One of the most popular VPN services among the foreigners in China. ExpressVPN has been able to keep up with the firewall changes over time and is still providing a fast and solid connection in China. Provides desktop and mobile versions.
Price: 12.95 USD/month
https://www.expressvpn.com

Another popular service for China is Astrill VPN. Although they’ve had some issues lately their service seems to be back on track and their connection is stable again. You can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously while ExpressVPN only provides 3 simultaneous connections. Good support for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
Price: 8.33 USD/month (yearly plan)
https://www.astrill.com

Relatively new service for Chinese market is NordVPN. On top of regular servers list they also provide a list of obfuscated servers which are specially designed to bypass China’s VPN blocking. Their service is also cheapest from the group if you choose the yearly plan.
Price: 5.75 USD/month (yearly plan)
https://nordvpn.com

Any foreigner living in Shanghai must register at the nearest local police station within 24 hours of entry into China. For those who are staying in a hotel, the front desk will automatically do this for you when you check in. If you decide to rent an apartment or room in a shared apartment, then registration with the police is necessary.

You must bring the following paperwork when registering:
• Your passport with valid visa, plus a photocopy of your passport information page and visa
• A copy of the property ownership certificate
• A copy of the landlord’s ID or passport
• Original and photocopy of your lease

You will present these documents at the counter and sign some paperwork. Then, the officer will give you back your passport and a “temporary residence permit”.

Note It is important to know that you should re-register if the status of your visa or your residence address has changed, including when you move from a hotel to an apartment.

You will need to buy a Chinese SIM card to access mobile networks and make phone calls. Most of the time WiFi in places like airports and coffee shops require a phone number for access as well, so buying a SIM card should be one of your first stops in Shanghai.

There are two leading mobile carriers in China: China Mobile and China Unicom.

China Mobile and China Unicom stores can be found almost anywhere in Shanghai. You must bring your passport and your temporary residence permit (not required but recommended) to apply for a SIM card in one of those stores. After setting up your mobile plan, you will periodically receive an automated SMS message reminding you to top up your phone. The easiest option for topping up your SIM card is through WeChat or Alipay. For that, you will need a bank card linked to one of these platforms, or some funds in your wallet. You can also go into a physical China Mobile or China Unicom to top up.

China suffers from some of the worst air pollution worldwide due to its output from manufacturing, rapid population and economic growth, and a resulting surge in the number of motorized vehicles on the road. The Chinese government efforts to curb air pollution will take several years to achieve desired results even if we already have seen significant reductions in air pollution over the last few years. Air pollution is a serious concern for foreigners living in Shanghai. They need to be vigilant and take common sense precautions to stay healthy and safe, especially for their children who are more prone to the harmful effects of air pollution than adults.

Air pollution is measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI), which scales pollution levels from 0 to 500 and assigns a color to different number levels to measure how hazardous the air quality is on any given day. You should be very careful not to run or do other activities outside on bad air quality days. Also, try to avoid the use of the coal-fired centralized heating systems as much as you can.

Indoor air pollution is often as bad as outdoor air quality in Shanghai, so it is recommended to have air purifiers in your apartment. They are easily accessible in China and inexpensive. You should also wear pollution face masks (N95 or N99 grade) when venturing outdoors on smoggy days to block particulate matter (PM) air pollution. Some of those face masks include a carbon filter to help protect you from ozone pollution. An electronic pollution monitor to check your indoor air quality is recommended. Due to the bad air quality of Shanghai, it is also recommended to minimize your exposure to allergens in your home by regularly cleaning the air conditioner filter and duct filters with each change of season.

Shanghai is one of the safest big cities in the world you’ll ever be in, with extremely low rates of violent crime. However, you should be alert and careful of pickpockets. Pickpocketing and purse snatching is common in crowded places and on public transportation. We advise that you keep an eye on your belongings when you find yourself in busy and crowded areas. Also, when crossing streets, be aware that motorists, bicyclists, and motorcyclists will most likely not stop for you. Bus drivers are also quite aggressive and make wide turns, watch out for the mirrors which project quite far out, as these can be dangerous for pedestrians.

Many Shanghai residents employ a maid, or Ayi, to clean, cook or look after their children. Compared to Western countries it is significantly cheaper to hire help, and it is very common for foreigners to have a maid clean once or twice a week. The cost of an Ayi can fluctuate depending on several factors, such as where you live and whether she cooks. In Shanghai, current hourly wages for an Ayi are ¥35-¥45.

Nannies will also cost more. The downside of Ayis is that most don’t speak any English, and the ones who do charge more. Hiring a maid could also be a way for your children to passively learn Chinese. Families with children or large houses often have two or three Ayis: one for the cooking, one for the cleaning, and one for the children. They can also do the grocery shopping. They generally do not live in, although they can if space permits. Ayis usually work 6-10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week.

China celebrates several main holidays throughout the year, the most important are :?
Spring Festival (or Chinese New Year), which is celebrated in winter according to the Lunar Calendar. Usually it is around 7 days, this is the country’s biggest holiday.
• Qingming (or Tomb Sweeping Day) : April 4th or 5th, which is a day for showing respect to one’s ancestors.
• May Day: May 1st, which is Chinese Labor Day.
• Dragon Boat: The 5 th day of the 5 th lunar month, which is a day for commemorating the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar and poet Qu Yuan.
• Mid-Autumn Festival: The 15 th day of the 8 th lunar month (usually in Autumn), which is the harvest festival.
• National Day: October 1(the official holiday typically lasts from October 1st to 7 th), this day marks the formation of the People’s Republic of China.