Four distinct seasons: hot and humid summers, damp and cold winters

Spring has big temperature swings between day and night and frequent light rain; summer is hot and humid, with the plum rain season bringing long wet spells; autumn is comfortable, though early autumn can still bring typhoons and heavy rain; winter sees little snow but feels noticeably damp and cold.

Sort the paperwork first, then start exploring

1. Confirm where and when to register, as stated in your admission notice
2. Check into your dormitory or complete accommodation registration
3. Complete the document checks, medical examination and insurance your university requires
4. Set up your campus card, SIM card, bank card and everyday payment apps
5. Locate the campus clinic, the international student office and emergency contacts

Work out commuting, payments and food early

Shanghai's public transport covers a wide area, but cross-district commutes can take a long time. After you arrive, find your nearest metro station, bus routes and how to get back at night. Most campuses have canteens, convenience stores and food delivery; if you have dietary restrictions, check the campus restaurants and nearby options early.

Confirm your housing first, then work out monthly costs

On-campus places, room types and opening dates are arranged by the university. Once you are admitted, confirm quickly whether you need to apply for a dormitory separately. If you consider living off campus, factor in the deposit, commuting, internet, utilities and furniture.

An open, fast-paced port city built on East-meets-West

Shanghai opened as a trading port in 1843 and grew into China's commercial and financial heart. That history shows everywhere: the 外滩 (Bund) lines the river with grand art-deco and neoclassical buildings from the old concessions, while just behind it the 弄堂 / 里弄 (lilong lanes) and 石库门 (shikumen) townhouses are Shanghai's own version of the Beijing hutong — tight-knit lane neighbourhoods where old and new sit side by side. The city's spirit is often summed up as 海派文化 (Haipai culture): eclectic, pragmatic and open to outside influence — “海纳百川” (all rivers flowing into the sea).

Eat widely, watch the calendar, respect the room

Shanghai's local 本帮菜 (Benbang cuisine) is sweet-and-savory: 红烧肉 (braised pork belly), 腌笃鲜 (bamboo-shoot pork soup), 油爆虾 (flash-fried shrimp), and 八宝鸭 (eight-treasure duck). Famous snacks include 小笼包 (xiaolongbao, soup dumplings — Nanxiang style), 生煎 (shengjianbao, pan-fried buns), 蟹粉小笼 (crab-roe dumplings), 葱油拌面 (scallion-oil noodles) and 排骨年糕 (pork-chop rice cakes). 城隍庙 (Chenghuangmiao / City God Temple) is the classic old-town snack street. Halal (清真) and Buddhist-vegetarian restaurants exist (e.g. 玉佛寺素食), and international food is easier to find here than almost anywhere else in China.

Festivals follow the national calendar: 春节 (Spring Festival, late Jan–Feb) closes campus for weeks; 国庆 (National Day, 1 Oct) brings a week-long holiday and crowded trains; 中秋 (Mid-Autumn) and 端午 (Dragon Boat) are quieter; 元宵 (Lantern Festival) lights up 豫园 (Yu Garden) with huge lantern displays. Freedom of belief is protected — 玉佛寺 (Jade Buddha Temple), 静安寺 (Jing'an Temple), 徐家汇天主堂 (St. Ignatius Cathedral) and 小桃园清真寺 all welcome respectful visitors. For any prayer or worship space, confirm with your international student office.

Set up the everyday toolkit in your first days

• WeChat (微信) — chat, group notices and WeChat Pay; universities push announcements here and you scan to pay in canteens and taxis.
• Alipay (支付宝) — Alipay Pay and transit codes for metro/bus; both accept major international cards for visitors, but keep some cash.
• 随申办 (Suiban) — Shanghai's municipal services app (residence registration, certificates); Metro 大都会 — the official Shanghai metro transit-code app.
• 高德地图 / 百度地图 (maps), 滴滴出行 (ride-hailing), 12306 (trains), 美团 / 饿了么 (food delivery).