Shanghai Investment Service
Hotline: 86-755-82143348 Email: anitayao@citilinkia.com
Expats in Shanghai
Shanghai culture
Shanghai is a nation with multi-ethnic culture shanghai people are diligent, enthusiastic, hard-working and hospitable. And any foreign investors will be warmly welcome and respected by local people or their Chinese counterparts.
Climate
shanghai lies on a similar latitude to the US and its climate varies just as the four seasons change. The country can be divided roughly into the plain of the north and the verdant south. Essentially, the north has very cold winters, while summers throughout the country can be hot and humid. Spring weather is unpredictable everywhere, leaving autumn as the only season in which comfortable temperatures can be expected in most parts of the country.
Shanghai dishes
As an international city, Shanghai offers all kinds of cuisines from around the world. Of course, the majority of restaurants offer Chinese food at reasonable prices. Chinese food is famous for having Eight Major Cuisines: Sichuan, Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Fujian, Cantonese and Anhui. Not surprisingly, Shanghai Cuisine, also known as Ben Bang, is not one of the Eight Major. Give it a try, you may enjoy it but Westerners often complain that it's too sweet and oily. There are certainly many better gastric options available.
If you like a bit of spice, go to one of the city's many Sichuan or Hunan restaurants. The food is fantastic and won't put a big dent in your wallet.
shanghai food enjoys a high reputation in the world also for its sheer abundance. It is due to the diversity of the climate, products and customs that there are widely different food styles and tastes in local regions. The most famous cuisines are Guangdong Cuisine, Shanghai Cuisine, Beijing Cuisine and Sichuan Cuisine. Other main dishes include Shandong Cuisine, Fujian Cuisine, Jiangsu Cuisine, Zhejiang Cuisine, Hunan Cuisine and Anhui Cuisine. And there are some Chinese medicine cuisine that is good for health.
Hotels
In the main urban centre you will find a wide range of accommodation on offer, including international five-star hotels with a full range of facilities. However, be aware that the Chinese tourist authorities tend to be generous in allocating stars. As a general rule, business travelers should not consider anything less than three-star accommodation. There are fewer options in smaller cities and in inland China, so be prepared to downgrade your expectations and treat the experience as an adventure.
Language
Most Chinese cannot speak English, or any other foreign language, so communication can be a problem. When making initial contact, many companies use Chinese-speaking employees from other parts of the organization to help with sales and marketing to China. Otherwise, knowing a few basic words in Mandarin helps to break the ice with people who consequently will be more likely to help. However, even for foreigners with a basic command of Mandarin, communicating is often incredibly difficult, especially when traveling outside of the major cities. This is down to the numerous dialects in different parts of China. In Shanghai, Guangzhou and other parts of southern China, for example, many people speak Mandarin poorly, preferring instead to communicate in the local dialect. Even those who can speak English are not necessarily fluent. Care should be taken when talking to people to ensure that they have fully understood what you are saying, particularly when it comes to numbers and prices.
A good interpreter is invaluable to any business person in China who is not fluent in Mandarin. Interpreters are often the main conduit of information, though they can have a tendency to say what they think .
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in most of China, so you need not bother. However, in some of the more developed coastal cities, bellboys, bartenders and waiters are unlikely to refuse a tip if you offer one, and in the more upscale bars and restaurants it may sometimes be expected. you want to hear, rather than what is actually said.
Shopping
Shopping in Shanghai is a very enjoyable experience. Big brands are setting up branches and small unique shops mushroom at many corners of the city. With a little patience, sharp observation, ability to endure long walks and bargaining skills, you can buy to your heart's content in the commercial capital of China.
Big shopping malls are convenient to find quality products and supermarkets offer a wide range of products at reasonable prices. Renowned areas offer Shanghai-style souvenirs at unbelievably low prices. To test or improve your bargain skills, there is no better place than Shanghai. Some booth owners even speak good English, Korean and Japanese.
Business hours
Office hours in government departments run from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Lunchtime is usually between noon and 1pm. Banking hours tend to run from 9am to noon and then from 1pm to 5pm. Some banks are now open on Saturdays and Sundays too. In smaller cities, some banks close on Mondays. Department stores usually open at 9am-10am and do not close until 8.30pm or later.
Remember that the Chinese like to eat early, although restaurant opening hours are becoming more relaxed. In state-run hotels, restaurants offer breakfast from 6am-9am, lunch from 10.30am -2pm and dinner from 5pm-8pm. Some privately run restaurants open from 6am to late at night, and some are open all day.
Social contacts
On arriving in China, seek to make as many friends and contacts as possible. Finding the local expatriate community is the easy part. Making social contact with your immediate Chinese colleagues may come less naturally, but it is essential for professional purposes and in order to experience some local life. It is all too easy to live in the cocoon of an expatriate compound. In general, Chinese are friendly to foreigners and enjoy practicing their English with visitors. However, forging a close friendship with Chinese staff can create embarrassment if there happens to be a wide difference in respective incomes and standards of living.
Health and spots clubs are a good place to meet people as well as a good way to keep fit and relieve stress. As you build up confidence, try out local restaurants and go shopping in the markets. This will enable you to learn a bit more about the way ordinary Chinese people go about their lives.
After you've been there a while, book some time off and visit a remote part of the country, Make sure to visit the great sights of China such as the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army in Xian and particularly the Three Gorges area on the Yangtze River, where much spectacular scenery is already disappearing forever under water.
The cost of living
Asian cities are among the most expensive in the world. In the Mercer Human resource 2006 cost-of-living survey. Hong Kong emerged as the fourth most costly city in the world in which to live, up from ninth place in 2005, with Moscow and Seoul holding the top two spots. Beijing rose from 19th position to 14th, while Shanghai climbed from 30th place to 20th.
Even so, with low prices for basic goods it is quite possible for a foreigner to live relatively cheaply in China, even in Beijing. Thousands of well-educated young Westerners, together with Japanese and Koreans, live and work in the capital. They are able to obtain business visas, find work and enjoy a comfortable existence.
Housing
One area where there is now greatly improved choice is housing. Back in the mid-1980s there was only one villa complex in Shanghai where foreigners were able to lease housing. Since then, many new residential projects have come on stream in leading cities, including several of good quality in recent years. To buy, luxury real estate in Beijing and Shanghai is among the most expensive in the world. Following big gains in previous years, however, property prices in Shanghai slowed in 2008 as a result of government measures to cool the markent. By contrast, rental prices in Beijing and Shanghai have remained relatively flat since 2001.
Thera are so many types of housing. Such as : New apartment mansion, Old apartment, Old garden villa, Townhouse,Independent lane house,Duplex house,Service apartment,Privatized public apartment.
Travel in Shanghai
Tourist destinations :
The Bund and Lujiazui area: The Bund Riverside Avenue The Oriental Pearl TV Tower Jinmao Tower
People's Square area: Shanghai Museum Shanghai Urban Planning Hall Shanghai Art Museum
Shiji Park area: Shanghai Science & Technology Museum Shiji Park
Old Town area: Yu Garden Shanghai Confucian Temple
Sheshan area: Sheshan Astronomical Observatory Sheshan Marian Basilica Sheshan National Forest Park
Xintiandi area: Xintiandi Memorial House of the First CPC National Congress Site of Korean Temporary Government Former Residence of Sun Yat-Sen
Lu Xun Park area: Lu Xun Park Lu Xun's Former Residence
Shanghai Library area: Shanghai Library Former Residence of Soong Ching-Ling
Xujiahui area: Xujiahui Cathedral Shanghai Library Bibliotheca ZI-KA-WEI
Longhua area: Longhua Martyrs' Memorial Cemetery
Hongqiao area: Liu Haisu Art Museum
Public holidays
China's public holidays are New Year's Day ( 1 day on January 1); Spring Festival (3 days from Chinese New Year's Eve) ; Qing Ming Memorial Day (1 day on Fifth of the 24 Solar Terms) ; Labor Day (1day on May 1); Duan Wu Dragon Boat Festival (1day on 5th of the 5th month); Mid-Autumn Festival (1 day on Lunar August 15); National Day (3 days from Oct 1).
Bank Information
It's better for foreigner to open personal bank account before investing in china, The four biggest state-owned banks under the administration of the People's Bank of China are INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA, BANK OF CHINA, CONSTRUCTION BANK, THE AGRICULTURAL BANK OF CHINA. The other commercial banks include CHINA MERCHANTS BANK, BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS, SHANGHAI PUDONG BANK, SHENZHEN DEVELOPMENT BANK, ) and some other foreign commercial banks providing services around China.
In Shanghai,bank service has reached the international standard,any investors can open corporate bank accounts or personal accounts with state-owned banks or foreign-funded banks they prefer if they can provide the documents required by the relevant banks.
Entry Visa and Work Permit
Chinese entry visa is a permit issued to a foreigner by the Chinese visa authorities for entry into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. The Chinese visa authorities may issue a Diplomatic, Courtesy, Service or Ordinary Visa to a foreigner according to his/her identity, purpose of visit to China and passport type.. The Ordinary Visa consists of eight sub-categories, which are respectively marked with Chinese phonetic letters L, F, Z, X, C, G, D, J-1and J-2.
Ⅰ.WORKING IN SHANGHAI
Instructions of employment permit for foreigner；
Foreigner must apply ' Work Permit for Foreigner' and ' Visa Notification Letter for Foreigner' firstly；and then apply Z work permit, after that, employment permit can be applied in China；.
(1). Material needed for employment permit；
(2).Application form for employment permit；
(3).Business license, organization code, approval certificate (copy with seal)；
(4).Resume certificate (Chinese version with seal)；
(5).Qualification certificate (skill certificate, education background with seal)；
(6).Passport (copy)；
Requirements
(1).Better health；
(2).Fixed job；
(3).Relevant and certain working experience；
(4).Without crime recording；
(5).Effective passport；
(6).Male should be above 18 years old, and below 60 years old;；
(7).Female should be above 18 years old, and below 55 years old.；
Material needed for employment permit certificate
(1). Application forms of employment permit；
(2). Employment permit certificate；
(3). Working contract (copy with seal)；
(4).Effective passport and visa (original and copy)；
(5).Health certificate (copy)；
(6). Recent photos (2 inch, 3 pieces)；
LIVING IN SHANGHAI
1、Requirements of living permit
(1).One-year permit:；
(2).Holding post or working in Shanghai；
(3).Long-time living in Shanghai；
(4).Performing in Shanghai；
2、Living permit is due to expectation and needs to be renewed within 3 months
(1). Material needed；
(2).Temporary living certificate；
(3).Effective passport (original and copy)；
(4).Photos (1 piece)；
(5).Health certificate (original and copy)；
(6).Business license, organization code, approval certificate (copy with seal)；
(7).Employment permit (original and copy)；
(8).Foreigner employment application form' (sealed by social security bureau)；
(9).Application form for visa, living permit application form for foreigner' (original)；
(10). Application form of company；
Employment requirement for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan people
Direct investors and legal representative appointed in the Business License should provide certificate of investors and business license (copy), and qualification certificate and working contract cannot be provided.
Material needed
(1).2 pieces of ' Employment application form for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao people';
(2).Business license, organization code, and approval certificate (copy with seal);
(3).Resume certificate (education background and complete resume, Chinese version should be with seal);
(4).In case of vacation (technology job) stipulated by the government, relevant qualification certificate should be provided.;
(5).Working contract (copy, Chinese version should be with seal)；
(6).Permit for Taiwan people to mainland' and ' Permit for Hong Kong and Macao people back to mainland' (original and copy)；
(7).Health certificate confirmed issued by Shanghai quarantine bureau (copy)；
(8).3 pieces of recent photos in 2 inch (two for form, and one for the certificate)；
(9).Temporary Performing permit' issued by municipal culture bureau (copy)；
(10).Temporary living certificate；
Requirements of prolonging living permit (again application)
Living permit and certificate have been registered and need to be postponed again for foreigner；again application should be registered:；
Notes: Working with original company with working permit；
Prolonging working and working company variation；
Material needed
(1).Complete ' Foreigner application form for visa and living permit'；
(2).1 piece of photo in 2 inch；
(3).Submit official letter of company；
(4).Approval certificate, business license or registration certificate of representative office and organization code (original and copy)；
(5).Passport, if ready, living permit should be provided；
(6).Employment permit, expert certificate, performing permit, or B card of ' Shanghai living permit' (original)；
(7).Vice president should provide ID card or passport (original)；
(8).In case of getting living permit for 2 years and suffering from working variation, official letter or B card of ' Shanghai living permit' (original and copy)；
Contact Us
If you have further queries, don’t hesitate to contact ATAHK anytime, anywhere by simply visiting ATAHK’s website www.3737580.net , or calling Hong Kong hotline at 852-27826888 or China hotline at 86-021-68877368 021-31397142 021-58822399, or emailing to hkcfm-shanghai@163.com.