Why Shanghai is NOT for everyone | PROS & CONS of living in Shanghai
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- Опубликовано: 17 июл 2024
- Is Shanghai, China a good place to live? What you should know before you move to Shanghai? What is it like to live in Shanghai? Perks & downsides of life in Shanghai. | Get MY BOOK 'I lived in Shanghai' on Amazon! amzn.to/3pLoeQ4
In this video, I share with you everything you MUST know before moving to Shanghai! All the pros and cons, the good and the bad sides of living in China’s megacity. Shanghai can be an incredible place to live BUT it’s definitely NOT a city for everyone! The city is huge, weather can be pretty horrible, the traffic is scary and chaotic and pollution is an issue. So make sure to consider all the pros and cons to find out if Shanghai is the right place for you.
International apartment rental platform in China I mention: www.wellcee.com/
If you decided to read my book PLEASE leave an Amazon review! It would help me out a lot! :) amzn.to/3pLoeQ4
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0:00 Pros and Cons of living in Shanghai
0:32 What is it like to live in China as a foreigner? Read more stories in my book ‘I lived in Shanghai’ available on Amazon!
0:42 Safety in Shanghai
1:44 The size of Shanghai; living in a city of 25 million people
3:38 Finding an apartment in Shanghai
5:54 Shanghai is a super exciting & vibrant city!
6:15 Weather in Shanghai
8:52 Shanghai is a very multicultural city (living in Shanghai as a foreigner)
9:29 ‘Western’ lifestyle in Shanghai can be expensive
10:38 What are people like in Shanghai?
11:29 Shanghai can be pretty chaotic & traffic is crazy!
12:20 Architecture in Shanghai is one of a kind!
13:35 Pollution in Shanghai
Contact me at bykaja@outlook.com
www.kajakubicka.com/
Facebook / bykajaa
Hi! My name is Kaja Kubicka. I grew up between Poland and Denmark, and for the past couple of years I have been living in Copenhagen, Shanghai, Bangkok, Warsaw and Paris, making videos about my travels, daily life & fashion.
#China #FudanUniversity #Chinavlog #Shanghai
Get MY BOOK 'I lived in Shanghai' it's available on Amazon! amzn.to/3pLoeQ4
Can you recomend me any university in shanghai with an agent? also would like to know if there is any 3 years course.
@@raiyanahmed426 SO GREAT!! please do a video on how blondie can become naturalization of a Chinese citizen and apply Chinese passport next. Not just go there as tourist.
Subtitle bahasa Indonesia please because I cannot English language
The reason that Shanghai doesn't have heating in winter is because it is considered as a southern city in China where winter is not that cold comparing to Beijing or Jilin or Harbin in northern China where heating is widely available during winter. It turns out the winter in Shanghai is freezing cold due to lack of heating, Good feedback, hopefully this will be improved in coming years.
hello I stumbled upon your videos was wondering if there are people in the hospital of Shanghai cam speak English at all? if any case of an incident while im on vacation there alone and would be hospitalized im concerned how I can explain to the doctors of my illness while there? how hard is it to be staying in Shanghai for almost a month without any Chinese learning language? I've been learning for a year but im not intermediate yet and can only understand a few words in a sentence and sometimes they talk pretty fast that u can't comprehend the words they are saying? some words are similar 😅
I lived in Shanghai more than 3 years and I fully agree on your statement on the winters in Shanghai. I preferred the winters in Germany with 10 degrees Celsius below zero than in Shanghai 10 degC above zero simply because its so wet. It doesn't matter how much you wear because the temperature will go right through the clothing to your skin. You will always feel cold.
unbelivable how cold penetrates the bones xD
From my experience, Shanghai is a city where rich&wealthy people live very luxuriously and poor people live not very well. I would say if you were rich, living in Shanghai could be better than Paris and London, but still not as luxurious as New York or Tokyo.
Why is Tokyo better?
very thorough review, loved every bit of this!
Im moving to Shanghai in December and have never brought ANYTHING as fast as I bought your book. It already has so many good reviews, Im so excited to get it!!
I hope you will like it too!! ☺️
Maddie trust me you will fall in love with Shanghai i had amazing 4 years in China and I really want to go back to Shanghai
I just moved away from Shanghai about a month ago, definitely an amazing city to live in as a foreigner, there are places you can go to where you won't run into a single local. At the end of the day it was a little too expensive for me and it's definitely not a city to settle down in.
Try Wuxi, or Suzhou, hangzhou, all best cities to live in jiangnan area
Why would you live in Shanghai if you want to avoid the locals? Haha
@@Mikamichae Some prefer to live in an expat bubble it is normal. As a Chinese student studying in US, we tend to keep to ourselves too. Nothing wrong with that.
@@nsebast but can I ask why, why bother going to another country to segregate yourself from its culture, to me it seems a little ironic and u may aswell just stay in your home country no? Like why even go to a country u have no desire to integrate in, I understand it’s normal and common for vast majority but I don’t understand the logic
@@nsebast If you’re a student it’s fine because you’re there temporarily but a lot of people just completely isolate themselves even if they live somewhere for years, might as well stay at home
I live in New York City. The thing is that most of the people usually hang out in their own neighborhoods or they would go to Manhattan from time to time. If two friends live on the opposite sides of the city, usually they would meet somewhere in the middle, not necesarily visit each other's places. I've been a big city guy all my life and actually, in big cities, you just don't visit other people's places that often as one would do in small towns. Of course, there're exceptions, but most people just don't live like that. Also, living in big cities can be bored, if you don't have the finance to support whatever exciting things you wanna do. People here in NYC always say that it is the greatest city in the world, which I don't know about that, but let's assume that's true, if you're here taking a minimum wage job, then chances are you're not gonna be able to enjoy the city that much. The street lights, skycrapers and bars and restaurants are irrelevant to you, or maybe it is that you're irrelevant to them. That's the reality of living in a big city.
if you want to know NYC if is the greatest city or not, simply travel the world then compare.
Very well said!
是的，这是一条非常明智的评论。上海是一座繁华的城市，但它位于不发达的中国，它有来自全国各地的便宜商品和廉价的劳动力。许多西方国家更喜欢在上海成立公司，因为他们用欧洲服务员的薪资就可以雇佣一名当地的名牌大学生为他们工作。而且在上海，从事服务行业的人大多来自全国各地，他们的工资低的难以想象，每个月可能只有几百美金。很多上海的本地居民也会因为高昂的房价（或许上海的房价已经超过了纽约？）被迫和一家人蜷缩在上世纪的小房子里。总之，这也是一个有钱人可以生活的非常幸福的城市，而底层人民却要承受整个社会重量的城市。
The weather in Shanghai is actually very nice in spring and autumn
However，spring and autumn in Shanghai are usually very short
Correct.
I love it when you describing winter in Shanghai. Shanghai is my home city. I suppose you get use to it, if you grown up there. I will buy your book for sure.
Thank you 😊🙏🏼 yes I can imagine it gets much better once you’re used to it and you know how to handle it!
How much is the cost of living there like i pay around €2000 a month in the Netherlands. And what is the average wage ?
Very helpful video. I hope you enjoy your stay there. I like to add that the air conditioning and heater in the building all depends on the price you want to pay. If you increase your rent budget you will get apartments with those amenities. You can ask your agent to show you only places with air conditioning and central heating. Likely those will be much newer buildings. :)
I'm moving to Shanghai next week from the UK! Thanks for your videos, they're helping me prepare for the move :)
Glad to hear that!
shanghai is freaking hot now。。。U have to go though 2 or 3 weeks lock-down in hotel ，anyway，you will fall in love with China！
So lucky!!!!
@@iampiratewall Thanks! Yes I'm currently in hotel quarantine... At least I have RUclips to pass the time! :D
omg how!!! i thought borders were closed to the UK
I left Shanghai at the end of 2013/early 2014 (and China overall in early 2018). It's funny to hear that the same problems, ups & downs are still the same. I spent my mid and late 20s there, and had the absolute time of my life.
Exciting listenning to you talk about Shanghai!
Next video ruclips.net/video/r3ceiHfmobE/видео.html&pp=ygUVcHJvcyBjb25zIGFib3V0IGNoaW5h
There was little to no heating in Shanghai when I was growing up. Winter could be very brutal. Shanghai is at an awkward latitude. It’s not far up enough to have central heating system as in northern cities like Beijing and Harbing. But it’s far up enough that it gets really cold in winter. And the summer was quite brutal as well. Not to mention the 黄霉天season in May and June, if memory serves me well. When I was in college (Fudan), I just wanted to get out of Shanghai. On my spring break outing, I found the countryside near Hangzhou far more appealing (and people nicer). I am sure now it’s a lot more developed.
I came here because I am considering to move to Shanghai. I‘m a German, currently living in Australia and when you talked about central heating I loved so hard. I?ve had the same experience in Australia. Who would have thought that I will experience my coldest winter in Australia xD. I feel you, absolutely getting it.
You are back
After moving hundreds or even thousand miles south expecting a warmer climate, most northern people are surprised by the coldness of Shanghai winter. It is a most common observation that happens maybe 90% of the time. On the other side, nowadays at least there are AC and heater, while some 20 years ago locals have nothing other than more layers of clothing.
Completely agree ! Most house holds have Heaters , they just don’t use it . Somehow my mom still won’t use heater or AC. They find the temperature 🤒 up n down too drastic causing discomfort while going out .
It’s wired , if u do not use AC/ heaters body adapt to it nateually . But if I swing AC n Heater constantly all yr, yr body lose ability to adjust to temp. We leant that in shook. Lol 😂 I can’t stand No heater lol 😂
Very nice video 👍👍
Thank you!
Well said. Especially about no heating in the winter. Also I might add there is no 3000 sq feet house with another 2000 square feet backyard in shanghai. Everyone lives in apartment building.
Hahaha, just about to find an apartment in SH, your video pops up! Literally saved my day, gonna check out Wellcee right away. Thank you so much for the tip!
Good luck!!
I live in America and I have to tell you there aren't ANY cities the size of Shanghai in America. I am moving to Shanghai in January to teach English and meet up with some friends I have known for a minute. I am looking forward to coming from rural off grid life to the crazy of Shanghai momentum. Thank you for all your information you have a new subscriber also I have ordered your book!!! Congratulations on that!! Writing a book is a feat in and of itself!!! ❤ thank you for all your helpful information!!
interesting thank you!
Shanghai looks amazing, so dynamic
This aged well.
okay
For real or sarcasm? It's now covid test every 2days and lock downs every where
@@smdanny1 It sounded like sarcasm but i meant it lol. Sounds like a nightmare over there.
@@thebatman4279 the scary part is that it's become the norm. You wake up in the morning and automatically think is today a test day or a nontest day, and you even question in door places that dont scan ppl‘s covid IDs and think oh how safe is this place
HAHA YEP!
Nice vlog... I have lived in and out Shanghai since 1997, but currently not able to get back thanks to Covid, but you are spot on for the most part. I actually have a Chinese Driver's license and a beautiful car and house there still, and I could tell you some stories. In 1997 it was still pretty undeveloped and I've watched the transformation take place over 24 years and it is a sight to behold - in the past and in the future at the same time can be very cool, and disappointing at times too. I can't wait to go home again someday!
Damn I am envious of this . I wish I remained in China lol 😂 now I stuck in Canada 🇨🇦.
I found Shanghai quite bearable pollution-wise, but then I only spent summers there. Also, I had expected more congestion and crowds. Honestly, the traffic is pretty smooth, metro very efficient and, indeed, fast. Crowds basically in the Bund. Humidity can be nasty and definitely proper aircon is a must (I mean not just a fan or ventilation). I loved my time there for the excitement, cuisine, night-time warmth, safety, and the nice people, both colleagues and regulars. You can feel at home, too, esp. in the French Concession, Shanghai's many churches and ... there is football there! Shenhua rules (oh, the atmospheric Hongkou...)!
A lot of people in China like football. Unfortunately 🤣Chinese national football team is rubbish for a long time. As a football fan ,we are jealous of people in France, German ,Italy, Spain.
Yes Shanghai looks beautiful for sure 😍
such a beautiful city right!
@@KajaKubicka SO GREAT!! please do a video on how blondie can become naturalization of a Chinese citizen and apply Chinese passport next. Not just go there as tourist.
@@KajaKubicka how about language, is learning Chinese/Madarin mandatory???
That's awesome ...
These cons are mostly for visitors.For natives like myself spend my last 35 years here, the problems come from a more systematic side of the country.
Most times the cons for foreigners are not fo natives. If the were, they would change it.
I only turn on AC when it is below 0… my room is around 15 degrees when it is -5°C outside lol. This is incredible considering in most buildings windows have tiny air vents. Shanghai obviously doesn’t get cold winter like that so often.
That means putting on a thick sweater indoor
Air vents are stupid in the winter but it is a blessing in raining Chinese spring and humid summer.
It is not like you live in Harbin or something. In Harbin you get cheap, affordable tho old fashion central heating that enables you to wear t shirts and shorts in the winter when it is constantly -25°C outside. Basically anywhere below the yellow River don’t have central heating cuz it’s not that cold indoors. Wear sweaters, cover yourself with thick quilt on bed during the night, or use AC/electric heating making sure room temperatures above 15°C, which definitely won’t cost you that much on electricity. However, you can always rent a place that has ground heating. Rent won’t be cheap tho. When living in the Netherlands I still turn on the humidifier in spite of water heating in the house. Basic physics: relative humidity is just lower when the temperature goes up when other ambient variables are constant
What u turn on ur ac when below 0 ??
i was there for 7 years... what a great adventure omg
I was accepted to a university in Changhai, but now I am really scared to go haha. Are the job perspectives good for international students?
Not being quarantined still in 2022 made a solid case of the NOT too :')
Wow never imagined Shanghais winter like this. I’m gonna bring my hair dryer and put it on warm heat 😂
I live in shanghai, I agree with everything you said. It's very true.
Shanghai local, and I can guarantee everything she said is so true...
Interesting kaja
I live in Pudong mostly, selfdom travel to Shanghai, as it's hard to find a parking lot in the downtown, and parking fee is expensive, and seldom travel by subway as it takes an hour or so to get to the downtown... It's super crowded in the downtown.
Another big issue that bring you headache is the non-stop construction here and there near the road. To be honest, those roads before reconstruction were totally fine. And upgraded roads don't really look too much different, just newer. But the thing is, the government has to spend their budget somewhere, either some meaningless infrastructure upgrade, or replanting trees and flowers along the roads every year (no kidding, those trees don't live long), otherwise the budget for next year will drop. This becomes a phenomenon in China, waste money at the end of the year so they get same or more amount of budget in the next year. The only good part of it I can think of is useless infrastructure and utility projects offer jobs to those who need some quick money.
Hi I'm moving to Shanghai with my Dalmatian dog this 2022. Do any of you know if the city is Pet friendly and most importantly if Shanghai has condominiums that are dog friendly (meaning they allow dogs).
Many apartments here are pet friendly :)
Living in Taicang Jiangsu is cheaper than living in Shanghai… but close enough to get to Shanghai in about an hour.
I'm from northern China, and I think the weather here is much similar to Denmark. The winter of Shanghai is absolutely terrible for me, and locals seems get used to the low temperature. I totally agree your opinion of Shanghai, it's a city for money, but not a place for life, especially considering the house price here.
People in china speak english???? 😳
@@WalidtheNoematicsguy We speak Chinese in daily life but we also study English since the primary school.
@@WalidtheNoematicsguy Most Chinese choose English as their second language.
@@maatiseg3815 that's really good... I would like to visit Shanghai one day 🤓 my only concern what if I am in a city where nobody speaks English !!
@@jackxu2171 thanks for information!!
That's a year ago...But now it's amazing :)
how is your life in poland going? stay healthy and safe
Come to the south!! Shenzhen Guangzhou hahaha and experience the Cantonese culture ^^^ Greeting from Paris
Dear Kaja, i agree with everything you say.
I freaking miss Shanghai so much. USA is too boring
Never a dull moment here in Austin, Chicago or West Garfield Chicago.
I think you right🤗🤗
Have you considered using service apartments? 公寓？
I'm in Shanghai, I'd like to know more friends here.
no central heating is also a problem in most parts of Japan. Winters can be cold but not so cold to justify central heating probably.
I don’t know if you have ever been in Hangzhou before. It’s a very cute and historical city. If you ever feel like coming back to China, I’ll be very happy hosting you in Hangzhou❤
Clicked because I'm looking for a new job and was curious... I died when you went off about central heating. I live in the Netherlands now and their aversion to AC sends me into a rage every summer.
art gollerees :) cooking for myself means most of my salary is saved and compared to South Africa, groceries here are reasonably priced. Each plate is maybe a third smaller at the same price point. There are also heater blankets available on taobao for winter nights.. but imo yes maybe summer a/c bills are something to watch out for.. And lastly, living with an e300p electric-scooter means everything is maximum 30mins away. I travel 200km after a 5hour full battery charge ✌✌
huangpu river goes through the city yangtze to the north qiantang river to the south. pudong puxi central districts. many universities around 6 good ones. lujiazui and nanjing rd for finance and caohejing for tech. there are many restaurants and dining options like the fish restaurants and many western restaurant there are also many Chinese cuisines too.
any experience about cockroaches? Can they be somehow avoided or is it like guaranteed to meet one in your apartment one day (assuming you live there for a year)?
the winter in southern china is really cold, it is not like the snowy place, dry and icy, in southern china, including shanghai, during winter its wet and windy, things indoor feel wet all the time, you feel the wetness in the wind, so terrible. if you don't have AC heating up your home. good luck if you are not used to it. its worse actually in Shanghai, because shanghai snows sometime, and do not have heating system indoor.
That's true. It is difficult for foreigners to find apartment in shanghai.
Well now I don't think it's that crowded
love the metro. the railway station the airport. dishui lake.
'people are too busy doing their own shit'😂🎉 love that. Sounds like it's for me. Love the buzz.谢谢 您。
Hate the winter more!
as long as youre not crossing the river, the moped is always the fastest way to move around
The metro system are better and much cheaper than London and NYC normally cost you less than 1 USD, and you can take a taxi everyday which charges about 40 cents per kilo. Not to mention the rental could be 1/4 of London.
I was born and raised in Jingan and now resides in the US. Lately I missed my hometown a bit and decided to take a look at some YT videos about Shanghai, especially the Jingan district. I have to admit. I don’t like what I see. The old charm of Shanghai is gone, replaced by generic high rises. The renovated Jingan temple looks ghastly to me. I much prefer the old one. Maybe I should come to see it in person. It’s been 30 years.
The food scenes look great, though.
That's crazy workmen work so early 😞😞😞
ok
在 北京和上海 交通堵車是特別厲害 糟糕。 在上海市 開車從黃浦區到浦東新這少要開車一個小時。 在上海開車特別注意交通規定有關外地省車牌 非滬車牌 限制在上海市中心 比方像 黃浦區 南京東路 等等 特別是上高架橋。
在北京市 開車特別注意 是限制單號和雙號車牌。
Large apartment buildings, hotels, schools, etc- do not have central heating & A/C. There are far too many different compartmentalized spaces.
Which university do you study tho? Fudan? TONGJI?
Fudan :)
You have never been to Las Vegas Nevada if you ever stayed there then you’ll know what is the definition of hot really means or the definition of cold really means if you ever stayed in Colorado, New York. And if you really want to know how humid is it is it is not just Shanghai there’s so many cities even worse than that for example Thailand Taiwan Taipei, Vietnam…etc . Weather is is something you can change . This part of pro and con should not included weather because the weather is part of nature causes it’s not human causes cannot use that as part of the reasons
Yes Shanghai is nice. Do you know if there was an update in Shanghai news about the South African kindergarten teacher assaulted by her employer in Shanghai?
Planning to move to Shanghai after living in Beijing for 6 years.
Ive never been to shanghai but planning to... only to visit
one line metro is 40 km line 2 and shanghai has 18 lines chocks you ? not here its a country it selfs in a city what a love love from 2010 until now
I’m guessing you would suggest living in Shang hai verses living in Beijing?
True. Good thing about Asia is that you feel comfortable doing videos in public.
Yess! That’s something I definitely miss!
I live here in putuo,having electric scooter is a must
I live in Nanjing; I love your natural explaining, please visit my country Socotra I promise you will have fun
Memo: be careful not to have mold in ur building. Avoid first floors
i like small cities like wuxu, changzhou, yiwu
Please you do not reply or help people either send you a mail is useless it hurts especially when I need help its really urgent then why do you blog if you don't reply Mails or check them even if its irrelevant
Been living in Shanghai for 3 years so far it has been fun but can get very depressing in winter
Google is "blocked" in China... right?
Get a VPN beforehand and you get round it
Pro: everything. Con: too expensive. I lived there for 12 yrs as an expat. If you are an expat, you know what I mean it's the BEST LIFE ever. Who won't want to live in the future.
expat has everything perfect prepared.
Do they have scholarships to study the language and not getting a degree?
Not only you, winters in Shanghai are diffcult to Chinese TOO.
10 -12 celsius degree is the coldest winter you've ever had?? hahaha, go enjoy the winter in northern China, it will refresh your perception of cold :) :)
no mate that's not what I said ;)
Love Shanghai 💖💖✨
I live in London, it’s definitely not for me, but I have no choice.
Travelling from one part of London to another is a nightmare too, no matter what form of transportations..
@@slaw2224 The tube isnt too bad! Especially as there are less people on it these days. Used to be horrible during the winter
After over 10 years in Beijing I can say without a doubt I can't think of a single reason I'd want to go back there after coming to Shanghai. It's one of, if not the most comfortable place for foreigners to live in China. People stare at you with their mouth wide open like you're a zoo animal waaay less, people spit at the floor THE moment they walk past you a lot less, there's better career oppurtunities, more western supermarkets, dealing with visa's and other red tape is easier... The list is endless.
Is your conscience clean though? All that economic activity is supporting a brutal repressive regime.
@@trillinflossin412 I don't think the 0.0000000000000000001% that accounts for my economic spending is really supporting them much...
Shanghai is a cool city but i almost got scammed out of $5,000. Very scary experience. Luckily i got out of it.
I am living in Odense😊. Close to you.
I never worried about safety issue when I was in China
why don't they use heated floors like in Korea? I thought they did??
no
hahahahHahah，i was from Shanghai，the winter is like hell，it freezes my butt off
I'd like to travel in SHANGHAI but not live there. I'd prefer more tropical cities like SHENZHEN or NANNING.
Fan of NANJING ROAD here😘😘
haha I'm glad I'm not the only one ;pp
No central heating is a thing of the south. All southerners are envious of the North's central heating or just heating in general.
how's your feeling now, feeling safer with the restrict room ?
不管外媒怎么宣传中国的吧，有条件自己来看呗，世界上没有绝对好和绝对坏的地方