Before you land
Install a VPN before entering China — once you're behind the Great Firewall, downloading one gets harder. Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with your foreign card (Visa and Mastercard both work now), and download Didi, Amap, Meituan, and Sherpas. Photocopy your passport and visa — you'll need copies constantly in the first month, and your passport itself for everything from SIM cards to bank accounts.
The first 24 hours
Register your address at the local police station (PSB) within 24 hours of arrival — your hotel handles this if you're staying in one, but if you're in a rental, you or your landlord must do it. Miss this and you can face a ¥500–2,000 fine. Buy a Chinese SIM (China Mobile or Unicom) at the airport or a flagship store; bring your passport. eSIMs are now supported at major airports for iPhone 14 and later.
The first week
Open a local bank account — Bank of China, ICBC, or HSBC Premier are the most expat-friendly. You'll need your passport, a Chinese phone number, and a proof of address (your registered lease). Link the account to Alipay and WeChat Pay for full functionality; foreign cards work but hit daily limits and fees. If you're on a Z visa, your employer should be filing your Foreigner's Work Permit through the One-Stop portal — follow up, because the 30-day window passes quickly.
The first month
Register for social insurance with your employer (both of you contribute — roughly 10.5% employee, 26% employer of base salary). Settle your housing lease and make sure it's registered at the local police station — an unregistered lease can invalidate your residence permit address. Book your residence permit biometrics 60 days before any existing permit expires. Join a WeChat group for your district — most practical intelligence in Shanghai flows through WeChat, not websites.
Cultural calibration
Carry your passport or a photo of it at all times — technically required by law, and some venues check. Cash is largely unnecessary — even street vendors and temple incense stalls take WeChat Pay. Tipping is not expected and can confuse staff. Save key addresses in Chinese for taxis (drivers rarely read English), and learn to say your nearest metro stop clearly — it's the most reliable way to direct a Didi.