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.
The Bund in Huangpu district provides a historic evening view
Downtown Puxi's favored districts are Huangpu, Jing'an, Changan and Xuhui -- great comfortable living for expats and locals alike. 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: 3000-4500RMB/M
Single apartment: 5500-8000RMB/M
Xuhui| Changning| Jing'An| Huangpu
Century Park, Shanghai's largest park in Pudong
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. 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：2500-4000RMB/M
Single apartment：5000-7000RMB/M
Famous street near Fudan university — "University Road"
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.
There are many bus and subway lines and it is very convenient to get to Hongqiao airport, which is an ideal area for office workers and business travelers.Hongkou locates in the northeast of downtown Shanghai, where you can find the most famous Hongkou stadium.Yangpu is known as Shanghai's center of education. Many international universities built their branch campuses here as well, making Yangpu District a welcoming community for young academics from all over the world.
Shared apartment：2000-3500RMB/M
Single apartment：4000-6000RMB/M
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...
