Alice Chen, Anna Tse, Cheryl Neoh, Jasmine Nelson, Jennifer Tai, Jeremy Sperling, Jimmy Zheng, Joyce Ge, Katherine Wang, Kristen Rode, Melissa Boyce, Raena Binn, Yan Jie Hou

Festivals & Holidays
Language
Food

Nightlife
LGBT
Shopping
Things to do

Practical
Travel
Anecdotes

collected based on the personal experiences of students who have participated in NYU Study Abroad. Individuals
should exert the appropriate judgment when using services provided in this guide. Any opinions expressed represent
solely those of the student writer, not New York University.

Welcome to the 2008-2009 student-written Study Abroad Guide on Shanghai. This
guide was compiled by the Global Ambassador program \u2013 a leadership
organization of returnee study abroad students. Through this guide the students
discuss their time abroad, including practical information and insider tips on
everything from places to visit to things to do. Though we have tried to make this
guide as comprehensive as possible and applicable to all of the study abroad
populations, please keep in mind that some information may be more or less
relevant to your situation. We encourage you to seek out the relevant office
running your study abroad program to answer specific questions about housing,
health and safety, student life. Our hope is that this guide will not only give you
insight into what your time abroad can potentially be, but also provide you with a
launching point for exploring your new \u201chome\u201d.

for European Travel , experiences ofWo men andL GBT students studying abroad
andSt ud ent s i n T r a nsi t i on for Freshman and Transfer students that spend their
first year abroad. Finally, our newest guide, Lost in t he Translat ion is a
collection of real stories from previous study abroad students that highlight the
cross-cultural diversity you will inevitably encounter while abroad. All guides can
be found online at:http://www. n yu. edu/ studyabroad/studentguides

translator
bars & lounges, scenic views, clubs, hang out spots
the rundown, places to go out, resources
bargaining, shopping guide
tourist spots, museums, theatre & dance, resources, volunteering,

religion, sports, martial arts, ENCU campus activities, networking
background, dorms, classes, NYU facilities
doctors, prescriptions/contraceptives/toiletries, physical health,

U.S. Consulate info
getting around, weather, money, packing, communications
within China, outside China, transportation, accommodation
best & worst experiences, favorite & hardest things

Shanghai is a dynamic place. Although it is technically a \u201cChinese\u201d city, the heart of Shanghai
looks like any other modern metropolis\u2014in fact, some of its buildings (and definitely its
subways) are more futuristic and advanced than the ones in New York.

There is always something going on in Shanghai. Foreign artists, scholars and writers often
visit Shanghai to perform or give lectures. Student from Fall 2006 met music artist Macy Gray
and Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and author of The World is Flat, while
students from Fall 2007 toured the set of The Mummy: Tomb of t he Dr agon Emperor .

On the downside, Shanghai, like many other Chinese cities, is still growing. Lack of pollution
regulations for cars and factories has had harmful effects on the city\u2019s air quality. Traffic can
also be a mess and it is not just because of cars. The city\u2019s streets are loaded with all kinds
of vehicles, including buses, bicycles and motorcycles. Visitors should always be on their
toes.

Homelessness is another very noticeable problem in Shanghai. It can be overwhelming to
encounter so many beggars, especially the young ones. This is an unfortunate reality, but like
any other major world city, Shanghai is not without its problems. Still, students should not be
afraid to venture out an explore. Shanghai is a truly fascinating city with lots of sights, sounds
and eats.

NYU in Shanghai also makes the transition easier by taking students around for the first few days. During orientation, you\u2019ll get to see all the famous sites like Xintiandi and the Oriental Pearl Tower as well as eat at some great local restaurants. Throughout the semester, NYU in Shanghai hosts lots of other excursions and events, so students will never feel bored.