thanks for the @ :)

你好！

do you have a visa already? thats the hardest part. so if you have that done thats most of the battle

** i highly reccomend getting a google Fi esim plan for your phone before you go as it will allow you to access the global internet from within china. **

it is also beneficial to have a sim card you buy in china, since a chinese phone number will make using services over there much easier. use an eSIM for Google Fi and buy a physical SIM upon arrival in china.

download alipay and wechat ahead of time. alipay is the easiest way for foreigners to pay for things in china and wechat is best for communication. link alipay to your bank account and try to set up a metro card before go.

having a vpn or preferably two (i used proton Stealth and Nord. Mulvad is good too i hear) is also a necessity if you want to access the global internet in china. having orbot or tor is also a nice thing.

shanghai is hot and humid in the summer so pack accordingly.

china is a surveilance state and i never whitnessed any crime while i was there. generally china is a very safe place to travel.

have fun and enjoy learning some chinese along the way.

加油！再见