Shanghai
// Navigate Shanghai as visitor, resident, student, or builder with practical neighborhoods, transport, costs, visas, and local operating rules.
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updated:March 4, 2026
SKILL.mdreadonly
SKILL.md Frontmatter
nameShanghai
slugshanghai
version1.0.0
homepagehttps://clawic.com/skills/shanghai
changelogInitial release with complete Shanghai coverage for visitors, relocation, neighborhoods, transport, and local operations.
descriptionNavigate Shanghai as visitor, resident, student, or builder with practical neighborhoods, transport, costs, visas, and local operating rules.
metadata[object Object]
When to Use
User asks about Shanghai for tourism, relocation, work, studies, business setup, or day-to-day life decisions. Agent should answer with practical next steps and local tradeoffs.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| People's Square, Jingan, Lujiazui | neighborhoods-downtown.md |
| Xuhui, Zhangjiang, Yangpu | neighborhoods-tech.md |
| Bund, Old Town, FFC historic lanes | neighborhoods-historic.md |
| Minhang, Qingpu, Songjiang, Jiading | neighborhoods-suburban.md |
| Choosing guide | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & dining scene | food-overview.md |
| Shanghai and Jiangnan staples | food-local.md |
| International and fine dining | food-international.md |
| Best areas for dining | food-areas.md |
| Dietary and practical tips | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving and settling | resident.md |
| Transport (metro, rail, DiDi, bikes) | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety and laws | safety.md |
| Weather, humidity, typhoon windows | climate.md |
| Local services (banking, apps, SIM) | local.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry and salaries | tech.md |
| Business setup and WFOE path | business.md |
| Visas and residence permits | visas.md |
| Startup ecosystem and fundraising | startup.md |
| Lifestyle | |
| Culture and etiquette | culture.md |
| Healthcare and insurance | healthcare.md |
| Schools and education | education.md |
| Expat lifestyle and social rhythm | lifestyle.md |
| Driving and car ownership | driving.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Visitor, resident, student, tech worker, founder, family
- Timeline: This week, exploratory move, already in Shanghai
- Constraint: Budget, language comfort, commute tolerance
- Load only relevant files before giving recommendations.
2. Shanghai Is Hyper-Connected, Not Frictionless
- Metro coverage is excellent, but peak-hour crowding is intense.
- Puxi vs Pudong choice strongly affects commute and lifestyle.
- Most daily tasks run through local apps and QR workflows.
See
transport.mdandlocal.md.
3. China Platform Reality Still Applies
- Expect restrictions on many Western services.
- WeChat + Alipay are operationally essential.
- Set connectivity plan before arrival (roaming/eSIM/VPN strategy).
See
local.mdandvisitor-tips.md.
4. Climate and Air Planning Matter
- Summers are hot and humid.
- Rain/typhoon windows can disrupt plans.
- Winters are damp-cold despite moderate temperatures.
See
climate.mdfor month-by-month planning.
5. Current Data (Feb 2026)
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 1BR rent (Jingan/Xuhui core) | ¥9,000-18,000/month |
| 1BR rent (outer districts) | ¥5,000-10,000/month |
| Senior SWE salary (local firms) | ¥35,000-70,000/month |
| Senior SWE salary (intl firms) | ¥50,000-100,000/month |
| Metro single ride | ¥3-15 |
| Typical mid-range dinner | ¥120-280/person |
| International school fees | ¥120,000-330,000/year |
6. Compliance Rules Are Non-Negotiable
- Foreigners must complete residence registration after arrival and after address changes.
- Work requires proper visa + permit + residence process.
- Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, visa issues, and exit restrictions.
See
visas.mdandsafety.md.
7. Neighborhood Fit Beats Generic Rankings
| Profile | Best Starting Areas |
|---|---|
| First-time visitor | Huangpu, Jingan |
| Young professionals | Jingan, Xuhui, Yangpu |
| Families | Minhang, Qingpu, Pudong compounds |
| Tech workers | Zhangjiang, Xuhui, Yangpu |
| Budget-conscious | Songjiang, Jiading, outer Minhang |
| Luxury-focused | Bund-facing towers, Lujiazui, former concession villas |
8. Give Tradeoffs, Not Just Lists
Always include what user gains and what they give up:
- central convenience vs space
- lower rent vs commute
- international comfort vs local immersion
Shanghai-Specific Traps
- Assuming all neighborhoods are equally walkable and English-friendly.
- Underestimating rush-hour commutes across river crossings.
- Arriving without payment apps ready.
- Confusing short-term visa entry with legal work permission.
- Booking high-demand restaurants without reservation windows.
- Ignoring humidity, rain, and heat in summer plans.
- Choosing housing before testing commute at peak hours.
Legal Awareness
Key points to surface clearly:
- Registration obligations after arrival/address change.
- Work authorization must match actual employment activity.
- Drug policy is zero tolerance.
- Sensitive political activity is high risk.
- Public behavior, filming, and drone use can be regulated by location.
See safety.md for practical do/don't guidance.
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
travel— trip structuring and route planning across citiesexpat— relocation and settling workflows for international moveschinese— language support for daily tasks and local communicationbooking— booking flow support for hotels, transport, and activities
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star shanghai - Stay updated:
clawhub sync