FAQs

Question

What is the currency in my destination? How much should I take in credit cards/cash? Can I use my credit card during my trip?

Answer

Exchange some Chinese RMB before your trip. In China, the most common payment method is AliPay, however, without a local bank account, you will NOT be able to use the app. I highly recommend bringing $50 per person per day. You will be able to use credit card (Visa and Mastercard) in most restaurants and shopping malls, but there are a few that only take mobile payment or cash. In the event you run out of cash, you can always go to local banks to do currency exchange. (Rate should be between 6.5 to 7)

Question

What is the best way to go to my hotel from the airport?

Answer

Shanghai is about ~8 times as big as New York City (shocking for me to learn too), which means the airport is FAR from the Bund where most of your hotels are. James and I are happy to contact your hotel to check if there is free shuttle service. If not, please take a taxi. Transportation is much cheaper than NYC, the ride to your hotel should be anywhere between $20 and $25.

Question

Do Chinese people speak English?

Answer

If you are lost or need help, do NOT ask people over 40 for directions or help. (This takes about 5 minutes to explain if you are interested.) Most young people can speak basic English, and are happy to help you out. Hotel and airport staff can definitely help too!

Question

What about wifi and cell phone services?

Answer

Be prepared to say bye to Gmail, Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp for a few days. Before you go, contact your cell phone provider. AT&T has $10 per day deal for unlimited texting and voice. Trust me, it is worth it. For T-mobile and Verizon, there will be comparable options. James and I will use the same service, which means you can contact us via our US cells. In case of emergency, my parent's landline is 86-21-65927939, or my mom's cell is 86 - 15801758217.

Question

Where should I go for vegetarian food?

Answer

Dinner at the wedding will be family style Chinese meal. I have confirmed that there will be vegetarian dishes. For travel afterwards, fortunately, due to the influence of Buddhism. there are quite a few vegetarian restaurants in the city. Link: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/the-best-vegetarian-and-vegan-restaurants-in-shanghai-china/

Question

What should I wear or not wear?

Answer

Please refer to the schedule of events for the dress code. Overall, we have a more lenient dress code in China. For women, please do not wear all black to our wedding. It is not a good color in our culture (and my grandma might hate you for the rest of your life). For men, it is totally fine to wear a black suit. Hints of red, gold and silver are great additions to your outfit. The bridal party will wear apple red, if you want to fit nicely into the photos, try not to wear green.

Question

What to expect in Shanghai?

Answer

It is going to be different. But if you are able to look pass the frequent chaos, you will like the energy of the city and also all the funny or futuristic stuff you won't see in New York. Shanghai's high end retail scene in worth checking out for those who share the same passion for retail as me!

Question

Medical emergency

Answer

I hope everyone has a safe trip, but if you do have medical emergency, I recommend getting in touch with the hotel staff to visit an expat friendly hospital. (Healthcare is much cheaper in China; you won't be charged thousands of dollars). I took a quick look, Renai Hospital and Shanghai United Family Hospital are both well regarded!

Question

Will I get sick from the water or food?

Answer

Most people have not had issues with water or food. I recommend NOT drinking tap water in China to be safe. Chinese people like serving hot or room temperature water (since it is boiled) and it is definitely safe to use. For food. my only ask is not to eat anything from dirty street vendors. Restaurants are safe!

Question

What should I do for fun?

Answer

*Day 1* Walk around The French Concession; stop for local breakfast and explore the coffee scene (1 - 2 hours) Explore the alley of Tianzifang, load up on souvenirs ( 1 hour) Longhua Temple / Pagoada, the oldest religious establishment in Shanghai (1 hour) Huxingting Teahouse stop for some authentic loose leaf tea At night: Huangpu River Cruise, Pub Crawl (airbnb has good options) or Jin Mao Tower (88th Fl Observation Deck) - there is no shortage of rooftop bars in shanghai *Day 2* - Take the bullet train to Suzhou or Zhouzhuang (a famous water town near Shanghai) *Day 3* Visit Yu Garden for more souvenirs and stop for soup dumplings (2 hours) People's Square / Nanjin Rd/ Shanghai Historical Museum (2 hours) - this is the equivalent of Time Square in Shanghai. get ready for the crowd Xin Tian Di for dinner, craft beer and potentially a standup comedy show by a friend of mine from Shanghai

Question

What is the weather in November?

Answer

It is typically between 50F and 65F in Shanghai in November. The city is more humid than New York, so I recommend bringing one warm item (jacket / coat) just in case. Most young people like to wear trench coats in November. If you need some fashion advice, you can ask James since he got a few items from my parents to fit in the local scene =P

Question

Should I book tours / activities in advance?

Answer

Train tickers rarely sell out (unless it is Chinese New Year), so don't worry if you don't have everything figured out yet, For fun activities, boat cruises, walking tours, guided pub crawls and such, I personally think tripadvisor and airbnb experience have the best options for non-Chinese speaking tourists. It might be a little bit more expensive, but I highly encourage doing a mix of self-guided being lost and having an English speaking guide to enrich the experience. And please have one working cell per group, in case you need Shirley or Shirley's parents to get you out of trouble.... We will NOT know how to find you otherwise.