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Getting around Shanghai

Public transport: 

Travelling by metro is by far the easiest way to get around Shanghai. It's cheap, signs and announcements are in English, and it covers pretty much all the city these days. Taxis are also a good option. Again, they're cheap and easy to flag down, apart from during rainstorms!

Public buses are rarely used by foreign visitors without a good understanding of Chinese. Fares are paid to the conductor. Major city-centre routes are numbered - suburban and longer-distance buses tend to only have their destination in characters.

Taxis: 

Taxis are plentiful in Shanghai, cheap and metered, and are usually just hailed from the street. Drivers don't speak English, so if you don't speak Chinese, have the address of the place you're going to written down in characters so you can show the driver. Tipping is not expected.

For a more expensive, but English-speaking taxi service, try Shanghai Eastern (tel: (021) 5481 1630; www.shanghai-taxi.com).

Driving: 

Few tourists to Shanghai attempt to drive, as hiring a car is a lengthy process and roads are congested. Visitors also need a Chinese driving licence, which can only be obtained by resident permit holders. Basically, don't bother.

Car hire: 

Car rentals usually come with a driver, but familiar foreign rental agencies are only slowly breaking into the market. Avis (tel: (021) 6229 1119; www.avischina.com) has an online booking service.

Bicycle hire: 

Riding around the tree-lined streets of the former French Concession can be pleasant, but generally speaking, Shanghai's roads are a bit too congested and polluted for enjoyable cycling. Bikes are available for rent from most backpacker hostels in the city.

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