Land in Shanghai.
Feel ready.
Payments, mobile data, airport transfers. Get the practical things sorted before you go.
Coming to study?Prepare for your university arrival and first week.Where are you in your trip?
Prepare the essentials while you are still at home.
- 1Prepare a payment option ↗
Set up your app and keep a backup.
- 2Choose how to get connected ↗
Compare SIM, eSIM and roaming for your phone.
- 3Check documents and your offline plan ↗
Keep the Chinese address and arrival details close.
31.2304° N · 121.4737° E
Your trip. A little less guesswork.
A FEW CHECKS BEFORE YOU FLY
Turn your next steps into progress.
Keep the essentials close, and tick them off when you are ready.
THE ESSENTIALS
A good trip starts here.
Preparation
Before you fly to Shanghai
Prepare your documents, apps and an offline backup before departure.
Payments
How to use Alipay with a foreign card in Shanghai
Prepare Alipay or Weixin Pay, handle card and SMS problems, and keep a payment backup for arrival.
Mobile data
China SIM vs travel eSIM vs roaming: a Shanghai arrival guide
Choose mainland-China mobile data: compare SIM, travel eSIM and roaming, check your device, retain bank SMS access and troubleshoot after landing.
Airports
Pudong Airport to Shanghai: metro, taxi and late-night options
Plan your Pudong Airport transfer with Line 2, Maglev, taxi and late-night bus comparisons, reference costs and a backup for arrivals after the trains.
A QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO?
Start with a practical answer.
Browse our editorial FAQs, then check the linked guide and official sources.
Official sources. Clear steps. Dates you can check.
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