Shanghai Vs. Beijing, Which Is The Best City For You?

China Health Insurance takes a look at the pros and cons of the two most popular cities in China: Shanghai and Beijing!

From the amount of debate on whether Beijing or Shanghai is the better of the two largest Chinese metropolitan areas, it’s easy to see that there is something of a rivalry between the two. Despite objective analyses and impassioned arguments, in the end, both cities offer different advantages to different people. So instead of declaring a winner in the fight between Shanghai and Beijing, let’s look at what makes these two great cities unique and interesting in their own ways. Both Shanghai and Beijing are large, urban cities, each with more than 15 million people. However, both have very different cultures.

Shanghai

Shanghai is the more business and commercially-oriented of the two; the city is full of the hustle and bustle of commerce and its businessmen and women. Some say Shanghai has a “time is money” attitude. As the axis of international business in China, the city boasts some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, including the famous Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower. Shanghai is also China’s largest city, with over 23 million people living and working on its busy streets. The city strives to become a superpower, luring businesses and investments away from Hong Kong.

But Shanghai isn’t all work and no play. Its glittering nightlife has contributed to the nickname “Paris of the East.”  Indeed, foreigners may feel comfortable visiting or making a move to Shanghai as it has also been called the most westernized city of mainland China. Perhaps not surprisingly, Shanghai is the more expensive city, with rent, groceries, and general prices being higher than in Beijing.

While Shanghai is a business capital, Beijing is the official capital city of China. This makes it more political than Shanghai and this influence is apparent. Many Beijing residents are politically-minded, opinionated and proud to be Chinese, especially after their city hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.  The government’s influence is all around – in the buildings, the soldiers standing guard, and in the respect towards the laws and rules which creates a safe urban area. 

Beijing

Beijing is also a good place to be a tourist. The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square are popular sites in the city, and the Great Wall of China is only two hours away. With the focus more on government than business, the business district in Beijing is tamer than that in Shanghai, and Beijing has a diverse mix of influences on its culture, dating back to ancient China.  While both cities offer a lot to tourists and those looking to make a permanent move, Shanghai tends to be the choice of modern businessmen and women and Beijing the choice of cultural and political-minded tourists.

The types of people that choose to reside in Shanghai or Beijing reflect the culture of their cities.  Shanghai has more cosmopolitan and foreign residents. While not as many foreigners as Tokyo or Hong Kong live here, the numbers are noticeable, and it is common to encounter people from all over the world on the streets of Shanghai. The influx of foreigners and big businesses means that Shanghai is also a hub of fashion, style, food and taste. Excellent dining and shopping can be found here. Shanghai is a modern city with people that are proud of this fact and have big hopes for their futures and for the future of Shanghai.

The population of Beijing is more Chinese as a whole, though more foreigners have recently begun to flock to its ancient streets. People in Beijing are proud of their city and love its history.  Because they are less business-focused and not as entrepreneurial as people in Shanghai, Beijing residents are sometimes considered simple or unsophisticated. However, any time spent in Beijing will demonstrate that although its people care slightly less about high-end shopping, a thriving modern vibe certainly does exist.

Getting around is relatively easy in both cities, as they are large enough to have intricate public transportation structurea in place. Traveling in Shanghai is generally easier, with a very developed system of subways and buses that can take a person almost anywhere. Cabs and tuk-tuks are readily available and easy to use for going short distances. Beijing also has a subway system, but it is slightly older and less extensively developed than Shanghai’s subways. Cabs are also available, but the officially illegal tuk-tuks commonly found in Shanghai are more regulated here and therefore less common. Beijing is more spread out than Shanghai and the traffic can be very heavy and difficult to get around in because of the high rate of car ownership.

Surprisingly, the weather in each city is rather distinct from the other. Shanghai is on the Eastern Chinese coastal plain and experiences quite a variety of weather conditions. The summers are very hot and humid, and the winters are biting cold with freezing wind chills but no snow. Many people spend their summers seeking refuge in air-conditioned buildings. Beijing is located in the hills of Northeast China, and the biggest difference from Shanghai is terms of weather is the lack humidity. Here, it is dry and arid, and nearer to the Gobi Desert. Those in Beijing may experience days of snow and extreme cold in the winter. The weather generally gets hotter and colder than in Shanghai, giving Beijing more distinct seasons. 

The differences in weather (who can truly say which is better or worse objectively?) reflect the differences in the opinions of the cities themselves, and the difficulty in judging and comparing them. While it is probably unfair to compare these two very different places, it becomes unavoidable as they are two of the largest cities in China and the major political and business centers. Each city has an interesting history to share, and something to offer tourist and resident alike.

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