r/shanghai

Hi! I'm Chinese and I live in Shanghai.

I'm looking for people who want to practice Chinese and English together. I also want to improve my spoken English.

My idea is very simple. One Chinese person and one foreigner. We can meet at a café and chat for about 1–2 hours. We can spend half the time speaking English and half the time speaking Chinese.

It's free. I just want to meet new people and practice speaking.

If enough people are interested, I'll organize a small meetup this weekend.

Let me know if you'd like to join!

Hi everyone,
I’m a foreign kindergarten teacher in Shanghai and I’m hoping to get some advice from anyone who has been through labour arbitration in China, especially as a foreign employee.

I started working at a private kindergarten on 1 March 2026. My contract says I must give 60 days’ notice after probation or pay one month’s salary as liquidated damages.
Over the past few months, a number of serious issues have happened.

I discovered that the school had not been paying my mandatory social insurance. When I questioned it, I was told by the owner that social insurance for foreign employees was optional and that they didn’t have to pay it. I have audio recordings of these conversations.
I also have recordings where the owner:

- threatened to deduct a 20,000 RMB agency fee because I was leaving;
- said she would not cancel my work permit unless I returned to Vietnam;
- later threatened to deduct a month’s salary for not giving 60 days’ notice.

After seeking legal advice and speaking to the labour authorities, I notified the school that I believed I was entitled to terminate my employment because of the failure to pay social insurance.

Since then, the situation has become increasingly stressful.
The school has:
- sent formal warnings about my absence;
- claimed I’m still under contract;
- continued threatening salary deductions;
- and has now changed its position on social insurance. Instead of saying they didn’t have to pay it, they are now saying they will pay the employer’s contribution but want me to pay my employee contribution for the past four months.

I also repeatedly asked the school to provide proof that my social insurance had been paid but never received any evidence.
Last week I went to the Labour Arbitration Commission to file my case, but because I don’t speak Chinese they asked me to return with a Chinese speaker.

Tomorrow my lawyer will accompany me so I can formally submit the arbitration application.
I have:
my employment contract;
WeChat messages;
emails;
bank records;
and multiple audio recordings of meetings with the school owner discussing the social insurance, agency fee, work permit and resignation.

My questions are:
Has anyone had a similar case involving unpaid social insurance as a foreign employee?

If your employer later offered to pay the missing social insurance after you had already resigned, did that affect your case?

Did the employer’s failure to pay social insurance allow you to terminate immediately despite a contractual notice period?

Were you awarded statutory economic compensation?

How long did labour arbitration take from filing to receiving a decision?

Did your employer try to claim you had abandoned your job after you relied on Article 38 (or a similar legal basis), and how did the arbitration committee deal with that?

I’m honestly very anxious because this is my first time dealing with labour arbitration in China, and I just want to understand what I should realistically expect.
Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

moving. free microwave and water kettle! you just need to come collect outside of my place :) i live near xujiahui metro station

I have been meaning to set up a business here but I have horrible photography skills and I need product photos, can I get some suggestions or recommendations please ?

Our first Longevity Shanghai community meetup finally happened yesterday!

A 10km Walk & Talk at the north bund.

We brought together people interested in longevity, personal health, preventive medicine, fitness and nutrition.

Was such an awesome vibe. Thanks everyone who joined.

More events coming soon.

If you’re in Shanghai, into longevity and want to be part of it, DM me and I’ll add you to the WeChat group.

https://preview.redd.it/ge8uk6lckcbh1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ee0833ebfabc911cfcfde13320e025d01d0ba54

Hello! Do you think there are any restaurants/bakeries/cafes that would let me see their kitchen?

I recently started working in a bakery in the United States and am so interested to see how things are similar or different.

Just for my own learning and experience! China has some of the best cuisine and most impressive techniques for achieving perfect and consistent dishes. Would love to see more!

I’m a foreigner and only speak English, unfortunately.

If you work in kitchens or bakeries in Shanghai, please let me know if it would be possible for me to stop in for a short while to get a tour of your kitchen. It would be a kind favor to me.

Baking, line cooking, coffee art, any of it. I have very little experience, but a lot of interest!

Hi all,

So I am from the UK and trying to relocate to China - probably Shenzhen or Shanghai as I don’t speak any mandarin - I also love Hong Kong but I feel like the cost of living there would make it hard to live comfortably.

For context I am a product designer and have tried applying to jobs from abroad but it seems most require mandarin, and the ones which don’t are rare to find - convert from abroad. So I’ve been thinking to perhaps move there with a TEFL job to teach English in order to get the visa, and once I’m there - look for jobs in my actual field. Does anyone know if it’s easier to find a job that way and transfer visas rather just applying to Design jobs from abroad?

I would also appreciate any advice for someone hoping to relocate from the UK to China in general.

Many thanks in advance!

Good morning! Chaotic week in Shanghai. I came here to study, spent the whole week doing admin stuff and finding an apartment (which I haven't found). It's so tiring 😩. It was my bday yesterday and being alone sucked. I have spent my bday alone before but this is different. The feeling of all the accumulated worries (finding apartment, starting sch etc) + being alone just makes me feel extra alone in a big city

Terrible experience of getting 'scammed' when meeting the first property agent and getting my WeChat info sold -_- lesson learnt and that includes meeting any online people :(

For context I am a 26F, introverted and I don't drink

How did you meet people?

What did you do on ur bday?

Pls gimmie ideas 💡 I understand I could just ask AI this but I need some human interactions 😭

Edit: I am not a scammer!! Also not looking for ppl via reddit because after all the xhs renting drama, I m done with meeting ppl online unless they seem real (texts like a human being/ gen z n not some AI robot) -_-

today i was out near the bund w a vegan friend. we tried to check from map, went there under rain and restaurant didn’t even exist. maybe someone knows some vegan places? can anybody help?

Hey guys i wanna know what event or lifestyle you will get in, during this summer in shanghai.

You can just write your routine or any tips and ideas, whatever your daily life or a special trip day.

Personally, i am a senior high school student. Any suggestions plz (about schedule/lifestyle/study…… everything )

Your word may make a difference ty

plz leave a comment 😭not just a view and standby

hi all, I am looking to play football (soccer) in shanghai and was wondering if there’s anyone who can help where to look?

thanks in advance.

Im looking for a gym atm and both gyms I’ve been seems to have the ac on very low. I get it’s not super hot but the humidity is killing me, im sweating like a pig.

Should I expect to sweat like hell in Shanghai’s gyms or I’ve just been to 2 bad ones?

Hi!
I just moved into my apartment in SH and the Wifi is included in the rent.
The speed is really low with 2-6mbps, so I wanted to explore different options.
Landlord (state owned company) states that better internet is 500rmb monthly - which I assume is a ridiculous price.

Therefore I wanted to check if anyone has other suggestions such as a 5G Router with a SIM Card - or maybe any other thought on how to solve this and get good Internet for gaming and streaming

TIA

Hiya hive mind, back with another question: I have a friend in town who doesn't drink alcohol and is always up for a good night out. To the non-drinkers on the sub: where are your go-to places for inventive and delicious non-alcoholic drinks, with good vibes?

My friends and I (F/27-28) are looking for a good night place and maybe a good company for today’s night! Any places recommendations?

how can I find them and book an appointment, anyone has a recommendation?

Has anyone bought a second hand car here in China? What’s the best way to do it - do official car houses offer these type of cars?

Second question, I live in Kunshan but need a Shanghai license plate. Is that possible, what’s the best way to do it? Electric car?

My first time ever thinking about buying a car so any advice is welcome! Thanks ☺️

Helloooo I am fortunate enough to have been chosen to participate in the shanghai marathon!

It's my first ever marathon and I'm looking for some advice for the race, I don't intend to try and compete and hit timings just there to soak in the atmosphere and have fun. Any advice on what equipments to get and what to prepare etc. I'm thinking of getting the Xtep 2000km plus running shoes any opinions on this?

Also, if anyone else is participating in the marathon feel free to DM me and we can link up:)