Shanghai diaries – all you need before you arrive – the bare essentials

Shanghai – the land of Blue Lotus

The attraction of Shanghai seemed too irresistible – the Blue Lotus Land- the Shanghai Nanjing Railway – the call of the true Orient – the opium trade – all sucked BurstAbdomen within the city.

To visit China from India – one needs a visa.

How to apply and obtain a Chinese Visa

Thanks to the super efficient Chinese bureaucracy – getting a visa is not too strenuous (provided paper work is in order).

The application process is online – https://www.visaforchina.cn/DEL3_EN/qianzhengyewu

The only catch – one has to keep a watch of the Chinese holidays. 1 st October is Chinese National Day and the embassy and visa office shuts shop from 1st to 8th October – there’s a rush on the day the center reopens and the embassy officials are inundated with applications.

The other period to look out for is during Chinese New Year

***All resources are up to date ill the date of publication of the blog.

Tourists need to give proof of return air tickets, hotel bookings and adequate funds in their application.

There is facility of Express Application- and the queue for Express applications start early.

Once the application form is submitted online, a printout is required. It needs to be submitted at the application center with the requisite documents.

No prior appointment is necessary

Queuing up early is recommended.

Application fee is accepted in cash or bank draft – so go prepared.

For some strange reason – Aadhaar card copy is required for applying for visa.

VFS manages visa process. Contrary to popular assumption, the office in Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Delhi stretches itself to the max. They are often open beyond official closing hours and try to deliver visa on time.

Direct flights have started as of now- though Hong Kong provides a convenient stop over.

Labubu welcomes everyone at the Hong Kong airport

International flights land at Pudong International Airport, Shanghai

Currency conversion is available at the airport , though Shanghai city based conversion counters offer a better rate.

Traveling from the airport to the city is a breeze- signs are in English/ Chinese and people are always there to help. Maglev covers 30 km in 8 minutes – at a higher price point. Pocket conscious travelers can choose Line 2 metro.

One thing to remember – carry your passport wherever you go. You need a passport for things money can buy. This includes train tickets at the station, entry tickets, random tickets.

Much has been stated in travel guides and vlogs about the necessity of Alipay or Wechat. Indian built mobiles do not support these apps-

Didi works and is a life saver for hailing cabs.

The taxis with signs on them accept cash or card ( at a premium). Cash is accepted in most places which do not accept card. Also, remember to activate international transactions in your debit or credit card before leaving.

Google translate is a life saver in Shanghai.

Much is discussed about vpn in China – it s required for the whatsapp and gmail dependent public. If one can remain blissfully ignorant of whatsapp and gmail and google- life is a breeze. Chinese map apps are often better, more precise.

Airbnb is non existent as of now – the options for hotels are aplenty, suits every budget.

Thus, armed with a visa and a functioning mobile – one starts exploring the Blue Lotus Land.

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Stay tunes for a curated experience of the global city

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