Small things that catch visitors out: toilets, water, power banks, passports

The short answer. Carry your passport every day, drink bottled or boiled water, check that your power bank has a 3C mark before a domestic flight, and bring a plug adaptor. Smoking is banned in indoor public places, tipping is not expected, and electric scooters belong in the bike lane, not on the pavement. The rest of this page is a checklist, with the source for each rule.

Your passport

Chinese law says foreigners aged 16 or over who stay or reside in China must carry their passport or other international travel document, or their stay or residence permit, and show it if public security officers check. The rule is in Article 38 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law. In practice you will also need the passport for hotel check-in, train tickets and some museum bookings, so keep it with you rather than in the hotel safe. See hotel check-in with a passport and booking sights with a passport.

Water

The Beijing government’s visitor FAQ states plainly: “Tap water must be boiled before drinking.” We found no equivalent visitor advice on Shanghai’s own English site, so treat that as the safe default here as well: drink bottled water, or water you have boiled.

Toilets

Shanghai’s English government site points visitors to two tools for finding a public toilet:

A WeChat mini-program called 上海智慧寻厕 (Shànghǎi zhìhuì xún cè, “Find a toilet in Shanghai”). Blue icons are open and grey icons are closed; tap an icon for opening hours.
The Amap (高德地图, Gāodé Dìtú) app: search for 公厕 (gōngcè, “public toilet”) to see the nearest ones.

Carry a small pack of tissues and some hand sanitiser. The pages checked do not say whether every toilet provides paper, so this is simply the safe thing to do.

Power banks

On a domestic flight: the Civil Aviation Administration of China bans power banks that lack the 3C (China Compulsory Certification) mark, that have an unclear mark, or that belong to recalled models or batches. The rule took effect on 28 June 2025. It applies to domestic flights; international and regional flights follow the original rules. Look for the mark printed on your power bank before you go to the airport. Lithium-battery devices go in hand luggage, according to Shanghai’s government packing list.
On a train: the railway follows a catalogue of restricted items. A power bank with a clear label and a rated capacity of 100 Wh or less may be carried, and a 12306 representative told Beijing’s official English site that staff do not check for the 3C label.

Electric scooters and bikes

Under Shanghai’s regulations on non-motor vehicles, an electric bicycle must be registered and must ride in the non-motor lane. Riders must slow down at pedestrian crossings and stop to let people on the crossing pass. In practice, e-bikes are fast and quiet, so look both ways at a bike lane before you step into it, and expect them to come from either direction.

Smoking

The Shanghai regulation on smoking control in public places bans smoking in indoor public places, indoor workplaces and public transport. E-cigarettes are covered, following the amendment of 28 October 2022. An individual who smokes in a no-smoking place and refuses to stop faces a correction order and a fine of 50 to 200 yuan.

Tipping

The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism says tipping is not expected in most restaurants and hotels, though you may tip to reward good service. Some venues add a service charge of 10 to 15 percent: hotel cafeterias and bars, and some restaurants and bars outside hotels.

Plugs and voltage

China uses Type A, C and I plugs and a standard voltage of 220 volts, according to the Shanghai government’s packing list for new students. Bring a universal adaptor and check that your charger accepts 220 V; most phone and laptop chargers do, but the label on the charger will say.

If it doesn’t work

Your power bank has no 3C mark. Do not take it through domestic security. Leave it at home or use one with a clear mark. For a flight home, the international rules apply.
A police officer asks for ID and you do not have your passport. Explain that it is at your hotel and offer to show a photo of it, then carry the original from then on.
You cannot find a toilet. Open Amap and search 公厕.

Small print

Rules change, especially on aviation. Check your airline’s page before you fly. This guide gathers rules from Shanghai, Beijing and national sources as of the date above, and the official texts prevail.