From stunning urban spaces to scenic landscapes that bring a throwback to the past, the dynamic city of Shanghai is rife with great destinations that every person must see and experience at least once in their lifetime.
Despite the difference in language and culture, there’s no need to worry about making the most of your exploration and experiencing the best of China’s famed city as long as you’ve got the ultimate travel hack at your fingertips: your GCash app.
With GCash and its partnership with global digital payment platform Alipay+, you can enjoy a secure and seamless payment experience wherever you go in Shanghai—whether at a retail store, food establishment, grocery, tourist spot, or convenience store. After all, over 80 million merchants accept overseas GCash payments enabled by Alipay+, and to make it even better, there are zero service fees so you can allot your entire travel budget to shopping, food, or more.
Take it from our experience: We traveled to Shanghai without any local cash on hand (in this case: Chinese yuan) after finding out that almost everything in mainland China is paid digitally. As an extra piece of advice, make sure you always have a reliable internet connection—which is possible by using Wi-Fi, an e-sim, or pocket Wi-Fi—and install a VPN on your devices before going to Shanghai for hassle-free internet access.
Another advantage of using GCash and Alipay+ for overseas payment is their low foreign exchange fees, and you can even view your wallet balance in your destination’s local currency to check its real-time, forex rates. How ideal for budget-conscious travelers, right?
If you’re ready to be swept off your feet and experience the best of Shanghai, here are some tips and top destinations you’ve got to note down—especially if it’ll be your first time exploring this bustling and vibrant city.
Places to see
To truly see Shanghai shine as a global financial hub and China’s major industrial and commercial center, you have to visit The Bund. This famous waterfront promenade is a protected historical district sitting at the heart of the city, surrounded by grand buildings in various architectural styles that’ll leave you in awe—especially at night when they light up for a truly stunning cityscape view.
Shanghai also has its own Disneyland, which exclusively houses the exhilarating Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure attraction.
For those who prefer a chill and laid back destination with a touch of nature, the Yu Garden in Huangpu District is the place to be. This scenic classical garden dates back to the Ming Dynasty, and among the sights you shouldn’t miss are the Wanhua Chamber, Exquisite Jade Rock, and Wishing Wall.
Traveling to these awesome tourist spots takes zero hassle with GCash, which you can use to pay taxi fares with the Scan-to-Pay feature. Simply search or ask your taxi ride for an Alipay+ QR —which is available in a GCash and Alipay+ partner taxi merchants like Jin Jiang Taxi and DiDi Taxi, open the GCash app on your phone, and tap the QR icon on the dashboard.
Upon scanning the QR, you will be prompted to input the payment amount—with the foreign exchange rate conveniently shown on your screen for easy reference. Simply confirm your payment and voila, your transaction is already done and you can sit back and relax on your way to your next travel destination.
Food to eat
For your food trip in Shanghai, it’s a must to try authentic Chinese dishes from renowned restaurants and dining spots like Xie San Bao, which has heavenly crab roe dishes that will make you want to return to Shanghai again and again. There’s also the bustling Nanjing Street Market, where you can find various local street food to satisfy your taste buds.
Of course, you can’t be in Shanghai without having boba tea. We recommend delicious boba tea from Mixue, a top ice cream and tea chain in China, which we were able to try during our trip. Several other GCash and Alipay+ partner merchants are also famous local milk tea chains like Chagee, HeyTea, and Shuyi Tealicious.
Aside from scanning the partner merchant’s QR, you can also quickly and easily pay for your meals and drinks by generating your own GCash Global Pay QR. Simply open the GCash app on your phone, tap the QR icon on the dashboard, tap “Generate QR”, and tap the “Pay abroad with Alipay+” option. Once your GCash Global Pay QR is generated, show it to the cashier for scanning. That’s all it takes to complete your payment via GCash Global Pay QR, and you’ll even get a receipt for your transaction so you can check it afterward.
Aside from these local dining and drinking spots, there are also international fast food and convenience store chains like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and 7-Eleven all around Shanghai that are Alipay+ partner merchants.
Things to shop
Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly pasalubong or the latest trendy items, Shanghai is a total shopping haven for various great finds. Make sure to drop by Shanghai’s New World City Shopping Mall on Nanjing Road, one of the city’s largest shopping centers which houses numerous popular and luxury brands, cafés and restaurants, and the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum.
Don’t leave the city without also checking out Qipu Road, Shanghai’s largest clothing wholesale market where you can buy and find the best bargains on many affordable yet trendy clothes. Having no onhand cash is not a problem, because you can easily pay via GCash through Alipay+ on several merchant stalls.
For Labubu and other pop culture collectors, make sure to drop by PopMart’s global flagship store in Shanghai for your blind box fix and collectible shopping spree as well. It’s an Alipay+ partner merchant, so rest assured that payment for your Labubus is quick and hassle-free through GCash.
Aside from enabling seamless payments when you’re abroad, GCash also delivers a rewarding shopping experience with A+ Rewards, where you can claim exclusive vouchers for the greatest deals. All you need to do is tap A+ Rewards on your GCash dashboard, select your current destination, and explore the multitude of available deals near you. Once you’ve picked and claimed a voucher, head to your chosen partner merchant and have them scan the voucher’s QR code upon payment to enjoy your selected deal.
As a bonus treat for your trip, you can get up to 88CNY off for your first 10 transactions with GCash and Alipay+ merchants in Shanghai. With GCash, you can easily chill and enjoy a hassle-free travel experience in Shanghai and other overseas destinations with shopping, dining, and sightseeing made more accessible by secure and seamless payments through the app.
Download GCash from the app store now to gear up for a convenient and rewarding trip abroad. For more information, you can also visit GCash’s official Facebook page.
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