Hi,

I've recently applied for a 4-week architecture course in Tongji University. I was wondering if any Skritters know it or the area, or even better, be there this summer? I've been to Beijing before but never Shanghai so it's all new to me!

(I haven't actually got the place yet so I don't know any more than which university it is, and that Tongji is very prestigious in built environment schools)

I've visited Tongji twice. There are cool canals and bridges in the middle of the campus. The first time I went, I got a small tour of the campus and I remember that one building related to urban development (or architecture, or something) was pretty cool. Unfortunately, I don't have any useful information for you unless you want to know about the math department.

Good luck!

Thanks Dependable Skeleton, every little helps :)

One thing I'm concerned about is getting a phone number/sim card that works over there - in Beijing 3 years ago I just got a £10 phone and borrowed a sim, but now I've got an iPhone 3GS and I'd love to be able to Skritter on the app while I'm away, without buying a new phone. I'm only there for 4 weeks, so I can't have a contract. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

You don't need a contract - you can buy a sim and just prepay some money on it and off you go!

Hi Catherine, i am currently living in Shanghai but sadly we are moving over the summer. Like Nicki said, you can buy a sim and prepay for a month. you need to take your passport along...

Most prepaid sim cards can both be used for phones that have the normal seize sim card and the smaller seize iPhone card, you just need to make sure the one that you buy has breakable plastic around it so it can turn into a smaller seized iPhone card and otherwise you can just cut it to that seize with a scissor. Chinese prepaid sim companies have some pretty good deals, don't just take the one that is handed to you because it's cheap, some are both cheap and have deals like calling a group of four people for free (for half a year that is). If you just stay for a month it doesn't matter so much but 3G Internet is comparatively quite expensive so that is also worth not taking for granted.

Shanghai is a cool city, enjoy!
Make sure you find more local friends:) This is the best way to improve language skill.
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I really enjoyed living in Shanghai. Much more interesting than Beijing, more to do, choice of restaurants incomparable, better weather! Don't know anything about Tonji University, I was at Jiaotong in Xujiahui...

Hey Catherine. How did you find about the course I'm shanghai at the moment I might be interested in joining can you give me more info thanks a lot

@Sebastian, it was a scholarship from my university so I don't think it's open to outside applications I'm afraid.