China · airport pick-up
Airport car rental in Shanghai
Pick up a rental car at Shanghai's airport terminals. Expedia Cars covers every major counter on arrivals — collect your key minutes after baggage claim, drop off at the same gate, no shuttle hassle.
- ✓On-airport counters at every Shanghai terminal
- ✓No off-site shuttles for the major brands
- ✓Flexible fare options shown per flight
- ✓One-way drop-off available · Powered by Expedia Cars
What first-timers get wrong in Shanghai
Get Alipay or WeChat Pay working before you land, because cards and cash are awkward almost everywhere else. The metro is signed in English and the cheapest way across town, though Lines 1 and 2 at rush hour are worth avoiding. Taxi drivers rarely read English addresses, so show Chinese characters. Nanjing Road's fake-goods touts with laminated cards are constant.
What things cost in Shanghai
The metro charges ¥3 for the first six kilometres and adds ¥1 per ten thereafter. A bowl of noodles costs ¥18 to 30, and a basket of xiaolongbao at Jia Jia around ¥30. Yu Garden is ¥50 while Shanghai Museum East is free. A Didi across the centre runs ¥25 to 50. Bund craft beer can hit ¥90 against ¥40 in a lane bar.
Shanghai with kids, realistically
Shanghai Disneyland at Chuansha is the big-ticket day, with the largest Enchanted Storybook Castle in any Disney park and the original Tron coaster. The Natural History Museum in Jing'an Sculpture Park is modern and hands-on. The Maglev to Pudong airport tops 300 km/h even off-peak and thrills children for its eight minutes. Metro lifts and wide pavements make strollers straightforward.
What to eat in Shanghai
Xiaolongbao is the local test: Jia Jia Tang Bao near People's Square sells out by afternoon, while Din Tai Fung is the dependable version. Shengjianbao, the thicker pan-fried cousin, belongs at Yang's. Then there is hongshao rou red-braised pork, scallion oil noodles, and hairy crab through October and November. The Jing'an lanes still hide breakfast carts turning out cong you bing.
Shanghai after dark
Shanghai runs later than any other Chinese city. Bund rooftops sell the view at a premium, while Julu Road and the lanes off Yongkang carry the neighbourhood bars, some open until four. Street drinking around Yongkang was curbed years ago but the area survived it. Metro service ends near eleven, so Didi is the way home and it is genuinely cheap.
When to go to Shanghai
| Best months for airport-cars | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| October | 23°C / 73°F | 7 days |
| November | 18°C / 64°F | 8 days |
| April | 20°C / 68°F | 10 days |
The month to avoid is July — around 32°C (90°F) with roughly 18 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: October is the sweet spot, July the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, A packable rain shell or compact umbrella earns its space, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Shanghai
- The Bund — Riverfront promenade — colonial architecture facing the Pudong skyline.
- French Concession — Tree-lined streets with cafés, boutiques, the city’s most stylish blocks.
- Pudong — New financial district — the futuristic skyline, observation decks, big malls.