Stop over in Shanghai airport, How much cash should I take?

Hey,
I have a 5 hour stop over in Shanghai on my way to Europe. I’m guessing since it’s a big airport there’ll be a few places to eat and drink at. I have no experience with Chinese money though. How much PRC cash should I get to see me through 5 hours. I’m thinking a decent meal and 5 or 6 beers.

500 RMB will be ok I think

Depends want you mean by “decent” and where and what you want to drink. Beers could be 30/40 RMB a pop so I’d bring 1000RMB.

Food in airports tends to be absurdly overpriced, especially in uber-capitalist countries like China.

Yeah, ‘decent meal’ might be pushing it. Fill up on trail mix on the plane.

If I remember correctly, we paid around 100 RMB for a coffee and a glass of orange juice at Pudong Airport, Terminal 1. :doh: This was in 2011. That’s higher than the prices in Zurich…

Jesus. Extortionate prices, ignore my 500 RMB remark obviously.

In North America or Europe or Hong Kong I’d just assume I could use a credit card and not worry about cash, but I don’t have any experience with mainland Chinese airports. I think in your case I’d plan to use my credit card, or at worst an ATM; I don’t think I’d bother getting hold of cash ahead of time.

You may want to read some online reviews of Shanghai airport and steel yourself for chaos: five hours may not be as much time as you’d think. Again, this isn’t from firsthand experience of the airport, but reading reviews of transiting there did influence the ticket to Canada I bought earlier this year.

We stopped over in Shanghai in July and spent 200RMB on food for the three of us (two adults, one kid) and some beer to take back to the airport hotel.

will you go through immigration or stay inside the terminal?

Outside the terminal you have plenty of food options, italian, burger king, japanese, chinese and even KFC. No starbucks but there are other options for coffee. I would look into the 72 hour transit visa rules as its a big airport and you can wander around the different terminals to pass the time. IIRC there is a good xinjiang restuarant, book store and massage place in terminal 2 next to the immigration entrance in the departure hall.

If you are staying inside the terminal, there is a total monopoly by a food chain called “Acting Cafe”. They serve barely eatable western and chinese food, be prepared to be disappointed. The prices sound about right from the previous posters.

If you want to drink, you can buy beer in cans for 10RMB from the souvenoir stores that are near the gates. Water is about the same price.