Traveler must know in City Tour Shanghai

One of the most important things for a tourist who is enjoying city tour Shanghai is exchanging currency.

How to exchange currency City Tour shanghai?

There are various channels for currency exchange in Shanghai, which are mainly divided into five categories: bank exchange, airport exchange, shopping mall exchange, hotel exchange and online platform exchange. The specific methods are as follows:

  1. Bank exchange (recommended) State-owned banks:

Large branches such as the Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Agricultural Bank of China provide foreign exchange services, supporting common currencies such as the US dollar, Japanese yen, and the euro. You need to bring your ID card to handle the process. The exchange rate is relatively stable but the handling fee is relatively high.    

Joint-stock banks:

Some branches of China Merchants Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, etc. can also exchange money, but there may be restrictions on currency and exchange rate. It is recommended to inquire by phone in advance.

City Tour Shanghai China

2. Exchange at the Airport

 

There are several exchange points at Pudong International Airport, which provide 24-hour service and can exchange major currencies such as US dollars and Japanese yen. However, the handling fee is high and the exchange rate is lower than that of urban banks.

  1. Exchange at shopping malls

Large shopping malls such as Shanghai Festival Walk, Global Harbor, and Wanda Plaza have foreign exchange counters with flexible business hours (such as until 8-9 pm), which are suitable for temporary exchange, but the exchange rate and currency selection are limited.

  1. Hotel Redemption

Some high-end hotels provide foreign currency exchange services, mainly for the convenience of guests. The exchange rate and handling fees are usually better than those at airport exchange points.

Shanghai Shopping Mall China
  1. Online exchange

Online exchange reservations can be made through institutions such as “United Currency”, which is convenient, but you need to be careful to choose a formal platform and verify its qualifications.

Note :

  • Limit: Individuals can exchange foreign currencies worth up to USD 50,000 per year. Exceeding the limit requires additional application.
  • Exchange rate comparison: The exchange rate difference between different channels can reach 3%-5%, so it is recommended to compare in advance.
  • Safety Tips: Avoid operating through informal exchange agencies to prevent fraud.
US Dollar and Chinese RMB Currency

The currency used in Shanghai is the Renminbi. The Renminbi is the official currency of China, issued and managed by the People’s Bank of China. In Shanghai, the Renminbi is the main currency in circulation and is used in daily transactions, commercial activities, and financial transactions.

In addition, Shanghai’s currency circulation presents a distinct feature of “electronic dominance, supplemented by cash”. Non-cash payment accounts for more than 92%, 15 percentage points ahead of the national average, and the average daily electronic payment volume reaches 120 billion yuan, equivalent to 1.38 million yuan in transactions per second.

How much money can be withdrawn from ATM machines in Shanghai in a day?

The daily cumulative withdrawal limit of Shanghai Bank ATM is 20,000 yuan. The specific rules are as follows:

  1. Daily cumulative limit

The maximum cumulative withdrawal amount that can be made from ATM machines with Shanghai Bank bank cards in a single day is 20,000 yuan. No matter how many machines are used for the operation, the total amount will not exceed this limit.

  1. Single transaction limit
    • Most machines have a single withdrawal limit of RMB 2,000-5,000, and some high-end models may support higher amounts (such as RMB 5,000).
    • Cardless withdrawals are supported, but identity verification is required.
  1. Interbank withdrawal
    • No handling fee for interbank credit card withdrawals.
    • The inter-bank transfer limit is generally 50,000 yuan, but it has nothing to do with the withdrawal limit.
  2. Precautions
    • If the daily limit is exceeded, please go to the counter to process the transaction.
    • There is no daily limit for deposits, and inter-bank deposits and withdrawals are supported.

Summary: The maximum daily cumulative withdrawal from Shanghai Bank ATMs is 20,000 yuan. The single transaction limit varies depending on the machine type and bank policy. It is recommended to verify the latest rules through official channels.

Can Foreigners purchase Chinese SIM cards in Shanghai?

Foreigners can purchase Chinese SIM cards in Shanghai.

The procedures and precautions are given below in detail:
1. Application conditions
1. Identity requirements: Should have a valid Chinese visa or long-term residence permit (short-term visas are not included)
2. Age limit: 18 years and above

  1.  Materials required: valid passport, residence permit (such as work visa), real name and contact information.
  1.  Application channels
  1.  Offline business hall: It is recommended to go to the Shanghai branch business hall of China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom and other operators to complete the real-name authentication on site;
  2. Online channels: Apply through the operator’s official website or APP, some of which support self-service processing.
  1.  Special Services
  • Pre-entry application: Foreigners coming to Shanghai to work can activate their mobile phone number in advance through the “pre-entry application channel” coordinated by the Shanghai Foreign Experts Bureau, and can use it after entering the country
  • Airport service: Pudong Airport provides temporary SIM card purchase service, but you need to confirm the operator’s policy in advance. It is recommended to apply in advance.
  1. Precautions
  • Before applying, you need to confirm whether the visa type will affect the mobile phone card application
  • Some operators may have special restrictions on overseas numbers. It is recommended to consult customer service.

Which Chinese SIM card provider is the most cost-effective for foreigners?

Based on the information provided in the search results, the following suppliers are recommended for foreigners using SIM cards in China, taking into account price, service and applicable scenarios:

  1. China Unicom CUBe Card 
  • Core advantages: The integrated service launched for foreign tourists supports the integration of “communication + payment + transportation”, including 7-day, 15-day and 30-day short-term cards, with flexible rates and covering major cities across the country.
  • Applicable scenarios: Suitable for foreigners who stay for a short period of time (such as tourism or business visits) to meet basic communication needs.
  1. China Mobile CMLink 
  • Core advantages : affordable price, coverage of Chinese and English networks, 24-hour customer service support, and the ability to bind a domestic phone number to receive verification codes.
  • Applicable scenarios: International students, especially those who need stable network and convenient services.
  1. China Telecom CTExcel 
  • Core advantages: Suitable for users who need domestic and overseas connections, providing high-speed Internet access and Chinese services, with relatively favorable rates.
  • Applicable scenarios: Foreigners who stay for a long time or need to take care of domestic communications.
  1. Other options
  • International roaming: If you need to use it temporarily, you can consider international long-distance services (such as Tello cards), but be aware that the rates are higher and the coverage is limited.
  • Virtual operators: International roaming cards such as GiffGaff are cheap, but their signal coverage and customer service support are weak, making them suitable for emergency use.

Summary and suggestions:

Give priority to China Unicom CUBe Card or China Mobile CMLink, taking into account both cost-effectiveness and service quality; if you need short-term emergency, you can consider international roaming cards, but you need to confirm the tariff rules in advance.

Which of China’s three major telecom SIM cards is the cheapest?

According to the latest information in 2025, among the three major operators in China, China Telecom ‘s SIM card packages have obvious advantages in terms of monthly rent and traffic, as follows:

  1. China Telecom Dragon Roar Card (Promotional Period)
    • Monthly rent: 19 yuan (including 100G traffic + 300 minutes of calls) 
    • Traffic: 73G general traffic + 30G directional traffic 
    • Discount period: 10 months, after the discount period, the monthly rent will be restored to 69 yuan.

2. Comparison with other operators

    • China Mobile: 8-yuan 4G Feixiang package (30-yuan free trial money for the first month, valid for 2 months), but the long-term monthly rent is generally higher than that of China Telecom.
    • China Unicom: After the discount period, the monthly rent of Longxiao Card is 69 yuan, and the data traffic and call duration are lower than those of China Telecom.

Summary: China Telecom Longxiao Card currently has the best price-performance ratio during the discount period (10 months), with a monthly rent of 19-yuan, sufficient data flow and rich call time. If you use it for a long time, you need to pay attention to the tariff adjustment after the discount period ends.

Shanghai Public Transport Day View

How to get around shanghai public transport

There are various ways to take shanghai public transport. which can be divided into the following four categories, covering mainstream payment methods and special scenario needs: 

Mainstream Payment Methods:

  1. Transportation Card
    • It supports subways, buses, ferries, taxis, maglevs, etc. It needs to be processed at self-service terminals or service outlets, and the deposit of 20 yuan is refundable.
    • You can bind Alipay, WeChat or Railway 12306 to activate an electronic card to realize contactless payment.
Shanghai Public Transport

2. QR code payment:

    • Suishenxing App: Generates the “Shanghai City Travel Code”, supports “one code access” for buses, subways, and ferries, and enjoys transfer discounts.
    • Cloud QuickPass App: After activating the ride code, complete the payment through contactless payment.
    • Tencent QR code for rides: WeChat mini program launched, only for buses and ferries.

3. Cash Payment

    • Supports coin operation (1 yuan, 2 yuan), suitable for temporary or short-term use.

Special Scenario Services

  1. People without smartphones
    • With a physical transportation card + paper offline Suishen QR code, you can take rail transit, buses, and ferries.
    • The same applies to those who hold Baotong card + paper offline Suishen code.
  2. Multiple people
    • Enable the “Suishenxing” companion function, up to companions can share one code to ride.

Special Scenario Services

  1. People without smartphones
    • With a physical transportation card + paper offline Suishen QR code, you can take rail transit, buses, and ferries.
    • The same applies to those who hold Baotong card + paper offline Suishen code.
  2. Multiple people
    • Enable the “Suishenxing” companion function, up to companions can share one code to ride.
  1. Auxiliary tools
  • Subway-specific APP: such as “Metro Metropolis” (real-name authentication required), supports scanning QR code to enter the station.
  • Shanghai Public transport enquiry: You can check the routes and arrival times in real time through official apps such as “Shanghai Publication” and “Shanghai Transportation”.
  1. Precautions
  • Public transportation and subways require scanning codes at gates or manual identity verification.
  • When taking the ferry, you need to provide an offline Suishen QR code or ID card.
  • When the balance on your transportation card is insufficient, you need to recharge it in time. Some routes support automatic settlement.
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