometimes be an overwhelming sensory experience, Shanghai has many fascinating dimensions to appeal to families, ambitious professionals or recent graduates seeking adventure.

Here are some great information sources to familiarize yourself with some of the main aspects of living in Shanghai. If you have any other interesting website suggestions and categories to add, please submit us your input in the comment box at the bottom of the page.

‘Local is Lekker’ so make sure you support local South Africans in China (marked with *)

South African Food and Drink

• South African Wine: www.winelink.com.cn/en
• South African Wine: jimlai(at)netvigator(dot)com (Click here for specials)
• Bokomo Cereals: David Zhang (Click here for specials and contact details)
• Rooibos Tea: clara(dot)liu(at)gmail(dot)com

Food and Drink

• Shanghai Eats: www.shanghai-eats.com
• How to Order Chinese Food: www.howtoorderchinesefood.com
• Take Away Service: www.sherpa.com.cn

Chinese News

• Shanghai Daily: www.shanghaidaily.com
• China Daily: www.chinadaily.com.cn
• SINA English: www.english.sina.com

Expat Services

• That’s Shanghai www.shanghai.asiaxpat.com
• City Weekend: www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai
• Shanghai Expat: www.shanghaiexpat.com
• Craigs List Shanghai: www.shanghai.craigslist.com.cn

Life in Shanghai

• Smart Shanghai Events: www.smartshanghai.com
• Shanghai Cultural Information: www.culture.sh.cn/english
• Shanghai Weather: www.wunderground.com/global/stations/58362.html
• Shanghai Air Pollution Index: www.mep.gov.cn/quality/air.php3
• Shanghai Best of the Best: www.best-shanghai.com

Travel:

• *South African Travel Agent in Shanghai: Susan(dot)Mcilroy(at)cn(dot)fcm(dot)travel
• Bohdi Mountain Biking: www.bohdi.com.cn
• *Naked Retreats Moganshan: www.nakedretreats.cn
• Shanghai Bus Sightseeing Centre: www.lyw.sh.gov.cn/en/bus_center
• Ctrip Online Travel Bookings: www.english.ctrip.com

Gifts:

• *Jewellery: Michelle Andrychuk www.fifthavenuecollection.com/michelle
• Protea Flowers: Celina Zheng protea(at)china(dot)com

Blogs:

• Shanghaiist: www.shanghaiist.com
• *Danwei: www.danwei.org
• *Julian Hewitt: www.julianhewitt.com
• *Old World Wandering: A Travelogue

Business Services:

• South Africa China Business Association: www.sacba.com.cn
• Asia Pacific South Africa Chamber of Commerce: www.apsacc.org
• The Beijing Axis: www.thebeijingaxis.com

Spiritual:

• Shanghai Community Fellowship Church (Puxi) www.scfenglish.com
• Abundant Grace Church (Pudong): www.agifpudong.org

Studying Mandarin

• Jiao Tong University: www.sie.sjtu.edu.cn/page/en-page
• Fudan University: www.fudan.edu.cn/englishnew/about
• Mandarin House: www.mandarinhouse.cn
• Chinese Pod: www.chinesepod.com

Medical

• New Vision Eye Clinic: An ophthalomogy and optometry clinic in Ruijin Hospital that has very high standards and an excellent track record. It specialises in laser eye surgery, which is performed more often in China than anywhere in the West, with equally high success rates.

South African Consulate-General:

The Bund Centre

222 Yan An Road East

27th Floor

Room 2705/6

Shanghai 200002

China

Tel: + 86 21 5359 4977

Fax: + 86 21 6335 2810 (Political)

Fax: + 86 21 6335 2980 (Admin)

Fax: + 86 21 6335 0930 (Immigration)

Fax: + 86 21 6335 2820 (Trade)

Consul-General – Mr V M Khumalo

Consul (Economic) – W Williams (Ms)