Living in Shanghai is like opening a window into the future: state of the art technology, world class architecture – change here happens so fast that you can barely keep up. Throw in the mix a wide range of global companies and local startups, and you have a business environment so exciting that most people opt to stay after trying their hands on an internship here. Shanghai is the financial and technological capital of one of the most popular internship destinations in Asia and finding an internship here can easily be the best career decision you’ve ever made.
By starting your career in Shanghai, you not only get to experience a local company from the inside. You also get a better understanding of one of the leading business cultures in the world. You will work alongside with Chinese colleagues and get familar with how they communicate, work and relax. This is one of the key skills that any international company will ask of you later on.
As an intern in the student friendly city of Shanghai, the world is your oyster. Each neighborhood in Shanghai has its own distinct characteristics: go to The French Concession for European styled buildings, tree-lined lanes, French bakeries and gourmet restaurants. Go to DongHua or JiaoTong University hubs for the local student experience with street food and beer pong in the bars. Find your way to the Bund to see Shanghai in all its glory – the streets are alive with stories of opium wars, trade concessions, fortunes made and lost over night and the new found power of China’s growing multinationals. Across the river you’ll reach the CBD in Pudong and the world famous skyline of twisting and turning skyscrapers. Or head to Northern Jing’An to experience shared workspaces housing the latest startups and trendy little eateries.
Although life as an intern in Shanghai is getting increasingly easier by the day (have a look at wechat and alipay to know more), there are still some things you can read up on before arriving. Some of the most important things to know are:
Transport – how to get around in Shanghai. You have the choice of public transport (bus, metro, train), biking (shared bikes are increasingly popular and easy to use), taxis and walking
Consulates – where to find your consulate and how to get in touch with them. There is no consulate area in Shanghai, but most consulates are easily reached by metro or taxi
Cost of living – how much can you expect to pay for daily necessities? Apart from rent, most things are very affordable in Shanghai. A metro ticket is 3 RMB, a lunch at a local restaurant is usually around 30 RMB