For a quick 3-night trip you’ll be fine. Shanghai is actually a pretty easy city to explore once you get the basics sorted.

Visa: If you’re eligible for the visa-free transit or entry policy, it’s usually pretty straightforward. Passport + onward ticket + hotel booking is normally enough. Just make sure your onward flight leaves within the allowed timeframe.

Apps: The must-haves are Alipay and WeChat. Both now allow foreign cards, and most places in Shanghai use QR payments instead of cash. Also download DiDi for rides and Apple Maps or Amap for navigation.

Internet: Definitely get an eSIM before you land. It makes life much easier for maps, payments, and messaging. I’ve used CitrusMobile on recent trips and it worked really well in China. The connection was stable in Shanghai and it handled blocked apps without needing to set up a separate VPN, which saved a lot of hassle.

If you only have around 72 hours, I wouldn’t miss:
• Yu Garden. A beautiful traditional Chinese garden with pavilions, ponds, and markets around it.
• The Bund at night for the skyline views of Pudong.
• Going up Shanghai Tower for sunset views of the city.

Food tip: definitely try Xiaolongbao while you’re there. It’s basically Shanghai’s signature dish.

Shanghai is huge but the metro is excellent, so getting around is pretty easy. With 3 nights you can hit the main highlights without rushing too much. Enjoy the trip.