Must-have apps for living in Shanghai

Living in a large city like Shanghai can be difficult since there are always things happening simultaneously, and it is extremely hard to keep up with the rapid changes that take place everyday in the city. This is when technology comes in handy: having the right applications in one’s phone can make life in Shanghai much easier. Among these, DaZhongDianPing, Shanghai Metro, Baidu Map, and TaoBao, are widely known as the essential applications needed for living in Shanghai.

Da Zhong Dian Ping is a Chinese platform that offers a variety of information to use in your daily life. The literal translation for this application’s name is “people’s” (DaZhong) “comments” (DianPing). Guidance for food, movies, hotels and tickets, food deliveries, entertainments, beauty, medicines, sports, learning centers, and life services are offered on DianPing. The location, opening time, pictures, and features are all displayed through a very simplistic format easy to use. Most businesses can be found on this platform with honest feedback from citizens, and due to its concept of using citizens themselves as the biggest source of information, this application is extremely useful when one is seeking opinions about a certain place. Therefore, it serves as a great tool for hunting down top restaurants and interesting places to visit in Shanghai. 

Metro DaDuHui is the official application created by Shanghai’s metro service. Specifically designed for subway transits, it digitizes Shanghai’s public transportation card, making it possible for people to use the subway in a relatively simple way with their phones in hand. Other than that, this application also cooperates with multiple companies for a subway navigator that provide useful information such as a considerate guide to all restrooms available in every station with the exact location. Through this groudbreaking system, people can easily find where they want to go and how. To top things off, Metro DaDuHui also consists of a news section and a food ranking—sponsoring DaZhongDianPing—just in case someone needs it.

Next up is BaiDu map. This application currently features the most precise and frequently updated map in China. It provides a more detailed view of roads that might not be available in foreign maps, and it also features a real-view of streets where people can see exactly how a place looks like in real life just though the map application.

TaoBao is the biggest online shopping platform in China. Nearly anything can be found on this platform, and quickly delivered for a cheap price. TaoBao also has an international section where things are directly shipped from outside of China. Regarding safety measures, Taobao makes sure that the seller holds a business license before allowing them to start their own shop. Overall, TaoBao is a decent place to get everyday supplies from. 

With all these apps, living in Shanghai will be come a piece of cake!

Featured Image –A pile of app icons- Photo Courtesy of bandt.com