muShanghai arrival: what to set up before you leave the airport

TLDR: Get an eSIM before you fly. Download Alipay and link your foreign card. Download Didi. Buy a metro card at the airport. You’re done — everything else can wait.

Phone & internet

The muShanghai campus has unrestricted internet — Google, GitHub, X, everything works. For mobile data outside the campus you have two options:

Option A: International eSIM. Buy an Airalo or Nomad eSIM before you fly. Data works immediately after landing. Roaming through Hong Kong or Singapore means your usual apps and services work seamlessly. ~$15-25 for 10GB/30 days.

Option B: Chinese SIM card. Buy at the airport China Mobile counter (Terminal 1 and 2 at Hongqiao, Terminal 1 and 2 at Pudong). Bring your passport. ~100-200 RMB for 30 days with plenty of data. You get a Chinese phone number, which makes Alipay and WeChat Pay setup smoother.

If you only pick one: get the eSIM before you fly. You can always grab a Chinese SIM later for the local number.

Payments: Alipay

China runs on mobile payments. Cash works but is inconvenient. International cards work at hotels and some chain restaurants but fail everywhere else.

Set up Alipay before you land:

1. Download Alipay (not “Alipay HK” — the mainland version with the blue icon)
2. Register with your phone number (foreign number works)
3. Tap “Tour Pass” or go to the international card section
4. Link your Visa/Mastercard
5. Done — you can now pay at any store, restaurant, taxi, vending machine

There’s a daily limit for foreign cards (~5,000 RMB/day, ~$735). More than enough for daily spending. The muShanghai partner hotels all accept Alipay.

WeChat Pay is the other option. Same setup, link foreign card inside WeChat → Me → Services → Wallet. Most places accept both.

Transport: airport to campus

muShanghai campus is in Minhang, near Hongqiao Hub.

If you land at Hongqiao (SHA): You’re 10 minutes away. Take the metro (Line 2, 3 stops) or a Didi (~15 RMB). Walk out, you’re basically there.

If you land at Pudong (PVG): You’re 60-80 minutes away. Options:

• Metro Line 2 end-to-end (~90 min, 9 RMB) — cheap but long
• Maglev + metro combo (~60 min, 50+4 RMB) — faster, cooler
• Didi (~60 min, 150-200 RMB) — easiest with luggage

Download Didi before you land. Works like Uber, English interface, pays through Alipay or linked card. You won’t need to speak Chinese to get anywhere.

Metro card

Buy a Shanghai Transportation Card at any metro station (including airport stations). 20 RMB deposit + whatever you load. Tap on/off. A typical ride is 3-6 RMB. You’ll use this daily.

Alternative: Alipay has a metro QR code built in (search “Shanghai Metro” in the app). Works but slower than a physical card.

Police registration

Chinese law requires foreigners to register their address within 24 hours of arrival. If you stay at a hotel, they do it automatically at check-in. If you rent an apartment, your landlord needs to take you to the local police station. Takes 15 minutes but is mandatory.

Checklist

Before you fly:

• eSIM bought and installed (Airalo/Nomad)
• Alipay downloaded, foreign card linked
• Didi downloaded
• WeChat installed (optional but useful)
• Passport photos on phone (for random registration needs)

At the airport:

• Metro card bought
• First Didi or metro to hotel

At the hotel:

• Passport registration happens at check-in
• Test Alipay payment at lobby shop

That’s it. Everything else — finding food, getting a haircut, buying a SIM card later — can happen once you’re settled.