Why Shanghai is NOT for everyone | PROS & CONS of living in Shanghai

In this video, I share with you everything you MUST know before moving to Shanghai! All the pros and cons, the good and the bad sides of living in China’s megacity. Shanghai can be an incredible place to live BUT it’s definitely NOT a city for everyone! The city is huge, weather can be pretty horrible, the traffic is scary and chaotic and pollution is an issue. So make sure to consider all the pros and cons to find out if Shanghai is the right place for you.

0:00 Pros and Cons of living in Shanghai
0:32 What is it like to live in China as a foreigner? Read more stories in my book ‘I lived in Shanghai’ available on Amazon!
0:42 Safety in Shanghai
1:44 The size of Shanghai; living in a city of 25 million people
3:38 Finding an apartment in Shanghai
5:54 Shanghai is a super exciting & vibrant city!
6:15 Weather in Shanghai
8:52 Shanghai is a very multicultural city (living in Shanghai as a foreigner)
9:29 ‘Western’ lifestyle in Shanghai can be expensive
10:38 What are people like in Shanghai?
11:29 Shanghai can be pretty chaotic & traffic is crazy!
12:20 Architecture in Shanghai is one of a kind!
13:35 Pollution in Shanghai

Hi! My name is Kaja Kubicka. I grew up between Poland and Denmark, and for the past couple of years I have been living in Copenhagen, Shanghai, Bangkok, Warsaw and Paris, making videos about my travels, daily life & fashion.

#China #FudanUniversity #Chinavlog #Shanghai

[tobermorys.]

I lived in Shanghai more than 3 years and I fully agree on your statement on the winters in Shanghai. I preferred the winters in Germany with 10 degrees Celsius below zero than in Shanghai 10 degC above zero simply because its so wet. It doesn't matter how much you wear because the temperature will go right through the clothing to your skin. You will always feel cold.

[SnapCracklePapa]

She really likes showing off how she knows how to pronounce Shung-hai

[Bob-ehyg]

From my experience, Shanghai is a city where rich&wealthy people live very luxuriously and poor people live not very well. I would say if you were rich, living in Shanghai could be better than Paris and London, but still not as luxurious as New York or Tokyo.

[sl]

I live in New York City. The thing is that most of the people usually hang out in their own neighborhoods or they would go to Manhattan from time to time. If two friends live on the opposite sides of the city, usually they would meet somewhere in the middle, not necesarily visit each other's places. I've been a big city guy all my life and actually, in big cities, you just don't visit other people's places that often as one would do in small towns. Of course, there're exceptions, but most people just don't live like that. Also, living in big cities can be bored, if you don't have the finance to support whatever exciting things you wanna do. People here in NYC always say that it is the greatest city in the world, which I don't know about that, but let's assume that's true, if you're here taking a minimum wage job, then chances are you're not gonna be able to enjoy the city that much. The street lights, skycrapers and bars and restaurants are irrelevant to you, or maybe it is that you're irrelevant to them. That's the reality of living in a big city.

[ryanoctober]

I just moved away from Shanghai about a month ago, definitely an amazing city to live in as a foreigner, there are places you can go to where you won't run into a single local. At the end of the day it was a little too expensive for me and it's definitely not a city to settle down in.

[roblucas]

The weather in Shanghai is actually very nice in spring and autumn

[radfanmahyoub]

Not smart video, knowing very little about shanghai just as a student, for me living 24 years in shanghai, gaining green card here for talent level as a doctor, studying，working, fluent in the language, seeing the changes that shanghai went through can tell you that you don’t know shanghai, but good step to sell the book, you need to gain a better experience to be able to write a book, however You still young 加油.

[Zeldasar]

I'm moving to Shanghai next week from the UK! Thanks for your videos, they're helping me prepare for the move :)

[Milehigh]

I love it when you describing winter in Shanghai. Shanghai is my home city. I suppose you get use to it, if you grown up there. I will buy your book for sure.

[lesawkawalec]

I found Shanghai quite bearable pollution-wise, but then I only spent summers there. Also, I had expected more congestion and crowds. Honestly, the traffic is pretty smooth, metro very efficient and, indeed, fast. Crowds basically in the Bund. Humidity can be nasty and definitely proper aircon is a must (I mean not just a fan or ventilation). I loved my time there for the excitement, cuisine, night-time warmth, safety, and the nice people, both colleagues and regulars. You can feel at home, too, esp. in the French Concession, Shanghai's many churches and ... there is football there! Shenhua rules (oh, the atmospheric Hongkou...)!

[jingye]

I freaking miss Shanghai so much. USA is too boring

[gcs]

I left Shanghai at the end of 2013/early 2014 (and China overall in early 2018). It's funny to hear that the same problems, ups & downs are still the same. I spent my mid and late 20s there, and had the absolute time of my life.

[liamariavoelker]

I came here because I am considering to move to Shanghai. I‘m a German, currently living in Australia and when you talked about central heating I loved so hard. I?ve had the same experience in Australia. Who would have thought that I will experience my coldest winter in Australia xD. I feel you, absolutely getting it.

[chriszhu]

These cons are mostly for visitors.For natives like myself spend my last 35 years here, the problems come from a more systematic side of the country.

[maddie]

Im moving to Shanghai in December and have never brought ANYTHING as fast as I bought your book. It already has so many good reviews, Im so excited to get it!!

[chinadreamer]

Very helpful video. I hope you enjoy your stay there. I like to add that the air conditioning and heater in the building all depends on the price you want to pay. If you increase your rent budget you will get apartments with those amenities. You can ask your agent to show you only places with air conditioning and central heating. Likely those will be much newer buildings. :)

[lyl.]

After moving hundreds or even thousand miles south expecting a warmer climate, most northern people are surprised by the coldness of Shanghai winter. It is a most common observation that happens maybe 90% of the time. On the other side, nowadays at least there are AC and heater, while some 20 years ago locals have nothing other than more layers of clothing.

[barbarajames]

Yes Shanghai looks beautiful for sure 😍

[Unvaccinatedpureblood]

There was little to no heating in Shanghai when I was growing up. Winter could be very brutal. Shanghai is at an awkward latitude. It’s not far up enough to have central heating system as in northern cities like Beijing and Harbing. But it’s far up enough that it gets really cold in winter. And the summer was quite brutal as well. Not to mention the 黄霉天season in May and June, if memory serves me well. When I was in college (Fudan), I just wanted to get out of Shanghai. On my spring break outing, I found the countryside near Hangzhou far more appealing (and people nicer). I am sure now it’s a lot more developed.

[Jamaicafunk]

Living in Taicang Jiangsu is cheaper than living in Shanghai… but close enough to get to Shanghai in about an hour.