This futuristic city is known for its awe-inspiring skyline, its booming business and its modern glamour. Shanghai is located on the east coast of China and is home to more than 24 million people, making it one of the most populated cities in the world.
Shanghai is a city of luxury and extravagance, with streets full of shops where you can indulge in a little retail therapy, and street markets filled with charming character. Alongside these shops, you’ll find Michelin star restaurants and cool eateries where you can experience traditional dishes as well as food from some of the finest chefs in the world.
While the city may be a glamourous metropolis today, its history shows just how far Shanghai has come, from its humble roots. In fact, until 1074, Shanghai was known as a village, not being given city status until 1297. Thanks to its advantageous location, Shanghai has been able to continue to grow, using trade, cotton production and fishing to sustain its growth into the incredible city it is today.
5 Things You Need to Know About Shanghai
Before you visit this incredible city, you’ll need to know a few of the basics about Shanghai, here’s just a few of the important things:
Time Difference: UTC +8 hours
Currency: Chinese Yuan (¥)
Native Language: Mandarin Chinese
Weather: Shanghai experiences a bit of everything when it comes to the weather. During summer, you can expect hot weather with plenty of rain. Spring and autumn offer far more pleasant conditions, with winter being particularly cold.
Sales Tax: 17%
Flying to Shanghai From Canada
Here’s everything you’ll need to know about flying to Shanghai from Canada, including flight times, entry requirements and which airlines offer direct flights.
Flight Times
Flights to Shanghai take between 10-15 hours depending on your starting destination, and you can find direct flights from cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.
If you fly from other cities such as Calgary, you may need to take an indirect route, resulting in a longer flight time.
Entry Requirements
When visiting Shanghai, you will need a standard Chinese visa, which will cover you for visits of up to 30 days. If you plan on staying longer, you can apply for extended visas. Make sure that your passport has at least six months left on it, or you may not be able to travel. You should also make sure to carry your passport with you at all times when visiting Shanghai, as this is a legal requirement for tourists.
Airlines That Fly to Shanghai
You can find direct flights from Canada to Shanghai with the following airlines:
- Air Canada
- China Eastern
The Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai’s main airport for international flights is located on the coast giving you some fantastic views of the city as you come into land. The airport is close to city centre, so you can be right in the centre of Shanghai in no time. Jump on the Metro Line 2 or experience the futuristic Maglev Train, which will take you to the Metro station, where you can continue your journey into the city.
10 Shanghai Must-Dos
Shanghai has a huge variety of things to see and do when you are visiting. Here are just 10 of our favourite must-dos:
- The Bund
- Yuyuan Gardens
- Jing’an Temple
- Nanjing Road shopping
- Shanghai Disney Resort
- Shanghai Tower
- Jade Buddha Temple
- Tianzifang
- Shanghai Natural History Museum
- M50
Book Cheap Flights to Shanghai With Globehunters
With so much to see and do in Shanghai, it is the perfect destination for sightseers. If you want to find the best deals on flights, make sure to book with Globehunters.