I'm a Shanghai local who speaks English. In 2–3 hours I'll help you set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your own card, get a SIM or eSIM working, and install the apps you need to pay, get around and talk to people. I can also come along for a day of errands or meetings.
Message meSee pricesMost shops, taxis and restaurants expect a QR-code payment. Linking a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay works, but verification steps and Chinese-only screens trip people up.
For taxis, maps, metro and trains, people here use DiDi, Amap, Metro QR codes and 12306 or Trip.com. Setting them up on day one saves a lot of stress.
Hospitals, phone shops, landlords and factories often have no English speaker. Having someone with you who speaks both languages makes it much easier.
2–3 hours · I meet you at your hotel, or at the airport or a station
The price depends on how many people and phones, and on the meeting point (for example, a hotel downtown or an airport).
Up to 8 hours · English ⇄ Chinese
The price depends on the type of day: errands cost less, and business interpreting or long trips cost more. Half days are possible.
USD amounts are approximate (about ¥7.1 to US$1). Your travel costs, and mine for trips outside central Shanghai, are paid separately and agreed in advance.
This is personal assistance and interpreting. Whether a step works, such as card verification or real-name SIM registration, depends on the provider's own rules. If something can't be done that day, I'll tell you honestly and help you find the next best option.
I am a Shanghai local and work in finance. I use English every day, so I'm comfortable with business conversations and the paperwork that comes with them. Outside work I enjoy hiking around Shanghai and the nearby hills. I started this because I keep seeing visitors stuck at a payment counter or a taxi stand, and it usually takes a local just a few minutes to fix.
I'm new to offering this, so there are no reviews here yet. You're welcome to message me with questions before booking.
After the service. You can pay in cash (RMB), by Alipay or WeChat Pay once your account is working, or by PayPal. There's no deposit for the Arrival Setup. For multi-day bookings I may ask you to confirm in writing first.
Central Shanghai (Huangpu, Jing'an, Xuhui, Changning, Pudong Lujiazui and nearby) at the standard price. Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA) airports and Hongqiao railway station are fine too. Day trips to factories or suppliers in the Yangtze River Delta can be arranged, and travel costs are agreed in advance.
English and Mandarin Chinese.
No one can. It depends on your card issuer and the platforms' checks. Many foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work. If yours is declined, we'll try another card or payment option, and I'll make sure you can still get around.
No. I meet you, and we travel together by metro, DiDi or taxi. You pay those fares directly.
Ideally 1–3 days ahead. Same-day help is sometimes possible, so just message me.
Tell me your arrival date, hotel area, how many people are coming and what you need help with.
I usually reply within a few hours (Shanghai time, UTC+8). Printable flyer: flyer.png
