Moving to Shanghai, Settling In
Your first 30 days in Shanghai, in order
A practical Shanghai arrival hub for employees, students, families and short stays: what to prepare, what to do first and where each route splits.
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Business in China
WAIC 2026: More Hope Than Worry
A candid take on WAIC 2026: China’s AI exports, young founders, Shanghai’s support, bubble risks and why many service robots still make little sense.
Schools & Education
When to apply to Shanghai international schools
Shanghai 2026–27 admissions timeline: international rounds, public-school dates, bilingual and national-school calendars.
Schools & Education
Who can attend a Shanghai international school?
A clear guide to Shanghai school eligibility for foreign, Chinese, mixed-nationality, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan families.
Schools & Education
Shanghai international school fees: the real 2026 bill
Published 2026–27 tuition for 25 Shanghai schools, by type — plus the deposits, capital fees, bus and extras that set the real first-year bill.
Schools & Education
Shanghai schools for expat kids: the honest map
The five kinds of Shanghai school open to expat families, who each can actually enrol, the curricula and where they lead, and how to choose by fit. A 2026 map.
Moving to Shanghai
Moving to Shanghai in 2026: The Complete Guide
Planning a move to Shanghai in 2026? An honest, no-commission guide to the decisions that matter before you come — cost, the right order, schools, visas, and daily life.
Housing & Neighborhoods
Serviced apartment vs renting in Shanghai (2026): the real first-90-days cash-flow decision
How much cash do you really need to land in Shanghai — and should you bridge with a serviced apartment or rush a 12-month lease? The honest 2026 math.
Moving to Shanghai
Independent advisor, commission agent, or DIY? How to actually get help moving to Shanghai (2026)
Independent advisor, commission-based agent, or do it yourself? An honest 2026 breakdown of who really pays your Shanghai relocation help — and why 'free' isn't always the cheapest.
Housing & Neighborhoods
Where expat families actually live in Shanghai (2026): Jing'an, the FFC, Pudong, Hongqiao, Xinjiangwancheng — honest trade-offs
An honest 2026 comparison of the five Shanghai neighborhoods that absorb almost every relocating expat family — Jing'an, the Former French Concession, Pudong (Jinqiao/Lujiazui), Hongqiao/Gubei, and the emerging Xinjiangwancheng. Real rents in a softening market, real commute times to specific schools, and the regret column no other guide gives you.
Visas & Permits
Shanghai's 2026 work-permit reset, in plain English
Shanghai's 2026 reset: salary thresholds up ~50%, the renewal filing window now 30–120 days before expiry, and four routes that still work if you're under threshold. Plain-English read for foreign professionals.
Schools & Education
Why school choice should come before apartment in Shanghai
Shanghai's top international schools close applications 6–10 months before the school year starts. Most relocating families pick the apartment first — and pay ¥150,000+ to undo the mistake. Here's the right sequence, plus what just changed at Dulwich.