Shanghai at a Glance

Expat Districts and Housing in Shanghai

Shanghai is the most populous city in the entire country.

Welcome to Shanghai! You will encounter an extraordinary city with a unique mixture of Western lifestyle and Eastern flair. Our InterNations Guide on moving to Shanghai gives you a general city overview and more specific information on expat life, e.g. expat neighborhoods and visa regulations.

Districts

Shanghai is not only a city, but rather an urban sprawl in a region of its own, with a surface area of ca. 6,340.5 km². There is a distinct core city in centrally located Pǔxī, home to about 48% of Shanghai’s millions of residents. It is the main urban area of historical Shanghai and includes the districts of Yangpu, Hongkou, Zhabei, Putuo, Changning, Xuhui, Jing'an, Luwan, and Huangpu.

Opposite Puxi, on the east side of the Huangpu River, there is Pǔdōng Xīn Qū or the Pudong New Area, Shanghai’s booming industrial and financial district. Puxi and Pudong are surrounded by the northern suburbs (Baishan, Jiading, Qingpu, Northern Songjiang, Western Minhang) and southern suburbs (Jinshan, Fengxian, Southern Songjiang, Eastern Minhang). Baoshan, Jiading, and Minhang are still relatively close to the city center.

Popular Residential Areas

Expats like to settle close to work, an airport, or an international school, often in some of the following areas: Gubei Town, a residential area in Changning District, attracts mainly Asian expatriates living in Shanghai. You will find the overseas Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Korean communities here, although quite a few Europeans and Americans live in Gubei as well.

Hong Qiao is also a part of Changning, a suburb very much characterized by expatriate living and family life. Its vicinity to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport makes it attractive for foreigners.

Jing'an District in central Shanghai, one of the city’s most densely populated areas, is famous for its luxury housing, business opportunities, and exiting nightlife. Xujiahui, a sub-district of Xuhui, Shanghai’s shopping mecca, is also popular. Outside Puxi, expatriates often look for housing in Pudong, in relative closeness to the other international airport (Shanghai Pudong International), or in suburban Minhang.

Types of Accommodation

Although foreign residents are no longer banned from purchasing property in Shanghai, most expatriates still prefer renting to buying. Families in particular appreciate renting a so-called villa, which refers to a free-standing townhouse ideal for parents with children. These villas are mainly situated in compounds or residential expat communities in areas like Changning, Pudong, and Minhang.

These communities cater to the specific needs of foreigners in China: Their management staff often speaks English. The compound includes its own little grocery shop, gym, and playground. It might even provide a shuttle service to the city center or an international school nearby. The real estate agents offering such compound housing on the market are also used to dealing with expats, so they are frequently fluent in English and will issue you with a bilingual rental agreement.

Rental Prices

Of course, such comfort has its price. In comparison to the average standard of living among Shanghai’s lower middle classes, the typical expat life style is fairly luxurious. The monthly rent for higher-end expat housing starts at 3,000 USD, but it’s not completely unheard of that top executives might rent a luxury penthouse in downtown Shanghai for 15,000 or 20,000 USD per month.

Single expats or expat couples may, however, get a decent apartment for 1,000-2,000 USD a month, and self-made expats living on a budget can find rather small apartments in none-prime areas for 1,000 USD. You should also take into consideration that your real estate agent expects a commission of one or two monthly rents.

One last reminder: After moving to your new place, don’t forget to re-register with the Shanghai police. If you previously stayed in a hotel, the staff will have taken care of this for you. The residents of an expat compound can also ask the building management staff to look into the matter on their behalf. As a normal tenant, though, you have to go to the nearest police station within 24 hours of your change of address. Bring along the following: