CultureShock! Shanghai

Book excerpt: CultureShock! Shanghai is the complete guide for those who are trying to get a handle on China’s glittering crown jewel that is both charmingly ancient yet stunningly ultra-modern. Can you tell your xiaolongbao from your xiaolongxia? What is this nebulous concept called guan xi? Is being called a laowai a pejorative? Boasting some of the world’s tallest buildings, largest businesses, longest bridges, fastest trains and elevators, and finest restaurants, Shanghai is a megacity and world-class financial centre that may well be the world’s first cashless society, but it also has cosy streets filled with napping bicyclists, dancers in full costume and seniors with bird cages. With impressive light shows, backlit freeways and luminous skylines, Shanghai is truly a city of light. Get the most out of your stay with this guide to the Asian metropolis par excellence. The Series CultureShock! is a dynamic, indispensable series of guides for travellers looking to truly understand the countries they are visiting, working in or moving to. Each title explains the country’s customs, traditions and social and business etiquette in a lively, informative style. CultureShock! authors, all of whom have experienced the joys and pitfalls of cultural adaptation, are ideally placed to provide warm and helpful advice to those who seek to integrate seamlessly into diverse cultures.