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).
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.
To follow local life in French: news, what's on, good addresses and, often, a directory of French-speaking professionals.
lepetitjournal.com Shanghai
MediaIn French
The Shanghai edition of the online daily for French expatriates: China news, practical life (housing, education, health, settling in), events listings and community portraits.
The Shanghai expat directory, listing useful addresses and French-speaking professionals; the outlet has also relayed the consulate's list of recognised doctors.
The go-to English-language online magazine for Shanghai expats: outings, restaurants, family events and practical life. We include it for lack of a second active local French-language outlet.
A very comprehensive directory of city addresses, including clinics and mental health sections, with addresses and hours.
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
166,200 members · ≈ 29 posts/week
#1 Largest Group in Facebook for Foreigners/Expats in Shanghai.
This group is a community service for everyone who likes to connect and network with other expats and returnees in China. It's also the right group to join if you plan on moving to China soon in the future.
You may ask questions regarding life and business in China. The more you give to this group, the more this group will become useful to you :)
Remain a measured, polite and factual tone of communication. Stay humble, respectful and apply humility.
Here are the group rules️:
Group rules:
POSTS SHOULD BE:
✔ Related to China/Shanghai
✔ Engaging
✔ Legal
DONT'S
🚫POLITICS/ RELIGION/ PORN/ BITCOIN
🚫ADS (jobs/ business/ housing/ scholarships/ visa /money-making, etc) [Contact admin for paid ads]
🚫Pet transportation
🚫Promotions of other online/offline communities/events
FOR SENDING ADS JOIN OUR WECCHAT PLATFORM
【1】200+ WeChat groups:
https://www.jobtube.cn/groupchat/#/
【2】Posting job ads:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ebCYqOYjiNT4y8yb95unCA
【3】Business promotions (Visa, law, accounting, trade,etc ):
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ba--fGAaYVkA1eLcDZmZCg
【4】Housing services:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/uzx2jxQ5Ev4u7tPOmPjiWg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Original Shanghai Expats Network, spam free and properly moderated for a clean useful community.
For interest in sponsored posts or cooperation with...
New Ways of Living and Sharing Life: Wellcee.com is the biggest international community in Shanghai to find your home, roommate, like-minded people, second-hand and interesting events!
A moderated community for people living and working in Shanghai.
• Local events, meetups, and activities
• Hiring, collaboration, and projects
• Questions, recommendations, and city insights
• Community discussions relevant to Shanghai
No spam, scams, low-effort promotion, crypto/forex, referral links, or “DM me” posts.
This group is actively moderated to keep it useful and professional.
Bienvenue sur SFP !
SFP est né en 2007 de l’esprit de 3 bougres fraîchement débarqués à Shanghai : Virginie, Vincent et Thomas.
Leur idée était au départ de regrouper une communauté francophone éparpillée un peu partout en ville pour “sortir en France partout à Shanghai”.
En 12 ans, le groupe n’a cessé d’évoluer et l’équipe s’est renforcée et compte désormais 4 bougres qui le font vivre : Xavier, Benjamin, Valentin et Thomas.
SFP vous guide dans votre arrivée à Shanghai ainsi que dans votre vie de tous les jours sur place.
Pour qu’on puisse s’y retrouver un minimum, voici quelques petites choses à suivre sur le groupe :
1/ Ecrire en français. La règle de base. Sinon on efface le post ! Facile :-)
2/ UN post par établissement par semaine. Pas deux, pas trois, UN ! Sinon on supprime le post et on éjecte du groupe.
3/ Tentez d’utiliser la fonction “Rechercher sur ce groupe” dans la barre de gauche. Regardez si le sujet n’a pas déjà été abordé il y a peu de temps.
4/ Postez utile et en rapport avec la Chine et/ou Shanghai. Nous nous adressons ici en particulier à celles et ceux qui demandent aux membres de répondre à des sondages ou questionnaires n’ayant aucun rapport avec la Chine ou Shanghai ===> NON merci !
Si vous êtes un établissement et que vous souhaitez proposer des deals exclusifs aux SFPs, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter : [email protected]
Nous recherchons aussi des gens motivés qui voudraient nous aider à modérer le groupe, à bon entendeur ! :-)
SFP un jour, SFP toujours.
La team
*****
Si vous avez une question, n'hésitez pas :
[email protected]
A place to network, make/ find friends and acquaintances and arrange a sober meeting!
Also share suggestions on places to go, things to do, sports and other activities to take part in.
We love Shanghai - it rocks!
GROUP RULES.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DO`s and DONT`s
In order too keep this group a healthy useful scam free community users/members should adhere to the below guidelines.
DO NOT
Spam the group wall with repeat posts.
Post ads for bulk sale of household goods.Posts advertising the sale of up 3 items maximum are allowed.
Slander or degrade other individuals public image.
Post nude or pornographic images/videos.
Advertise real estate property sales.
Post phishing links or scams.
post ads related to sexual services.
DO
Share everything cool you have experienced and enjoyed in Shanghai.
Post and share Shanghai Expats photos and videos.
Make us laugh with some funny Shanghai stuff.
Share a Shanghai apartment that you need to rent out or need roommates for.
Share some cool new venues, opinions or reviews.
Express yourself freely and create debate.
Arrange meet ups and have a good time!.
Alert us all about Shanghai scams, rip offs ect..
Share useful Shanghai, pages, websites,services.
We will ban accounts of users breaking the `DONT `guidelines.
This group is for people living in Shanghai (and everyone else planning to join us) to share and interact with each other.
Have a question to ask about the city? Looking for an apartment? Need a recommendation for a place to party or dine this weekend?
Please keep all posts specific to Shanghai, play nice, and feel free to invite your friends to this group!
This group is for Expats in Shanghai. Discuss different topics, such as jobs, events, life etc.
-> Jobs in Shanghai
-> Events in Shanghai
-> Life in...
welcome to the group This group is for expats professionals living in China, It is a good place to discuss how we find life here and what China has to offer, plus a great place to meet other expats who share your interests, Business connections, Business and social Events. We strictly encourage everyone here to keep good moral and don't send indecent messages or photo. Respect for each other.
LES FRANÇAIS EN CHINE – LA COMMUNAUTÉ FRANCOPHONE D’ENTRAIDE EN ASIE
Bienvenue dans Les Français en Chine, un groupe dédié à tous les Français et francophones vivant, voyageant ou s’installant en Chine.
📌 Ce groupe est un espace d’information, d’entraide et d’opportunités, conçu pour :
- Trouver ou proposer un emploi, stage ou mission
freelance
- Échanger des bons plans logement ou proposer une
colocation
- Publier des évènements communautaires (rencontres,
soirées, webinaires)
- Obtenir des infos concrètes sur les démarches
administratives
- Poser des questions sur le visa, santé, banque, scolarité,
business, etc.
- Créer des liens humains : entraide entre expatriés,
familles, entrepreneurs, étudiants...
🧭 Que vous soyez à Pékin, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu ou ailleurs, rejoignez une communauté francophone active, respectueuse et bienveillante.
This group is for expats, Chinese and others to network, have fun, find like-minded people, and meet for parties in Shanghai.
If you've just arrived...
A place to buy and sell goods, look for property rentals, flat shares and jobs!
NO SPAMMERS OR SCAMMERS. We do a sweep of this page periodically. Any suspicious posts will be deleted and the member blocked from this group.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A place has closed, something has changed?
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.
The app that does everything in China: messaging, calls, payments, school groups, doctor bookings. Without WeChat, daily life in Shanghai is nearly impossible.
What mums ask when they arrive in Shanghai, in short, sourced answers.
French lycée or international school: where do we start?
The Lycée français de Shanghai, AEFE-accredited, takes children from nursery to the final year on two campuses, Qingpu and Yangpu; choose the campus before the housing, as journeys are long. English-speaking international schools are numerous, especially in Pudong and Minhang. Fees are detailed on our School fees page: /en/cities/shanghai/school-fees/.
The partner and children under 18 apply for an S1 visa before departure, invited by the parent working in China. Once in Shanghai, everyone must apply for a residence permit within 30 days at the Exit-Entry office. It is all on our Settling in page: /en/cities/shanghai/settling-in/.
Register your address at the local police station within 24 hours, or risk a fine: in a hotel, reception does it, but after signing a lease it is up to you, and again each time you move. Keep the registration form, it will be needed for residence permits and school enrolment.
Yes, it is essential: without cover for medical costs, hospitalisation and repatriation, care can be refused, and the embassy never covers these costs. International clinics are expensive; many families have international insurance from the employer or go through the CFE. See our Health page: /en/cities/shanghai/health/.
Source ↗How do I find a French-speaking paediatrician?
The consulate publishes an indicative list of health professionals, updated in December 2025, flagging French-speaking practitioners: it includes paediatricians at AM-Sino, United Family and Ruijin Hospital. We list the names useful to families on our Health page: /en/cities/shanghai/health/.
Source ↗What should I do in an emergency with a child?
120 calls an ambulance, but the operator speaks Chinese and the interpreter takes time. Many families save their clinic's emergency line, such as United Family's (021 2216 3999, 24/7), whose Changning campus provides children's emergency care all year round. Public children's hospitals also run 24-hour emergencies.
Children under 6 staying more than six months follow the Chinese schedule: have their vaccination booklet registered at a hospital or clinic. The BCG is compulsory in China; if it was not done in France, it will be given locally. Compulsory vaccines are free and required for kindergarten and school.
Source ↗Can we live in Shanghai without speaking Chinese?
Yes, with a few tools: WeChat and Alipay to pay and chat, a translation app, Amap for directions. International clinics speak English and an English-speaking taxi service exists. At public hospitals, some basic Chinese or a companion helps a lot.
Here she is called an ayi, the home helper who cleans, cooks or looks after children, part-time, full-time or live-in. You find one through referrals, often in mums' WeChat groups, or through an agency that charges a fee when you sign a one-year contract. For a newborn, maternity units can also advise you.
Shanghai ranks among the world's most expensive cities for expats, especially for housing, school fees and care at international clinics. On the other hand, transport, taxis and home help cost far less than in France. Rent is often paid three months in advance, plus a one-month deposit.
Source ↗How do I meet other French-speaking families?
Shanghai Accueil, the FIAFE network's welcome association, runs monthly coffees, buddies for newcomers, family get-togethers and a teen club. The Lycée français and its ASC activities are the other big meeting point. Find our outing ideas: /en/cities/shanghai/family-outings/.
Many Western services, such as Google, WhatsApp or Instagram, are not directly accessible in China: most expats install a VPN before arriving. Locally, WeChat replaces messaging, payments and school groups, and Amap replaces Google Maps.
Get updates to the Shanghai guide
Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Shanghai guide changes, never more than once a week.
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