Shanghai International Schools
There are 40 international schools in Shanghai and the surrounding area, with 17 British schools, 21 IB schools in Shangai and 8 American schools. Most are English speaking and some are bi and multi-lingual.
Shanghai
Situated at the mouth of the China's longest river, the Yangtze, Shanghai is an ancient settlement with its earliest origins dating back to 5,000 BC. By around 600 AD Shanghai had become one of China's principal trading ports with population levels continuing rise to a current estimate of around 26 million. Today Shanghai is a thriving, innovative, global financial hub and cultural centre, currently ranked as the third largest city in the world in terms of population density and area. Often nicknamed the Pearl of the Orient or Oriental Paris, Shanghai rivals London, Paris and New York in terms of its modernity and has a unique blend of Eastern and Western culture and architectural styles.
Transport
Shanghai is well served by public transport, consisting of buses, trolley buses, trains, taxis and the metro system, which can all be conveniently paid for using the contactless Shanghai Public Transportation Card. The Shanghai Metro is the longest in the world with an extensive 644 km network of tunnels and tracks radiating beneath the city. Shanghai is also home to the fastest train in the world, the Shanghai Maglev, connecting downtown Shanghai to Pudong International Airport.
Entertainment and dining out
Shanghai has a vibrant and colourful gastronomic and entertainment scene with everything from a growing number of Michelin starred restaurants to an abundance of delicious street food, patisseries, hipster cafés, micro breweries, cocktail bars, dive bars, clubs with world renowned guest DJs, live music venues, English language theatre and cinema. There is something for everyone.
Child friendliness
The Chinese love children but not everywhere in Shanghai, including many Metro stations, is easily accessible if you have small children in prams or pushchairs. There are some lovely, big parks in the city with lakes, walking trails, butterfly gardens, amusement parks and play areas for children. Indoor play centres and trampoline parks are becoming popular here too. Children are usually welcomed in restaurants but, besides themed restaurants aimed specifically at children, they are unlikely to have a special children's menu or to tone down spicy dishes.
Where to live
The Huangpu River divides the city into two areas, the older area of Puxi to the west and the more modern Pudong to the east.
Pudong
Pudong is China's biggest commercial and financial centre and home to the Lujiazui Financial Zone, the Shanghai Stock Exchange tower and most of Shanghai's famous buildings, such as the World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower and Oriental Pearl Tower. Most areas within Pudong feel very suburban and family-oriented like Jinqiao with its villa compounds, high-end apartments and close proximity to Pudong International Airport and Kangqiao, further south also with villa compounds, international supermarkets and shopping malls.
Puxi
Within Puxi there are many areas, each with a slightly different feel, that are popular with international families.These areas all have easy access to shopping malls, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife and are well served by public transport. Xuhui, covers most of the former historic, and exclusive, French Concession area with narrow tree lined streets and beautifully renovated villas and lane houses. Changning, close to the city centre with plenty of green spaces and home to Shanghai Zoo, was the original expat location in Shanghai and is still very popular with international families. The area around Zhongshan Park, a lovely family park with a boating lake, is a little quieter but still close to the city centre. Minhang, whilst mostly farming and industrial area, has pockets of residential areas with villas that are popular with expats. Hongqiao, part of the Minghang district and a former industrial zone adjacent to Hongqiao International Airport, is now a popular area with international families. It has some large villas with private gardens and plenty of entertainment options including the Paradise Walk complex.