the british international school
Shanghai, China
FIRST EDITION 2010
THE ESSENTIALS
GUIDE SHANGHAI WWW.BISSHANGHAI.COM
THE ESSENTIALS
GUIDE SHANGHAI
the british international school
Shanghai, China
helping others to be the best they can be WWW.BISSHANGHAI.COM
E
ducation and learning has always been our focus and our area of expertise. Our people and the people we work with all have a good understanding of what this means to us. We aim to provide students with the opportunity to be the best they can be. HELPING We do everything to support people and be useful to them, always keeping their best interests at heart. OTHERS Our communities: students, parents, policy makers, the societies in which we live and, of course, our own people. Our work reaches all of them. THRIVE To grow. To flourish. To learn. To be inspired. To stretch yourself further than you, or anyone else, thought possible. To experience more. To keep going, onwards and upwards, closer and closer to your aims and dreams.
CONTACT admissions@bisshanghai.com TO ARRANGE A VISIT TO OUR SCHOOL OR TO ORDER A SCHOOL PROSPECTUS
THE ESSENTIALS
GUIDE SHANGHAI Essentials Guide Shanghai 1st Edition Copyright Š The British International School 2010 All Rights Reserved Chief Editor - Travis Murray Primary Design - Shanghai Yang Ma Advertising Secondary Design - Travis Murray, Richard Restell Primary Copywriting - Tom Bewick Secondary Copywriting - Travis Murray, Mark Angus, Mike Embley Special thanks to Richard Restell for his excellent photography. While every possible effort has been taken to ensure that the facts contained within this guide are accurate, The British International School cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that this guide may contain. No part of this guide may be reproduced or distributed, by electronic means or any other, without the prior permission of the British International School.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PREPARING TO GO
Culture Shock p 82
Introduction p 8
Education p 84
History p 20
Education Supplement p 94
People and Culture p 22 Language p 28 Geography p 30
LIVING IN SHANGHAI
Climate p 34
Health and Wellness p 132
Administrative Preparations p 36
Practising Religion p 137
Books, Films and Music p 38
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Eating and Drinking p 140 Shopping p 146 Tourist Attractions p 156
When You Arrive p 44
Parks and Recreation p 160
First Things First p 45
Golfing p 166
Getting Around p 46
Family Activities p 168
Money and Banking p 52
Family Supplement p 178
Getting Connected p 54
Getting Involved p 184
Health Care p 58
2010 World Expo p 186
Temporary Accommodation p 64
Shanghai Neighbourhoods p 188
Finding Housing p 70
Shanghai Neighbourhoods Supplement p 200
Getting Settled p 80
Maps p 222
Introduction
I
f you are moving to Shanghai, prepare to be surprised. The outside world may perceive the city as a smoggy, teeming industrial hub. To most foreign residents however, Shanghai is a dynamic, vibrant, inspiring and cosmopolitan metropolis. Most expats reveal experiencing an overall feeling of ‘this is where things are happening.’ At the same time, Shanghai startles newcomers with its beauty and street-level charm amid alarmingly rapid growth.
The charm lies in the city’s cultural and architectural vestiges that echo its unique colonial past combined with its unrelenting drive into the future. Although an outsider will always be the laowai (foreigner), the people of Shanghai are welcoming. Look forward to good friendships and respectable business relationships with the local people.
S
hanghai has a way of luring people in and keeping them. Be prepared to hear from expats and Chinese alike that they came to Shanghai to work or study years ago and then couldn’t bring themselves to leave.
L
iving and working in Shanghai means amazing career opportunities, exciting language challenges and cultural immersion. You can enjoy food from all over Asia, mingle in a large and diverse expatriate community and be a part of the fastest growing economy in the world. However, this also comes with frustrations.
Shanghai is crowded, noisy and chaotic. People push on the Metro. The air quality is often low. Adjusting to a new language, a new culture and a new government can be frustrating. Acclimating to a vastly different environment takes time, patience, flexibility and a good sense of humour.
T
his Essentials Guide Shanghai is designed to help you prepare for Shanghai and settle in once you get there. Despite its challenges, Shanghai is now a much easier place to live as an expat. It has worldclass hospitals, Western-standard accommodation and high-quality accredited international schools. Newcomers can find countless cultural events, interest-groups and organisations that make them feel like Shanghai is a home away from home.
PREPARING TO GO
Preparing to Go
CONTENTS INTRO
Preparing to go will be as much a mental journey as it will be a practical one. Understanding more about the dramatically different culture you are about to encounter will help prepare you for the experience. You can read a book or watch a movie we recommend or you can engage in your own research. Either way, the process will reward you. The practical aspects of preparation are, of course, vital to ensuring that your journey begins on a positive note. This section will help you prepare on both fronts.
History p 20 People and Culture p 22 Language p 28 Geography p 30 Climate p 34 Administrative Preparations p 36 Books, Films and Music p 38
19 THE ESSENTIALS GUIDE SHANGHAI
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
When You Arrive
CONTENTS INTRO
When you arrive in Shanghai try to get your bearings. It’s helpful to remember a few landmarks that you can see from a distance, though in Shanghai this can be difficult because even with some of the tallest buildings in the world, when you are at street level often all you can see is what is right in front of you. Add to this the fact that Shanghai is big really big - and you may spend your first few days wondering if you could ever find your way back to your hotel if you wandered away. Ensure that you have a map with you if you do plan to go exploring on your own. The British International School makes the best one available. Ask your relocation agent if they have one to give you.
When You Arrive p 44 First Things First p 45 Getting Around p 46 Money and Banking p 52 Getting Connected p 54 Health Care p 58 Temporary Accommodation p 64 Finding Housing p 70 Getting Settled p 80 Culture Shock p 82 Education p 84 Education Supplement p 94
43 THE ESSENTIALS GUIDE SHANGHAI
LIVING IN SHANGHAI
PHOTO BY MARTIN BROWN
Living in Shanghai
CONTENTS INTRO
Once you have found your new home, settled in and enrolled your kids in a good school, life in Shanghai begins. Those elements that comprise the quality of life that you are used to are for the most part available in Shanghai. In many ways your quality of life may increase. In Shanghai you will have access to a new world of possibilities including sumptuous and affordable massage, world-class shopping and fun and interesting activities to enjoy with your loved ones. This section will help guide you through the basics of living and enjoying your life in Shanghai. The information and advice offered here is only the beginning however. Beyond the borders of this book, you will find many hidden treasures that will surprise and amaze you whilst at the same time broadening your understanding of one of the oldest civilisations on Earth. Enjoy!
Health and Wellness p 132 Practising Religion p 137 Eating and Drinking p 140 Shopping p 146 Tourist Attractions p 156 Parks and Recreation p 160 Golfing p 166 Family Activities p 168 Family Supplement p 178 Getting Involved p 184 2010 World Expo p 186 Shanghai Neighbourhoods p 188 Shanghai Neighbourhoods Supplement p 200 Maps p 222
131 THE ESSENTIALS GUIDE SHANGHAI
W
e hope you have enjoyed our Essentials Guide Shanghai and found it useful. Our goal was to provide relocating families with a primer to life in Shanghai which contained practical information that would demystify the process and ease the transition to our city. As well, we hoped that the images we selected would convey the complex – and at times strikingly beautiful – character of the city and its people.
A
t The British International School we endeavour to provide for our students and families an environment in which they can thrive during their time in Shanghai. We take our role seriously and encourage you to visit us to find out more.
PHOTO BY MARTIN BROWN
PHOTOS BY MARTIN BROWN
PHOTO BY RICHARD RESTELL
221 221 THE ESSENTIALS GUIDE SHANGHAI
the british international school
Shanghai, China
helping others to be the best they can be HELPING We do everything to support people and be useful to them, always keeping their best interests at heart. OTHERS Our communities: students, parents, policy makers, the societies in which we live and, of course, our own people. Our work reaches all of them. THRIVE To grow. To flourish. To learn. To be inspired. To stretch yourself further than you, or anyone else, thought possible. To experience more. To keep going, onwards and upwards, closer and closer to your aims and dreams.
WWW.BISSHANGHAI.COM
CONTACT admissions@bisshanghai.com FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHOOL ADMISSIONS