This is obviously a high priority for the Shanghai government to ensure a capable system to transport the city’s 20 million people around. This means a lot of construction of infrastructure facilities such as tunnels, bridges, highways and subways. It is estimated that by 2010 when Shanghai is hosting the Expo 2010, more than 70 million people will visit Shanghai and more than 50 million people will pass through the city’s 2 airports.

The construction of the road system has been under way for nearly a decade. The 1st ring road now loops around the inner city centre, including the west side commercial part of Shanghai, Lujiazui financial district and Jin Qiao Export Processing Zone. The 2nd ring road connects the two airports, Hong Qiao and Pudong International Airport to each other and to the Wai Gao Qiao Free Trade Zone.

Taxis

Taxis are the main source of moving around the Shanghai. They are a lot of them, they are cheap, clean and a reliable way of transportation. With a starting price of RMB 10 which will take you 3 km and an additional RMB 2.00 per km, the price is very fair. All taxis are running on the taximeter, which is started upon the tour and stopped at the goal. For longer trips, it is possible to negotiate a cheaper fair directly with the driver but may not always ensure you can the receipt afterwards!

 

 

Bicycles

Bicycles are for the locals still the main source of transportation in Shanghai. Since the city is flat and the downtown area small, it’s a very convenient way to explore the city and go from place to another. As foreigner in China, you do enjoy special privileges but when on your own in the streets of Shanghai (or any other major city in China), then you must follow the local way. And remember, better to break once to many that being hit by a local 20–tonnes truck from the countryside.

Remember that people are mostly interested in getting from point A to B. Many of the streets are one-way streets and packed with bikes going in one direction. Once you are in the crowd, then follow the crowd and their pace. Accidents mostly happen when someone breaks out of line and tries to start a speed race – this is not encouraged. Most bicycles are cheap and a great way to get the real feeling of Shanghai.

Size Matters. The system in Shanghai is very simple, the bigger one wins. This means that the car stops for the truck, the motorcycle stops for the car, the bicycle stops for all vehicles and the pedestrian always looks over both shoulders – twice. When on a bicycle, do always seek eye contact with other cyclists and in particular with car drivers. Once you have eye’d-to-eye’d with them, they know you are there but that doesn’t mean they will break for you.

Buses

City buses in most places in China can be either a nightmare or a way to get down and local, depending on how you react to shoving, groping, and spitting on the floor. A few years ago, Shanghai buses were like this too, but a 1999 overhaul of the public transportation system brought larger fleets, expanded routes, higher fares, and fewer crowds.

Public buses in Shanghai are now as comfortable and practical as buses in pretty much any other large, modern city in the world. In fact, Shanghai buses are often less crowded than the subways, and are the best way to go when you only need to travel short distances.
Buses without air conditioning cost -￥2 per trip and are generally faster and much less crowded but obviously also much hotter in Summer time. If you take buses, look out for your wallet, mobile phone and other personal items as pick-pockets can be a problem in these crowded places such as buses and subways.

Subway

The subway is clean, effective and the future of transportation in Shanghai so therefore the government assigns the expansion of the network very high priority. As of right now, only a few lines are operational but the characteristic construction speed is also found in the subway system.

The 1st line was completed in 1995 and the 2nd in 2000. The city is planning to have 12 lines in operating in 2010 with the goal that you should never be more than 15 min walk from a substation when in Shanghai city. We look forward to that day! The prices are low; from RMB3.00 – 5.00 per trip depending on end-station.

 

Cars

A private car is still the preferred way of most expatriates to get around. Many companies will provide a car and a driver to their foreign employees or at least allocate a monthly amount for this while others provide a monthly expense amount to be used for transportation to and from the work place ie. by taxi.

Most cars are considerably more expensive than in the West and subject to heavy duties from Chinese government, so though these are dropping over the next few years according to the implementation of the regulations from the Chinese membership of WTO, it is still very expensive.

There are a number of stores that are selling foreign imported cars in Shanghai. The prices are usually quoted in RMB and subject to a 10% administration fee of the purchase price and furthermore must all cars be insured in Shanghai. Only five companies have the rights today to issue car insurance in Shanghai, among these are 2 foreign companies AIA and Tokyo Marine. The Chinese ones are People’s Insurance Company of China (PICC), China Pacific and Ping An Insurance Company.

If you or your company does not want to buy a car in China, then there is still the option of leasing which most companies tend to do. Prices span from around RMB 5,400.00 / month for the cheapest Volkswagen model to RMB 14,000.00 / month for the Buick GL8 – 3.0 - V6 , 7-seater. These prices are without driver and a driver’s salary is around RMB 2,000-3,000.00 / month, depending on his experience and level of English – if he speaks it at all as most don’t.

It’s however highly recommended to hire a driver in Shanghai and avoid driving yourself for a number of reasons. The traffic situation is very bad in Shanghai and although the drivers do show a rare level of consideration and competence, the streets are narrow of which many are one-way streets, can make rush-hour a trying experience. Shanghai currently has more than 1 million automobiles but local government aims at keeping the number below 1.5 million in the future, despite the dream of most Chinese to own their own car.

Finding your way around

When you are new to Shanghai, you will for sure also have your difficulties finding your way around. As mentioned earlier, many of the streets in Shanghai are one-way streets but unfortunately these are not marked on most maps, even those that are made specifically for drivers. And the changes in the road network forces the city to issue new maps every three months.

At many intersections, a left turn is forbidden. At a few intersections right turns are forbidden as well. There are even intersections where you are not allowed to go straight but have to make a left or right turn.

Shanghai suffers from a poor signage to tell the drivers the rules – and when there are signs, they usually put in a bad place where no one can see them.

For instances are the sign forbidding newly licensed drivers from the elevated highways, placed in a position at the entrance of the highway that you will not spot them until you are on the way up to the highway without any chance of turning around.

How to get your driver’s license?

Though we have mentioned above that it is unusual for foreigners to drive in China because of the problems finding your ways and stressful situation but another reason is that the Chinese government has just started recognizing the International Driver’s license. And in most cases, it is still necessary to have your international driver’s license converted into a Chinese license. If you still wish to drive your own car here, then you should go to:

1101 Zhongshan North Rd, ROOM 301, 4th floor

But be aware that there are certain procedures you should follow:

- If you do not have an international driver’s license, then bring your passport and residence card. They will then take your photograph and you will have to pass an examination.
- If you do have your international license, then bring your residence card, international license (you should have minimum 3 years experience, otherwise you have to take an exam as well).

And finally, if your international license is not in English, then you will have to translate it into English at:

Shanghai International Studies University
Lane 100, Dong Ti Yu Hui Rd, No. 3 building, 1st floor

Trains

There are 2 main train stations in Shanghai, the North Station (Xin Ke Zhan) which handles most of the northbound traffic and long-distance trains. The trains leaving the South Station is mostly short distance variety. If you are planning a trip to some of the cities south of Shanghai such as Hangzhou or Shaoxing, you should go through the south station to save money and time. And make sure that you book your ticket a few days in advance to avoid the hard seat at best or not getting on the train at all. You can buy tickets through most hotels, travel agencies and ticketing offices (see below).

Shanghai Railway Station
385 Meiyuan Rd (or end station on Metro line 1)
Tel: +86 21 6317 9090 / 6354 5358

Shanghai South Railway Station
200 Zhaofeng Rd (or 3rd last station on Metro line 1 towards Xinzhuang)
Tel: +86 21 6317 9090 / 6404 1371

The trains in China are clean and an effective way of traveling while experiencing the Chinese culture up on close front. Not many foreigners use this way of transportation although it’s cheap and offers you a good chance to see the landscape of the country you are living in. Shanghai is a major train hub in China and you can reach most locations from here. If you are looking for an easy get-away weekend solution, then the train can be your ticket out of Shanghai for some peaceful relaxation in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou or other destinations in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces.

The tickets come in four levels in accordance with the level of comfort that these can offer. The best ‘class or comparatively 1st class’ is the soft sleeper (ruan wo) which comes with 4 berths in each lockable room. All berths are of course individual with reading lights. The most comfortable way of traveling by train in China.

The next ‘class’ is hard sleeper (ying wo), which consists of 6 berths in each compartment. This may a good solution for those who are a long journey and wishes to meet the locals – don’t choose any of the bottom bunks as these becomes the seats for most of your travel compatriots during daytime.

Soft seater (ruan zuo) is the preferred choice for short time traveling within a few hours from Shanghai. These are comfortable seats with tables for snacks and tea, which can be bought on the train during the trip.

Hard seaters (ying zuo) should in general be avoided as these mostly refers to the standing or squatting option along with large crowd of mostly peasants going back to home or to Shanghai.

Travel Agents

One of the things that will keep you sane in Shanghai is occasionally leaving it. There are lots of ways out besides the above mentioned Shanghai Tour Bus Group and wandering off by yourself.

Regarding the travel agents, previously you were confined to the state-run ones, the China International Travel Service (CITS) and China Youth Travel Service (CYTS). Now private travel agencies are springing up everywhere offering their private services often to a cheaper price if you negotiate well.

Check the local English-language newspapers or ask your friends for recommendations. Herewith are the official ones:

China International
Travel Service
Address: 1277 Beijing Xi Lu,
CITS Building
Tel: 6289 2042
Hengshan International
Travel Agency
Address: 135 Jian’guo Xi Lu
Tel: 6415 6538

China Travel Service
Address: 881 Yan’an Zhong Lu
Tel: 6289 1999
Jin Jiang Travel Agency
Address: 191 Changle Lu
Tel: 6472 0496

China Youth Travel Service
Address: 2 Hengshan Lu
Tel: 6433 1826
Kang Hui International
Travel Agency
Address: 1001 Chang’an Lu
Tel: 6317 4049

Da Zhong Travel Agency
Address: Xizang Bei Lu, Lane 225, Bldg 1
Tel: 6354 0524
Shanghai One-day Tour Co.
Address: 1200 Zhongshan Na Er Lu
Tel: 6426 5558

East Shanghai Travel
Address: 539 Dongfang Lu,
Pudong
Tel: 5882 4633
Shanghai Spring Travel
Address: 1558 Dingxi Lu
Tel: 6252 0000

Everbright Travel
Address: 198 Yongkang Lu
Tel: 6415 0462
Zhong Xin International Travel
Address: 20 Hubei Lu, Suite 10D
Tel: 6350 7708

Air Ticketing Offices

Aeroflot Russian Airlines
Tel: 6279 8033

Air China
Tel: 6269 2999

Air France
Tel: 6360 6688

Air Macau
Tel: 6248 1110

All Nippon Air
Tel: 6279 7000

Asiana
Tel: 6219 4000

Austria Airlines
Tel: 6375 9051

Canadian Airlines
Tel: 6375 8899

ChinaEastern International
Tel: 6253 2255

Dragon Air
Tel: 6375 6375

Eastern Airlines
Tel: 6247 5953

Finnair
Tel: 010-6512 7180 (in Beijing)

Japan Airlines
Tel: 6472 3000

Korean Airlines
Tel: 6275 6000

Lufthansa
Tel: 5830 4400

Malaysia Airlines
Tel: 6279 8607

Northwest Airlines
Tel: 6884 6884/6267 4233

Quantas Airways
Tel: 6279 8660

Royal Dutch Airlines
Tel: 6884 6884

Scandinavian Airlines
Tel: 010-8527 6100

Shanghai Airlines
Tel: 6255 8888

Singapore Airlines
Tel: 6289 1000

Swissair
Tel: 6375 8211

Thai Airways International
Tel: 6248 7766/5298 5555

United Airlines
Tel: 6279 8009

Virgin Atlantic
Tel: 5353 4600