Many people moving to Shanghai are pleasantly surprised at the modernity of the city and the availability of products. Import duty is charged on most personal effects so if you’re moving on a budget you will find it more profitable to repurchase products for your stay rather than bringing everything in from home. It is likely that your new apartment will have the appliances needed for you to be comfortable, a refrigerator, oven/stove unit, washing machine and heater. Some apartments may even come complete with furnishings so be sure to ask in advance whether or not this is true of your apartment. If your apartment is unfurnished, purchasing furniture in Shanghai is relatively inexpensive.
Reality is that you truly only need to bring clothing and personal items with you. Everything else can be purchased easily and inexpensively. Dishes, toiletries, and linens can be purchased in most every neighborhood. Though I would recommend having a blanket for your arrival as you will most likely be arriving in the evening and by the time you make it into Shanghai proper the businesses you’d want to seek out for bedding will be closing.
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Shanghai enjoys four seasons, getting hot in the summer and cold in the winter with days of rapidly changing systems so you will want to pack accordingly. I would not worry about packing a heavy coat as it takes up a lot of room and is inexpensive to replace once you arrive. Clothing, however, may not be as easy to replace. Asian men and women are smaller than your typical Westerner, with smaller, shorter frames. If you are fortunate enough to live in a city with an Asian community, start paying attention to their size. If you are of similar size, bring your favorites and buy the rest when you arrive. Otherwise, you will need to pack much more a count on having clothing made for you. Definitely bring shoes and socks, the larger your feet the harder it will be to find what you need.
Shanghai uses a voltage of 220 so if you are coming from a country that does not utilize this same wattage you might consider bringing a converter with you. It is much easier to pack one or two converters purchased at Radio Shack then to overcome the language barrier and find the converter you will need to shave that 5 o’clock shadow or curl your hair. You should also consider purchasing new 220 volt appliances after your arrival. If you love toast in the morning pack your toaster or live without it.
Any personal documentation that is necessary for your life should be photocopied and taken with you to China. You will have your passport but you should also bring any birth certificates, marriage certificates and prescriptions with you. I am providing addresses and web links to the embassys below. You will want to purchase a new address book to take with you for your use in China. Your embassy should be the first entry you insert before getting on your plane.
The US Consulate General in Shanghai
1469 Huai Hai Zhong Lu, Shanghai, P.R.C. 200031
Tel. (86-21) 6433 - 6880 Fax. (86-21)6433-4122
www.usembassy-china.org.cn/shanghai/
Canadian Consulate General Shanghai
604, West Tower, 1376 Nanjing Road (West)
Shanghai, 200040, China
www.shanghai.gc.ca/welcome.php?lg=en/
British Consulate-General
Suite 301, Shanghai Centre
1376 NanJing Xi Lu
Shanghai 200040
Telephone: (00) (86) (21) 6279 7650
www.uk.cn/bj/index.asp?city=4/
