Where To Live In Shanghai?
Replies: 17 - Last Post: Jan 27, 2013 9:55 AM Last Post By: SoloHobo
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Where To Live In Shanghai?
Hello,My name is Steve and I am 23 year old recent college graduate from the United States. Going abroad has always been a dream of mine and I am beyond excited about my international opportunity. In early February, I will travel to Shanghai to work as a currency trading intern for a wealth management company. Everything is set besides where I will be living. The American company I am working with to coordinate the internship will soon be finding a location for me to live. If I want, I can have a say on where I live in the city.
My company is located on Wudong Road in Yangpu, Shanghai. Some people I have spoken with recommended that I live near some of the local universities. I want to meet as many new people as possible and hopefully live in an area that is both a reasonable commute to my work and has things to do (I fully understand this may not happen). I told my American company that I would prefer having a roommate as I feel this will open up new social circles. Also, I will only be in Shanghai ~3 months, so the price of rent is of little concern.
So my questions to all of you wonderful experts out there. Where in the city do you recommend I live? What will my commute look like? A final more general question, what is the public transportation like in Shanghai? Thank you!
Steve
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This webpage is for your reference3
Keep in mind, the commute in Shanghai is a drag for most, the trains are packed, as is all transport, and congestion is hell on the roads and highways.Having lived in Shanghai for 6 months in 2011 and exploring it all via cycle, here is my thoughts, and I am a city guy, live downtown Chicago and also NYC over the years.
That area over there outside of the Uni, is really just okay IMO, but for a short term time, it may be fine for you, it really is nowhere near the true city a tourist or visiting businessman would ever go to be honest. You will not be around may foreigners, thats for sure.
I would check out and sign up on Shanhai Expat forum, the regulars there know the lay of the land well, and can point you to apartments, realtors etc. What choices have they given you so far?
Yangpu is really far from the main goings on in Shanghai...
http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/
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Thank you all for the responses.Someone recommended that I live in the Jing'an area. Does that sound like a reasonable commute?
Woolf I will look into your recommendation and run it by my company. Solo, thanks for the website reference. I have looked around there a bit and there seems to be a wealth of information.
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#4 No Advertising. Poster, this a tout, you dont know what the motive os of this person, there are a 1st time poster and are targeting you. Do NOT contact the, I have reported the Post for deletion.1 hour commute, you as may well stay in Jing An area or in French Concession, that would be 40 minutes from work about max, maybe less. You can find rooms for rent with expats and professionals all over Shanghai, but you will see most are in the Puxi French Concession area. This where all the western bars and hangouts are, besides Bund and Pudong.
Take a look here at whats is going in Shanghai, and where the main action is, this where it would be best to live as well, if you dont mind a commute on train. Line 2 Metro connects to everything, but Line 8 maybe great for you too.
http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/index.html
Get your hands on a Lonely Planet Shanghia City Guide, thats how I got to know the city. If I could find mine, I would send it to you...
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If you Google Map- Shanghai, then click on Map and enter Wudong Rd, it will show the street, You can also see Fudan Uni there just south, and if you go further South, is the main areas of Shanghai. Most people and activity is south of Nanjing East or West. If you Search on the Map, Jing An Temple, you will see how far it is, via Line 2 and Line 8. If you Search Garden Books, this ground zero for the French Concession area (nightlife). If you search for Iran or US Embassy, this ground zero of ex pats hangouts.7
Solo, thanks for having my back. I haven't yet and now do not plan on making contact.I don't mind a train or a cab. I think I will end up using whichever is faster. A 40 minute max commute is not bad at all. I do 25-35 daily here in the states. Its the 1hr plus commutes that I want to avoid. I will mention my interest in both the Jing An area and French Concession to my American company. Now if I live in the French Concession area, do you still think I will have ample opportunity to meet locals from the city?
I will definitely pick up a lonelyplanet guide. I was looking at them and it looks like the new edition comes out later this year. Unfortunate timing, but I am sure it will still be beneficial.
Finally, on an entirely different note, do you have an advice about cell phones in Shanghai? I currently have an IPhone 5. I was advised against brining due to the risk of theft. I am currently looking into buying an IPhone 3 for the trip. Do you have any thoughts? If I should create a new thread for this topic, just let me know and I can do so. Thanks again.
Steve
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Solohobo,how do you think I'm touting,or targeting or misleading the poster?just to avoid being misunderstanded, I recommended him the webpage not a specific solution,tell me what's wrong with me?
Do you think I work for the webpage? That's really rediculous! If that's reasonable ,I'd starved to death!
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Theft? Who in said that? AS long as its unlocked, you can get a ChinaTelecom SIM card for it, figure at least 200Y month.The city has 19 million Chinese, and 250,000 foreigners, you can meet Chinese until your dead.
Commuting on the trains in China/Shanghai are a lot more crowded than any transit system in America. Its nuts. Traffic is gridlock, taxis can be few and far between at rush hour.
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Oh, for meeting others, of all walks, countries and backgrounds, join a few of these mixers.http://www.fcclub.com/index.php?page=events
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Michael, sorry about the mixup. I found your link helpful, thanks for posting it.Solo, some friends of mine who used to live in Shanghai told me that the IPhone 5 would be a target for theft and that I would likely get it stolen if I brought it. I was just curious to hear any of your thoughts on if this is true. Thanks.
Currently, I am leaning heavily towards living in the Jing An or French Concession. Especially the French Concession as it is near a subway line. Solo well said about meeting Chinese! Perhaps if thinks work out well, I will live in Shanghai until that final day.
I got some advice that I can avoid rush hour by arriving at work by 7:30am. If this is an option, it could make commuting to work a lot more reasonable. Thanks again.
Steve
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It is very rare for crime to occur like mugging/assault for an Iphone, or any device, crime in China, and Shanghai is about zero compared to most countries, so I dont know where that comes from, and foreigners are even more off limits usually. Shanghai is the wealthiest city in China, college kids drive BMW M3's, go to bottler service lounges and carry the latest gadgets with them, women wear $10K handbags like its a lunch box, and men wear watches in excess of $10K everywhere. I rode a bicycle, with my Iphone, and a Canon 50D and two lenses ($3,000) all over the city, down alleys, in places not on a map, and never had 1 single issue, ever. I have never heard of anyone getting their phone taken, but like NYC, Chicago and San Fran, Paris, Rome etc etc, mass transit trains in the city have issues, but the amount of police and cameras in Shanghia is rather daunting, you can go anywhere on the transit without being recorded.Its also still a cash society, people cary around $1000 USD in RMB like its $20. I once was at a ATM and a guy deposited $10,000 next to me like it was nothing...crime? in China? rare in most places a tourist would go.
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