1. Visa Information 签证信息
II. L Visa - Guide to applying for a L (tourist) visa
· Purpose: The tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to foreign nationals who come to China for the purpose of tourism, a family visit or other personal matters.
· Duration: a short stay between 30 and 90 days with single entry.
· Eligibility: Simple and fast, L Visa only requires travel documents, such as itinerary, flight tickets and hotel confirmation letter.
III. F Visa - How to apply for an F (visitor) visa
· Purpose: For short-term academic visits, such as attending conferences, seminars, or collaborative research projects lasting less than 30 days.
· Eligibility: Requires an invitation letter from the host institution in SPA in China.
IV. How to apply
Fill out an application online at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center. The visa center's websites provide up-to-date information, online consultation, forms and application status services.
2. Accommodation 宾馆信息
Here are some platforms to help you book the ideal hotel and other travel options to make your Shanghai stay as pleasant as possible. A guide to booking hotels in Shanghai_Hotel Booking
The School of Physics and Astronomy is located in the Science Building Complex, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai (near No. 901 Jianchuan Road). It is recommended to book a hotel near Jianchuan Road Metro Station, with "Platinum Hanjue Hotel (No. 1577 Humin Road)" being a recommended option.
3. Transportation 交通信息
I. From airports
Recommended Option: Take a taxi. Follow airport signs to designated taxi pickup areas. Avoid unlicensed taxis or touts.
Show the Destination in Chinese: “上海交通大学物理与天文学院, 闵行区东川路800号理科楼群5号”.
Payment: Most taxis accept cash or mobile payments (WeChat Pay/Alipay).
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Duration: Approximately 50 minutes.
Cost: Around 100 RMB.
6. Essential Apps for living in Shanghai
As a newcomer to Shanghai, you may find it challenging to live and travel in the city. But with the right apps on your phone, your trip can go from zero to hero.
Multipurpose app: WeChat https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-UsefulApps/20240222/84434a36efa84ff4a08c877278d4061a.html
Navigation: Gaode Maps and Baidu Maps https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-UsefulApps/20231214/3cac2d8cc7f847da92a72252bae06705.html
Travel: Ctrip and Railway 12306
Ctrip is a travel app which is useful for booking flights, hotels and trains. The more you book, the higher your status goes, which includes bigger discounts and rewards. If you want to order train tickets, you can also go to Railway 12306, China's official train ticket booking system.
Food delivery: Meituan and Eleme
Are you hungry? Well, that's exactly what "Ele me" means in English. Ele.me is one of the leading food delivery apps in China, offering a diverse range of products such as flowers, electronics, and makeup to fulfill various needs
Getting stuff delivered to your door in China is way easier than sourcing what you need from physical stores.
Meituan is another popular food delivery app. Upon loading the app, the nearest eateries appear, but you can search for a more specific restaurant or food if you prefer.
Restaurant review: Dazhong Dianping
Dazhong Dianping is the app you need if you want to try a new restaurant or read the reviews of the restaurant your friend wants to take you to.
You can search nearby food options and how they compare according to locals and fellow foodies. Dazhong Dianping is also a good resource when looking for cinemas, spas, gyms and more. Once you are a savvy user of translation apps, you can even use it to buy discount vouchers.
Shopping: Taobao, JD, and Pinduoduo
The three apps are your typical online marketplace, much like Amazon. You can search for a product, sift through options, buy items for delivery and communicate with the sellers.
Pinduoduo is China's major online discounter, where you could buy products at sometimes surprisingly low prices through joint purchasing with other buyers.
Taobao is another popular online marketplace that offers a wide range of products, spanning from clothing and electronics to unique and niche items, providing you with virtually limitless options for your shopping needs. However, it is important to note that Taobao strictly prohibits the sale of illegal items.
For expedited delivery of your purchase, we recommend JD. Although you're not going to find as many options for niche items, it is possible to buy most items, from technology to overseas products.
For more information about living in Shanghai, please refer to This is Shanghai.
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