Just Back from Shanghai: Here's the Real Deal

[Justin Zieme]

Hello, friends planning to visit Shanghai, I, a seasoned traveler or "old donkey" as we say it colloquially, am happy to share with you some of my experiences and feelings about the city. My main goal is to give you some insight that can help make your trip more enjoyable!

• About Shanghainese people:
  • In general, they are not overly eager to take advantage and are very conscious of fairness.
  • It is quite common for them to split the bill fairly when eating with friends or relatives because everyone just pays for what they have eaten, which differs a bit from the custom of someone treating the rest in our country.
• Some language tips:
  • Now, many young people in Shanghai often use Mandarin Chinese in their daily life. They are not devoid of knowledge regarding the Shanghainese dialect, but they are just not used to speaking it frequently. So, speaking Mandarin Chinese is completely fine for communication with them!
• About impressions of the city:
  • Shanghai is evolving at a very rapid pace! If you want to experience that “old Shanghai" film feel, you might have to search a bit more for certain small alleys or museums, because most big streets tend to provide you with a modern urban atmosphere rather than “nostalgic” vibes.
  • Personally, I think that in terms of citizens' overall quality, Shanghai ranks among the top cities in China. There seems to be an abundance of people who maintain order and show politeness.

️ Be careful! Here are some situations you may encounter:

* **Public transportation seating:** Admittedly, I did not see too many people courteously yielding seats when I rode the buses and subways in Shanghai. However, you can inquire politely or keep an eye out for available spots if you need one. 
    * What to do? If you truly require a seat (for example, when carrying children or feeling unwell), you might try being near areas designated for priority seating or traveling during less busy hours.
* **Waste sorting:** You really have to pay attention! The rules on waste sorting in Shanghai are very strict, even more so compared to other major cities in the country.
    * How to do it? Before disposing of garbage, be sure to check the sorting label (that is, dry waste, wet waste, recyclables, and hazardous waste) or ask the hotel staff or nearby volunteers. Dumping garbage arbitrarily could bring some inconvenience!

• On getting along with Shanghainese people:

  • They possess strong "contractual spirit," meaning that once they agree on something, they generally do well at following through. This earns them the reputation for reliability.
  • People always joke around saying that "Shanghai men fear their wives," but I think it represents more of a mix of respect and consideration.

• To feel comfortable enjoying Shanghai:

  • Keep these points in mind: behave civilly (for example, not being loud in public), observe rules (such as lining up or following traffic rules), keep your word. By doing so, you will be able to integrate into the local community better, and thus have a happier trip!

Finally, as a city with super-developed economic prowess providing significant contributions to national finances, the architectural construction and urban management in Shanghai stand out across the board. I think every visitor should experience it at least once!

ShanghaiTravel #TravelShare #ShanghaiImpression #TripTips

[Barry Kuphal]

Honestly, Shanghai taxi drivers can be quite rude; it often feels like they look down on visitors from out of town. I know some might argue that many drivers aren't locals themselves, but I can't really tell the difference since they all tend to have accents.

[Jo Douglas]

Most local drivers have retired by now. With such high demand for taxis, they're mostly driven by non-locals, and it's the same for ride-hailing services. The older, local 'master' drivers, though, are usually quite friendly, happy to chat and recommend good places to visit. It really comes down to luck. If you encounter someone with a bad attitude, regardless of who they are, you should stand up for yourself! After all, we're the customers.

[Iris Marquardt]

It's not that people on the subway won't proactively offer their seats. It's more that everyone living in this city is pretty tired, and we've all paid for our fares, so there isn't an obligation to go out of our way to give up a seat. BUT!!!! If we see someone who genuinely has trouble with their legs, is in a cast, or is clearly pregnant, or an elderly person with a cane, we generally will offer our seat. Most people still have that basic social decency.

[Lula Turner]

Exactly. Shanghai is a huge city, and young people have long commutes. You can be sitting on the subway for a very long time, so who wants to stand? However, we will still give up our seats to the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled. But if it's an able-bodied 'auntie' or 'uncle' who looks perfectly fine, I'm less inclined to give up my seat – I can't even keep up with their square dancing!

[Lindsey Jerde DDS]

Actually, those are often highly educated non-locals working in Shanghai. Shanghai natives, on the other hand, can be quite fond of taking advantage of others. My colleague rented a place in Tianlin, and their native Shanghainese neighbor secretly tapped into their electricity to steal power.

[Josephine Cremin]

I went to Melbourne once, and some white people there gave me the middle finger.

[Beatrice Thiel]

Shanghainese people love taking advantage of others the most.

[Jesse Paucek]

That's just outrageous! Or perhaps you're the one who enjoys taking advantage of others so much?

[Samuel Kihn]

Shanghainese people don't split the bill (go AA) at family gatherings. At most, they take turns hosting, and they often even fight over who gets to pay the bill.

[Sadie Ortiz-Waelchi]

You must be talking about eating small wontons, right?

[Barry Kuphal]

My experience after a few days of traveling in Shanghai is that I never want to come back! I'm from Hefei, Anhui, and when I first got here, people were dismissive and looked annoyed when I tried to buy things or ask questions. It's hard to adjust when you're used to your own city. Plus, things are expensive here – though if you're rich, you can disregard what I just said. In summary, there's no human warmth here, and contrary to what some might say, they do take advantage of people. They might be clean, but I don't think they have much in the way of good manners or 'quality'.

[Ellis Sauer DVM]

A lack of human warmth – that's what I've truly felt during my trip to Shanghai. Even the security guards in residential communities act all high and mighty.

[Sadie Ortiz-Waelchi]

'Shanghainese people don't like to take advantage of others?' Are you serious? That made me laugh.

[Johnathan Schmeler]

They really do take petty advantages. As someone in e-commerce, I can tell you that many customers from Shanghai are quick to threaten you with bad reviews!

[Darren Sawayn]

I was quite disappointed after coming to Shanghai. I met several people who weren't very nice and even tried to rip me off.

[Terrence Beer]

I just went out for one evening, and the people I encountered really weren't great.

[Beulah Koelpin]

I don't quite agree with point 5. I've been to Shanghai, but I feel that people in Beijing generally have better manners than people in Shanghai.

[Katrina Sporer]

I prefer the personality of people from Northern China.

[Felix Glover]

Shanghainese people are f***ing hollow. They rely entirely on material possessions to fill their inner emptiness because they have no real emotions to speak of. Money is what maintains their relationships 90% of the time; only 10% is genuine feeling. I recently saw some posts complaining about Shanghainese people, and I thought they hit the nail on the head.