Super Easy Shanghai Trip Guide for Non-Chinese Speakers
My boyfriend and I just wrapped up an amazing 6-night, 5-day self-guided trip to Shanghai (skipping Hangzhou and Wuzhen). I'll share every single detail for anyone who loves traveling independently without relying on tours, just like us.
1. Visa
I got my visa through a service in Hanoi for about $95 USD. I applied right before China's National Day holiday, and it went super smoothly—even with a brand-new passport, I got approved for a full 7 days.
2. Flights
We flew Shenzhen Airlines, snagging a round-trip deal on 10/10 for around $410 USD for both of us. But I don't recommend them—the planes are small, seats are cramped, food's meh, and the aircraft felt a bit rickety.
3. Accommodation
To save money, we skipped hotels near the Bund and booked one about 3km away, right by a metro station. It's basic—no fancy robots delivering room service like in 4- or 5-star spots—but clean and functional at $40 USD per night. The bathroom's tiny, but the room has a washer-dryer and fridge. Being in a residential area means tons of local eateries nearby with tasty, affordable food.
4. Immigration
We transited through Bao'an Airport in Shenzhen, so we cleared immigration there. If you don't have a SIM yet, just fill out a paper form. I had data, so I scanned a QR code at the machine (it's a bit glitchy) to fill info and get my entry slip fast.
For non-Chinese speakers traveling solo, this can feel nerve-wracking, but it was a breeze for me. As a solo female traveler with a fresh passport, I printed my declaration, lined up, scanned my face and fingerprints, and customs stamped me through in under a minute—no extra questions.
5. Getting Around
We used all four main options: Didi (ride-hailing), buses, metro, and bikes. Here's my take on each:
- Didi: Prices are reasonable—15-25 RMB ($2-3.50 USD) for 3-7km rides. From Maglev station to hotel (15km) was about 40 RMB one way; to Disney around 130 RMB.
- Bus: Scan your Alipay ticket on board—flat 2 RMB per ride. Super convenient and quick, unless it's rush hour traffic.
- Metro: Around 4 RMB per trip (don't remember exactly). They scan bags but not as strict as airports. Stations are huge though—long walks from entrance to platform, and switching lines takes forever. Lines like Line 1 are packed. It's fast once you're moving, but all that walking wore me out.
- Bikes: 1.5 RMB for 15 minutes. Perfect for office workers like me who aren't big on exercise—after hitting 20k steps, biking eased my sore feet. For heavy use, grab a weekly pass on Didi for 7 RMB. I got a 2.5 RMB card that gave 1 RMB off each rental for 3 days. Traffic's no worry: ride on sidewalks if needed (like Huaihai Road from start to end), or dedicated lanes. Cross streets at crosswalks—cars stop 10m away and wait patiently, no honking.
6. Payments
We brought just 700 RMB ($100 USD) cash for emergencies—break it into small bills at convenience stores for easier use everywhere.
Mainly used Alipay and WeChat. I had 2k RMB in WeChat already, and for bills over 200 RMB, I'd use it to skip fees. Once that ran out, linked my VCB Visa Digicard/Everlink to Alipay (do this in Vietnam first for OTP). Exchange rate was 3,790 VND—no extra fees.
Worried about over-200 RMB fees on Alipay? Just ask staff to split the bill—they will.
Pro tip for VCB cards: Check if international payments are enabled. Mine wasn't (bf's was), so I quickly made an Everlink card online and activated it.
7. Safety & Security
I'd heard tons of scary stories online about solo travel in China, but honestly? Super safe. Security and police are everywhere—saw at least 10 around the Bund alone, and they're helpful even if you don't speak Chinese.
Streets are blanketed in cameras that flash when you pass. Locals are friendly and warm—restaurant and supermarket staff go out of their way. Loved this vibe!
Airport security hooked us up too: Coming back with a massive 20kg Maglev box, they opened a private elevator line for us. At Disneyland, we overslept and arrived 30 mins late for early entry—crowded gates everywhere, but staff made a special lane to get us in quick.
8. Food Highlights
I'm a huge Chinese food fan, so most hits were spot-on for my taste (a few misses):
- Hong Kong roast duck at Birdhut (8/10): Long line, but worth it. Half duck, 2 rice bowls, stir-fried veggies, and salted egg yolk: 150 RMB for two (super filling). Go for the 60 RMB roast duck rice next time.
- Tea hotpot (4/10): Dianping reviews lured me, but oily broth wasn't my jam (chicken and passionfruit sour pots). Pretty presentation, slow service—300 RMB total.
- Jiajiatangbao (8/10): 12 mixed xiaolongbao cage, pig blood soup, 200g boiled chicken: ~70 RMB. Their cold boiled chicken is next-level tender and flavorful—not like back home.
- Wukang Road liver noodles (10/10): Liver noodle bowl + char siu noodles: 75 RMB. Insanely good—thick, chewy noodles. Mix the char siu one for max flavor.
- Hairy crab rice at Libaixie (8/10): Two spots—Yu Garden has Pearl Tower views. We hit the Bund/Nanjing Road one (no view). Crab rice (138 RMB discounted to 108), fried spring rolls, pear jelly: ~150 RMB. BF loved it; I found it bland.
- Long Time Ago BBQ (9/10): Packed, especially Nanjing Road (open till 3am). Take a WeChat number first. Food's solid, service outstanding—but grill heat is intense (they give cooling forehead patches; we needed fans too). ~150 RMB.
- BBQ near hotel/Baoshan Road station (11/10): No reviews, just popped in post-Disney. Open 2pm-3am—best skewers I've had in China, way better than Long Time Ago. Friendly staff, ~150 RMB.
- Disneyland food (1/10): Skip it—tasteless and pricey at ~100 RMB/dish.
- KFC (10/10): Try it here—tastier than in Vietnam!
Tip: Download Dianping app to check vouchers/discounts before eating. I scanned and got free drinks or food deals all the time.
