As one of the world's largest cities, Shanghai can be an overwhelming place to figure out where to live. Some districts boast sprawling botanical gardens and green parks, while others are hotbeds of nightlife and culture. For whatever reason you're in Shanghai like study, business or travelling, in this article, we'll tell you how to find a neighborhood that's best for you. Generally, Shanghai can be seen as three main areas: Downtown Puxi, Pudong, and the outer districts.
Xuhui| Changning| Jing'An| Huangpu Apartments
The Bund in Huangpu district provides a cyberpunk-themed night view
Downtown Puxi's favored districts are Huangpu, Jing'an, Changan and Xuhui -- great comfortable living for expats and locals alike. The popular Citywalk route, known as Julu Road, Fumin Road, and Changle Road, is becoming a high-traffic cultural hotspot in Shanghai, where you can find distinctive cuisines from around the world and a dazzling nightlife. Here, you can see a rich variety of architectural styles, including garden houses full of contemporary charm, showcasing Shanghai's unique urban landscape and cultural heritage.While apartment prices would be higher, the more centrally located you are, the more nicely renovated your French Concession lane house is. However, what you get in return is access to beautiful leafy streets and Shanghai's finest cafes, bars and restaurants.You can't go wrong in neighborhoods like Jing'An Temple, Xujiahui, Zhongshan Park and Nanjing West Road. The perfect location means they each has their own metro station, and has many offices and malls around for all your convenience.
Shared apartment: 2500-3500RMB/M
Single apartment: 4500-7000RMB/M
Xuhui| Changning| Jing'An| Huangpu
The Pudong Art Museum by the Huangpu River at sunset
If you're here for work, you will probably end up in Pudong District's Lujiazui from time to time, Shanghai's Central Business District. Lujiazui doesn't just give Shanghai it's iconic skyline, but is an active hub for trade, finance and international business.Compared with Puxi, Pudong District seems to be more spacious for apartment renters. Apart from Century Park sitting within, there are parks in every apartment complex, along with ample square footage to rent at fairer prices than downtown Puxi. Additionally, the Pudong Art Museum, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, stands here facing the Bund's collection of international architectural styles across the river, quietly narrating the multifaceted charm that belongs to this city.As the area continues to develop rapidly, you can find well-priced high-end apartments and shopping centers accommodating all of your favorite restaurants from downtown while in a bigger size!
Shared apartment：2000-3500RMB/M
Single apartment：3500-6000RMB/M
Pudong Renting Apartment
Yangpu | Putuo | Hongkou Shared Apartments
The "sea of flowers" around Shanghai Hongkou Stadium
If your rental budget is limited, and you don't want to be too far away from downtown, then Putuo, Hongkou and Yangpu districts are areas you can have a look. Putuo district is adjacent to Jing'an district and Changning district.
Putuo District, as the northwest gateway to Shanghai, boasts an extensive public transportation network and numerous subway lines, providing an economical and convenient living environment for commuters and business travelers who frequently go on trips. The district also has many mature communities and commercial facilities, with comprehensive living support, making it an ideal place to live.
Hongkou District is known for its rich historical culture and modern commerce. Hongkou Stadium is an important symbol of Shanghai's sports culture, and the North Bund business district attracts many citizens and tourists with its bustling commercial activities and fashionable atmosphere. The cultural heritage and modern living facilities of Hongkou District make it a popular area for living and entertainment.
Yangpu District is hailed as the higher education center of Shanghai, where many well-known institutions of higher learning, such as Fudan University and Tongji University, are gathered. With its strong academic atmosphere and youthful vitality, Yangpu District has become the preferred place to live for international students and young white-collar workers. The district not only has high-quality educational resources but also a wealth of cultural activities and innovative industries, providing young people with a broad space for development and a platform for exchange.
These three districts are not only convenient in terms of transportation and comprehensive in living support, but also each has its own characteristics. These are ideal living choices for both white-collar workers who pursue quality of life and young students and professionals who yearn for an academic atmosphere and cultural experience.
Shared apartment：2000-3000RMB/M
Single apartment：3500-4500RMB/M
Yangpu| Putuo | Hongkou
What to know before you rent:
The renting market in Shanghai may have different rules than those of other countries, or even other cities in China. For instance, it's common to pay a 1 month deposit and 3 months rent at a time. That means on move-in day, you might need to have four months of rent prepared to pay at once.
If you find you need to leave your contract earlier than expected, it's common to get your deposit returned, as long as you help your landlord find a new tenant to take over your lease. However if you use a platform like Wellcee, we can quickly help you find a substitute.
But the best tip we can give when looking for an apartment is to be careful and notice any red flags. Always look at the apartment in person before you transfer any money. Make sure you can receive a contract in English so you can read through it carefully or have a Chinese friend help you read a Chinese contract. Check for fake walls living rooms that have been converted into a bedroom with a new, thin wall these are illegal and can pose as a fire hazard. And make sure your agent comes from a legal, reliable real estate agency.
Enjoy Shanghai with Wellcee! No matter where you choose to live, your time in Shanghai will be marked by great food, fun and community. While it can be daunting to find a new apartment with friendly roommates, Wellcee is here to help.
Wellcee can help you find more than a place to live, but a community to call home. Wellcee residents come from all over the world and have a range of passions and interests. Most of our residents are fluent English speakers, even the Chinese natives, who are great roommates if you want to practice your Chinese too. And it's a good way to make friends from all over the world; Wellcee residents come from more than 170 countries!
With Wellcee, you get peace of mind. We aren't agents, and we don't charge agency fees. We're just here to provide a platform to find a great place to live, to link with great people. No matter what you're looking for, Wellcee will help you find a place that you can call home...
Ed
Iris sun
