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City guide

Shanghai

China

Shanghai impresses at first, then wins you over for good: the city is safe, ultra-convenient day to day and far greener than you would expect. The French community, heir to the former concession, is one of the largest in Asia, organised around the Lycée français and Shanghai Accueil.

Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY)
Language
Mandarin
Time vs Paris
6 to 7h ahead
Emergencies
120 (ambulance), 110 (police)

FIAFE network

The Accueil for French-speaking families

In each city, a volunteer-run association from the FIAFE network welcomes, informs and helps French-speaking families settling in.

Shanghai Accueil

Since 1991

Since 1991, Shanghai Accueil has supported French speakers in the city: monthly coffees, "marraines" buddying up newcomers, kids tea parties, workshops, guided strolls and discovery trips across China.

Where to meet them

At the CCI France Chine offices, 83 Fumin Lu (2nd floor), by appointment (closed in July and August).

Visit the association's website Email the association See the FIAFE page

What they offer

  • Monthly coffees and the big welcome apéro at the start of the school year
  • Marraines (buddies) for newcomers
  • Guided strolls, visits and discovery trips across China
  • Calligraphy, cooking and mahjong workshops, plus the SH'Ado teens club

Other support networks

Two large national networks also support the French abroad, each with its local chapter.

  • UFE

    UFE Shanghai

    The UFE chapter in Shanghai gathers the French around convivial get-togethers, like its big back-to-school lunch, and relays the network's services.

    Visit the website
  • Français du monde – ADFE

    Français du monde – ADFE Shanghai

    The Shanghai section of Français du monde - ADFE supports French residents of the metropolis with their paperwork and relays their concerns.

    Email the chapter

The French business network

The local French chamber of commerce (CCI France International network) is a real asset for work: networking, job offers and help to restart a career or start a business locally.

CCI France International

CCI France Chine, antenne Shanghai

CCI France China brings together over 1,700 members with a Shanghai branch, offering a job board, support to settle in professionally and networking events to find your footing and your network.

Visit the website CCI country page

The online community

The Facebook groups to join

Before you even land in Shanghai, Facebook groups are the best shortcut: ask your questions, find a flat, a nanny, a second-hand stroller, and often your first friends.

  • Public In English

    Foreigners in Shanghai 上海外国人

    👥 163,700 members · ≈ 29 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In English

    Shanghai Expats 上海

    👥 54,700 members · ≈ 2 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    Shanghai Expats 2026🍷🏠🍕

    👥 38,600 members · ≈ 24 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    Shanghai Stuff

    👥 27,700 members · ≈ 19 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In French

    Shanghai French People

    👥 22,000 members · ≈ 10 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In English

    Shanghai Expats 2026

    👥 20,400 members · ≈ 3 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    Living in Shanghai

    👥 20,300 members · ≈ 50 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active Public In English

    Shanghai Expats

    👥 20,100 members · ≈ 101 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    Expats life in China

    👥 17,500 members · ≈ 2 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In French

    Les Français en Chine

    👥 15,700 members · ≈ 10 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    FOREIGNERS IN SHANGHAI

    👥 13,992 members · ≈ 65 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    Shanghai Expats 上海 - Buy/Sell/Rent/Work

    👥 9,600 members · ≈ 18 posts/week

    View the group
💬 Explore the full group directory

Compiled from Facebook's public search, links checked in July 2026. Group sizes change all the time.

AEFE network

Accredited French schools

Schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education follow the French curriculum: your child can continue their schooling seamlessly, abroad and back in France.

💰 Compare school fees

Source: official AEFE directory, verified June 2026. aefe.gouv.fr

Tutoring and private lessons

To support your children's schooling across two systems, two solutions designed for expat families.

  • Axiom Academic

    Private lessons and tutoring for expat families: French curriculum, IB and British curriculum, at home or online, with teachers who know the schools in your city.

    Discover Axiom Academic

  • IB Tutor

    Tutors specialised in the International Baccalaureate: online lessons in every IB subject, to aim for top grades from MYP to the diploma.

    Discover IB Tutor

Schools and education

The Lycée français de Shanghai, AEFE-conventionné, teaches about 1,350 pupils from nursery to the baccalaureate across two campuses: the Qingpu Eurocampus, shared with the German school, and the Shanghai Yangpu French School in the north-east.

Good to know

  • One school, two campuses: choose mainly by neighbourhood and school bus route.
  • Yangpu is accredited from nursery to Year 11; the last two years happen at Qingpu.
  • At Qingpu, the Eurocampus shared with the German school creates a unique European vibe.
  • On polluted days, the school follows the air quality index and adapts outdoor activities.

Children's healthcare

Shanghai has a dense network of excellent international clinics and hospitals. Solid health insurance is essential: international private care is expensive.

Good to know

  • International clinics (United Family, Jiahui...) have English-speaking paediatricians, sometimes French-speaking ones.
  • Large public hospitals have VIP wings that are easier for foreigners to navigate.
  • 120 calls an ambulance; many families head straight to a private clinic ER.
  • Compare the Chinese and French vaccination schedules with your paediatrician on arrival.

French-speaking community

Heir to the former French concession, the French community in Shanghai is one of the largest in Asia. Everything runs on WeChat, from neighbourhood groups to kids activities.

Good to know

  • Shanghai Accueil has animated the community since 1991, with a drop-in desk at the CCI France Chine.
  • Install WeChat before you arrive: it is the messaging app, the wallet and the mums address book all at once.
  • Plan a reliable VPN to keep WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail.
  • The former French concession, Hongqiao and Qingpu concentrate the French-speaking families.

Family outings and events

Huge parks, museums designed for children, water towns an hour away: Shanghai weekends never look the same.

Good to know

  • The Natural History Museum and the science museum keep children spellbound for hours.
  • Century Park and the West Bund riverside are perfect for bikes and scooters.
  • Shanghai Disneyland is a metro ride away, at the end of line 11.
  • Water towns like Zhujiajiao offer an old-world interlude of canals and stone bridges.

These landmarks change fast: the MumExpat community will keep them up to date.

The arrival reflex

The apps to download when you land

Drop your bags, download these and you're set: the apps everyone in Shanghai uses to get around, get things delivered and organise daily life.

Getting around

  • DiDi

    Uber left China; everyone here hails a car with DiDi, which pools taxis and private drivers. Pay through WeChat or Alipay, and the app offers an English interface.

    App Store Google Play

  • Amap

    China's default GPS: walking, metro and bus directions, plus built-in ride-hailing. Far more reliable than Google Maps, which is blocked here.

    App Store Google Play

  • Metro Metropolis

    Shanghai's official metro app: scan a QR code to pass through the gates, no paper ticket needed. Set up payment before your first ride.

    App Store

  • MetroMan Shanghai

    The offline, English metro map that expats pass around. Handy for planning a route when you can't read Chinese yet.

    App Store Google Play

Food delivery

  • Meituan

    The giant of food delivery and daily services: restaurants, groceries, haircuts, cinema. The app Shanghainese open several times a day.

    App Store Google Play

  • Ele.me

    The other major food-delivery app, now folded into Taobao and listed as Taobao Shangou (淘宝闪购). Many compare its prices with Meituan.

    App Store

Groceries

  • Freshippo (Hema)

    Alibaba's fresh supermarket, all over Shanghai: quality produce, live seafood, 30-minute delivery if you live near a store.

    App Store

  • Dingdong Maicai

    Shanghai's own fresh-grocery delivery app: vegetables, meat and fish at your door in about an hour. Chinese-only interface, but ordering is simple.

    App Store

  • Taobao

    The vast online bazaar where you find everything, dirt cheap. Essential for kitting out a new apartment: appliances, decor, clothes.

    App Store Google Play

  • JD.com

    The other e-commerce giant, known for very fast delivery and authentic goods. Handy for electronics, imported products and baby supplies.

    App Store Google Play

Everyday life

  • WeChat

    The app that does everything in China: messaging, calls, payments, school groups, doctor bookings. Without WeChat, daily life in Shanghai is nearly impossible.

    App Store Google Play

  • Alipay

    The other universal mobile wallet, often the easiest for foreigners: link an international bank card and pay everywhere by QR code.

    App Store Google Play

  • Dianping

    China's TripAdvisor: reviews, ratings and bookings for restaurants, salons and activities. Great for finding neighbourhood gems and discount coupons.

    App Store Google Play

  • Pleco

    The Chinese dictionary every expat installs: translation, pronunciation and camera character-scanning to decode a menu or a label.

    App Store Google Play

Coming soon: the full Shanghai guide.

Verified addresses, paediatricians recommended by mums, a family agenda updated every week. Join the waitlist to discover the Shanghai page first.

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