Chinese Restaurants

It was orientation week so we eat as a large group in Chinese restaurants.

Chinese cusine was almost same as Singapore with the usual chicken, vege, soup, tofu etc, but most were spicy, with the numbing effect because of a special spice that they use.
They eat almost every part of the animal - including internal organs.
Some uncommon food includes pig/cow/duck intestines, frog legs, cow tongues, cow stomach etc.
I usually don't eat them.

I am a fan of fish and I have to say, I miss ocean fish.
The fish here tastes of soil and has lotsa of bones because it's river fish.

Other than that, they don't really serve desserts after.

Another thing that I totally hate - smoking in an air conditioned room. People just light up while eating!

HOW CAN PATRONS EAT!?!

Not only the smell stinks up the whole restaurant, ashes on the food, poor patrons at the restaurant risk having lung cancer by breathing in second-hand smoke!
Totally Irresponsible! 

Typcially, waiters were prompt and efficient, they just lack that smile and kindness.

Updated: My colleague said the smoking trend is decreasing because the city has tightened its regulations but it still happens regularly. hm....

Important for new visitors (Aliens) in China

Yeah, we are aliens according to the Chinese Government. Please do register yourself at the local police station if you are staying in China for at least a day or risk being fined 500rmb.

I didn't know that at first, until a police officer knocked on my door to take down my name and I went to register. I found out that every time we exit and enter China we got to register again.

Yes, registration is very important. They will issue a document of temporary residence in which you need for various situations, like in case you lose your passport or you need to extend your visa etc. and its written in the immigration card that you filled in before you step into China.

Just remember to bring your passport, rental contract and other documents to the police station.

Back of Arrival/Departure Card

1. Aliens who do not lodge at hotels, guesthouses or inns shall, within 24 hours (72 hours in rural areas) of entry, go through accomodation registration at local police station.

2. Aliens holding visas Z,X or J-1 shall, within 30 dyas of entry, apply for Residence Permits to the exit-entry department of the public security bureau of the city where the applicnts reside.

3. Aliens shall not be emplyed in China without permission of the competent authrities of the Chinese Government.

4. Aliens who reside or stay in China shall carry with themselves thier passports or Residence Permits for possible examination.

5. In case of emergency, please dial 110 to seek help from police.


KINDLY REMINDING FROM THE POLICE

1. In accordance with the Chinese laws, foreigners, Hong Kong residents, Macao residents, Taiwan residetns and Chinese nationals settled abroad, should each time go to the local police station to go through the registration form or temporary residence within 24 hours after the arrival. it can be done through a hotel if they stay in it.

2. Foreigners, Hong Kong residents, Macao residents, Taiwan residetns and Chinese nationals settled abroad should go through the above procedures again within 24 hours after they change thier place of residence.

3. For Taiwan residents who have bought or rent residence for thier own accomodation, if they reenter the mainland within on year after applying for temporary lodging registration and thier residence address has not changed, they don’t need to go through procedures for temporary lodging registration. But if they reenter the mainland more than one year after applying for temporary lodging registration or if their address has changed, they should go through procedures for temporary lodging registration.

4. When long-term foreign residents in China wish to temporarily leave thier residence and loge elsewhere, they should report to and register with the local police station for temporary lodging in compliance with the regulations. They don’t need to go through procedures for temporary lodging registration again if they exit and reenter China multifply without changing place of lodging and within the validity of the resident permit.

5. When a foreigner, or a Taiwan resident in Shanghai wishes to apply for, alter or extend his/her visa (endorsement) or resident permit, he/she should each time provide his/her valid registration receipt of lodging issued by the local police station.

6. If  a permanent foreign resident in Shanghai changes his/her passport or residence address etc, he/she should timely report to and register with the police station located in his/her current residing place for lodging registration and then go to the Shanghai Entry and Exit Administration to go through relevant procedures for the change of residence address within 10 days.

First Impression

Even before I got to Shanghai, I got a taste of China at the airport.
Initially I wanted SQ, but the timing wasn't too good so I had to take China Eastern, which was filled with China locals.
Loud talking, pushing, running kids, etc. oh wells.... at least the ride wasn't too shabby.
The first time I got out of the airport, a blanket of moisture engulfed my body, similar to Singapore but it feels way hotter. Is the weather always like that?!

The 40 minutes cab ride from the airport to my hotel was a roller coaster. Speeding, aggressive overtaking, honking etc.
If you think Singapore taxis drive aggressively, you should really come here.

Some first impressions of Shanghai, maybe compared to Singapore:

1. The air quality is terrible. There is like a constant fog in front of me, I couldn't see the tall buildings far ahead.

2. The traffic is crazy. The traffic lights were insignificant and honking everywhere. Motobikes and bicycles everywhere, ignoring traffic lights and constant honking. Don't they realise the more they honk the less significant it gets?!
And I really had a hard time crossing the road.

3. One of the thing I really hate - people spitting on the road. TOTALLY UNHYGIENIC AND GROSS.

4. The crickets are really really loud and they seemed to be making music in harmony. Scarily loud but cool.

5. The summer here is way hot and humid. Maybe worse than Singapore.

Its gonna be a long while for me to get used to this.
Or perhaps I haven't explored the good side of Shanghai.
I miss Singapore already, why did I sign up for this.....

Introduction

I have never been to China.
I have heard many many things about the place and the people.
Never in my years of study that I would never have thought I would be posted to Shanghai for work.
Well, once in a lifetime experience.

So I've decided to start this lifestyle blog to serve as a experience log for me as well as a guide for future young adults coming to work in Shanghai.

Feel free to leave any comments/feedback/questions!