Shanghai, the 'Grand Pearl' on the South China Sea, draws people from all over China and the world with its manufacturing, commerce, culture, and nightlife. Situated where the Yangtze River meets the sea, the city's climate is sub-tropical, with winter temperatures that seldom drop below 3ºC (34ºF) at night, and summer heat that can reach 32ºC (89.6ºF). With more that 18 million residents, the size of the city can be overwhelming, but it also ensures that Shanghai is one of the most vibrant, exciting places to live in China.

With one of the largest expatriate communities in the country, Shanghai provides foreign residents with all the comforts of home. There are numerous Catholic and Protestant Christian churches in the area, and many local hospitals have multilingual staffs (English or French) allowing you to communicate with ease. The city also has the most international schools in China, so your children's educational needs will be well served.

Shanghai's public transportation system is one of the most modern and comprehensive in mainland China. City buses will get you anywhere in the city, but tend to be very crowded, so expatriates usuall prefer to use the extensive Metro. If you are in a rush, you may want to consider a taxi; fares start at RMB 11 for the first three kilometers. See our Shanghai transportation section for further details.

Property and rental prices vary from district to district; a 100 sqm, 1 bedroom apartment typically starts around RMB 1988/month, but can rise to thousands of dollars in pricey expat enclaves. There are plenty of real estate agencies that specialize in finding property for foreigners; newcomers to China will want to avail themselves of their services to facilitate communications and contract negotiations, which can be difficult without local language skills.

Dining and nightlife options abound. The city has restaurants from just about every corner of the world, so whatever you're in the mood for you can probably find it in Shanghai. The local cuisine is noted for its use of seafood and shellfish-be sure to try shrimp, crab and eel prepared in the Shanghainese manner. The waitstaff at many of the city's finer restaurants speak some English and multilingual menus are common at international restaurants; at other places you'll have to look at the picture and point, but you can rarely go wrong, especially if you have an adventurous palate.

Shopping in Shanghai is world class. It's not difficult to find stores that carry Western sizes and cater to Western taste. If you can't find exactly what you want, though, you may want to have a tailor make your new outfit - just bring in a picture, catalog, or sample, and you'll soon have your own custom made piece.

In recent years, Shanghai has become China's golf paradise. Conduct your business outdoors while enjoying one of the local world-class courses.