On a business trip to Shanghai?
We share insider tips for a complete business visit!
Both business and personal, I, Bea Pors - Business Travel Consultant, have been to Shanghai regularly as a business trip. And I keep coming back there again and again. Because you can't help but feast your eyes there. It is the place to be for hip Chinese, but also for the business traveler. The global economy is running at full speed here, and it is not for nothing that we book many business trips to Shanghai every week. Yet the contrasts between modern and traditional in Shanghai are sharper than ever. You can count skyscrapers on the ultramodern skyline while dining in a colonial building. You have designer stores across from incense smoke temples and see trendy locals with state-of-the-art phones taking selfies in traditional clothing.
If you must be in Shanghai on business, you have a choice. Do you want to experience the city entirely in the Chinese way or do you prefer something more Western? Because, although Shanghai is now thoroughly Chinese, besides many colonial buildings there are also Western skyscrapers, hotels and companies. You are and remain in China, so it is best to speak Chinese, but in a big city like Shanghai the English language is no longer an unknown language.
Where to stay in Shanghai?
It won't surprise you but you also have an awful lot of choice when it comes to hotels during your business trip to Shanghai. I got to stay in several locations, but my favorite hotels are all in the Huangpu district. The 5-star Conrad Shanghai hotel is highly recommended as far as I am concerned. Not only is its location convenient (metro a stone's throw away), the restaurant excellent but also the view is fantastic. Need to work things out in the spacious hotel room after a business meeting? That's just a little bit more fun with a great view of the Huangpu River and the Bund. And then you're done? Then a relaxing dip in the pool on the top floor is not to be missed. With a well-deserved cocktail in your hand from the pool to end a busy work day... that's just fine at this luxury hotel!
Other good hotels for your business trip to Shanhai are: Hotel Indigo Shanghai On The Bund, Grand Central Hotel Shanghai and The Langham Shanghai (beautiful building!) all of these hotels are in the Huangpu district (so on the river of the same name). If your stay is shorter and it is easier to stay near the airport, the Pudong district also has some very good options.
Photo source: Conrad Shanghai Hotel
How do you travel in Shanghai?
Metro
When I think of a business trip to Shanghai, I definitely think of the subway. In fact, Shanghai has the largest, easiest and most modern subway network in the world. All information is given in English and in Chinese, and in addition, the cost is very low. For a few euros you will be on the other side of the city in no time.
Train
Did you know that from Shanghai Pudong Airport you don't necessarily have to take a cab to downtown Shanghai either? The world's fastest magnet/Maglev train will take you from Shanghai International Airport to the heart of downtown in twenty minutes at speeds of up to 431 km per hour. As far as I'm concerned, a worldly experience!
Cab
Prefer not to take public transportation during your business trip to Shanghai? Then a cab is a good alternative. In China, Didi Chuxing is widely used. The Chinese version of Uber. As a business tourist, you can quite easily download the app and even pay with a foreign credit card. Unique in China's history! What you have to do then is install a VPN on your phone. Which VPN is best to download at the moment is always unclear. The Chinese Firewall is unpredictable and that can vary from moment to moment. So delve into this well before you leave.
Don't feel like downloading an app and not using this version of Uber? No problem. Of course, there are still regular cabs in Shanghai. Because of the language barrier, it's handy to have a map of your hotel and the address you need to go to, in Chinese, with you when you hail a cab.
My tip: Have the hotel where you are staying call a cab company for you or perhaps the business partner with whom you have an appointment. Chinese people who live in a city like Shanghai and also speak English are not at all surprised by this question.
Where can I have a delicious meal after a business meeting?
Be sure to grab a bite to eat on the rooftop terrace of The Roof. I come back here every time I visit Shanghai. Not only is the food of good quality but also the view and the luxurious look. It's all there. Don't forget to take pictures in between because you rarely eat at such a photogenic place!
Tip: Always make a reservation. Then you are guaranteed a table!
Want to really treat yourself (and maybe your business partner) to some luxury in Shanghai?
Then step inside Flair. Flair is the tallest outdoor bar in Shanghai. It is located on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton hotel and from the terrace you have a great view of the famous Pearl Tower, which is right in front of you among all sorts of neon signs. A DJ plays fine lounge music, there is a wine bar and sushi counter, and if it gets chillier, you can sit inside by the fireplace. If you want a table outside on the terrace with the best view of the Bund, we recommend booking a few days in advance.
Still some free time left to get to know Shanghai a little better?
Should you still have time to explore Shanghai a little further, be sure not to skip these hotspots:
The Bund
Walking past the classic, colonial buildings along the Bund during your stay in Shanghai will give you an impression of old China from the 18th and 19th centuries. Across the Bund, the skyscrapers of Pudong (a kind of Shanghai's Manhattan) grow into the sky. At night, the Bund's old street lamps must compete in an unequal battle against the narrow beams of laser light that illuminate the buildings of the Pudong business district.
Business Pudong
Take the Bund Tourist tunnel to Pudong and you can admire the Bund from the other side. The famous Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jinmao Tower and the World Financial Tower are visitable "skyscrapers" with breathtaking views of the immense city.
Scoring souvenirs for the home front?
Venture into the crowds on the famous Nanjing Road shopping street. It's quite a challenge to find your way here, but I found that alone to be up-and-coming China and thus worth a visit. I then bought my souvenir at a kiosk next to my hotel but I would still never skip Nanjing Road while visiting Shanghai.
For me, these are the tips and tricks that really should not be missed when visiting metropolis Shanghai. If you have more questions about this Asian destination or the possibilities for your next business trip? If so, I would be happy to help you get started! In addition, are you curious about more business travel tips about or more inspiration for other Chinese destinations? Then also read our blog about Hong Kong.
Travel Well!
Bea Pors
Business Travel Consultant
