- Entering China you will need to complete the following: In-bound Custom Declaration Form, Immigration Arrival Card, and the Health Declaration Form. Leaving China, you will need to complete just the Custom Declaration (Out-bound) Form and the Immigration Departure Card.
- Although we have flown only 5 times in China, in general the planes are on time and the service very professional and efficient. Exemplified by the flight attendant turning on the reading light for me 
(quite a few times) when I was reading but forgot to turn the light on. I cannot say the same for Air Canada: The flight back from Hong Kong to Vancouver (June 4th, flight #AC8) was a flight from hell: I rang the bell for the flight attendant because the food tray was broken and the hinges were full of sticky whatever leftover food stuff and I accidentally touched it 每 so I needed a rag to clean my hand and the tray. No one came for 2 hours! Also the flight attendant was blatantly racist: instead of asking passengers what they want 每 as there was a choice between sandwiches and soup noodles 每 she gave chop sticks/noodles to all the Asian passengers and forks/sandwiches to the rest!! )
- Although all the airlines that we've flown are quite good, if I have to make a distinction (for example seat space/comfort), I would rank them as follows: Dragon Air and Shanghai Airlines are first, then China Southern, then China Eastern.
- They seem to always serve food even for a one-hour flight (Shanghai 每 Huanghsan/Yellow Mountain). Although that was just a bun with sweet bean paste, it was still better than many North American Airlines. Last time I flew Air Canada 3 hours from Edmonton to LA and they only gave the passengers 2 cookies each.
- For beverage there is always juice and Chinese tea. If you want coffee: sorry you are out of luck. So if you are a heavy coffee drinker: load up on coffees before you get on the plane.
-Washrooms in Shanghai
- Let's take care of business first: yes there are many squat toilets in Shanghai; but in train stations, airports, department stores etc. there is always one western toilet in each washroom.
- I believe in North America the general rule is that all the food establishments have to have a toilet. Not so in Shanghai. So when you go to Starbucks hoping to use the washroom there may not be one.
- Most toilets do not have toilet papers inside the stalls: there is usually a location in the bathroom (usually at the far wall), where there is a toilet paper dispenser. Get them before you go into the stall. Of course you can always bring some tissues with you.
Taxicabs in Shanghai
- Shanghai cabs come in yellow, white, green, blue, red, dark blue and dark red denoting different taxi companies. Most of the time there is no choice because you just want a cab 每 but if you have a choice, stay away from the dark blue and dark red ones. They are not very well maintained (e.g. seat belts not working). Turquoise and light green ones are the best. White, green, yellow are ok too.
- Don't try to hail a cab at a crossroads, as taxi drivers cannot stop their cars within 30 meters from an intersection to pick up passengers.
- In Shanghai, pooling a cab with strangers is banned.
- Cab fare: Generally about 15-25 rmb if you travel within the Luwan (French Concession) and Huangpu/Bund area. It is so cheap that we ended up taking cabs all the time instead of using the Subway. Hongqiao Airport to Bund area is about 50 rmb, Putong Airport to Bund area is about 150 rmb.
- No tipping is required: cabbies in Shanghai are not allowed to take a tip.
- Most of the drivers are amicable, but their English is limited. So it's best to get someone to write down your destination in Chinese.
- Remember to take the receipt Fa Piao; the driver is required to give it to you, and may yell at you if you start to get out of the cab before it is printed. So, pay first, and then wait to get the Fa Paio, and then step off the cab. The slip will contain information on the taxi car number/ plate number, the taxi company, date, time you get on the cab, time you get off the cab, mileage and cost. In case you leave something in the car, the receipt w
ill give you all the information to locate the cab.
- During the day the cab fare starts at 12 rmb; at night after 11pm the meter starts from 15 rmb.
- The cab line at the Putong airport is long but it moves very fast, and there is a traffic control person directing the cabs. When you are hauling luggage towards the cab line you may be approached by people asking you if you need a cab. Ignore them because they may be independent drivers or not even real cab drivers.
- For 4 adults each with one piece of luggage plus a small bag, the cabs would not take us, saying that we need 2 cars. It's the same when I enquire about the private car service. I ended up calling the driver recommended by Ekscrunchy (Mr. Zhong Wei Ren of Jin Jiang Taxi Service). He was busy but he sent his friend another cab driver. We had no problem putting the entire luggage into one cab, so we ended up spending 150 rmb from Astor House Hotel to Putong airport, instead of paying 300 rmb for 2 cabs. Thanks Ekscrunchy!!!
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