Shanghai

For the first few weeks as you work in Shanghai it’s a good idea to carry a street and Metro map around. Shanghai is a grid, however the immense size and long freeways make it a little difficult to navigate, even for the city’s seasoned veterans. Morning and evening rush-hour traffic is characterised by dense crowds piling into the metro and on to the roads.

Life in China is incredibly easy and none so much as Shanghai. You can find every type of food you’d want and get it delivered to your doorstep. Every restaurant delivers everything. That’s not hyperbole, everywhere delivers everything. Want to buy some cigarettes at 2am? There’s a place that’ll do it. Feeling KFC at work? Yep, no problem. Tacos before going to the cinema? Alright, just wait 20-30 minutes and you’ll get them. They have Uber and the much more useful Chinese version of Uber too (called Didi)

You can find a bar on the top of random buildings that have the most delicious cocktails and speak-easy style Jazz bars hidden off main streets. It is truly the New York or London of China. Though this is not to say it has lost it’s own culture or charm. A walk down the main shopping street (East Nanjing Road) and you’ll find the massive golden temple called Jing’An Temple. Shanghai is probably the youngest city of it’s size in the world and you can see photos to show you of how quickly it has grown since 1990.