There’s no better place to understand international business and the importance of globalization than in China. A young business professional in Shanghai will have the opportunity to boost their career, soak up Chinese culture and explore a leading international city. Business internships in Shanghai offer interns the chance to gain professional experience alongside established professionals. The city’s neon magic makes it the perfect backdrop for a rich, competitive international professional experience. A business internship in Shanghai is both an exciting cultural opportunity and the perfect way to gain invaluable industry experience.
Shanghai is China’s most populous city, coming in at about 14 million residents. A global financial hub, Shanghai is also home to a number of competitive and thriving industries. Business interns in Shanghai are placed with leading firms, where they can gain experience in an international and competitive city. The idea is that interns boost their employability after gaining real-world experience in a foreign country.
International business interns in Shanghai will enjoy living in the accommodation set up through The Intern Group, located in safe, local neighborhoods. Interns live in private bedrooms in shared apartments with other students, young professionals and interns. Getting around in Shanghai is a breeze thanks to the city’s comprehensive public transportation system – the most extensive in the world, and very affordable! The metro, along with other international areas, also includes translated signs in English making it easier for interns to get around.
A business intern in Shanghai will acclimate to Chinese culture while gaining professional experience. Interns craving to learn another language will have the opportunity to speak some Mandarin, which is spoken among most locals, especially in the private sector. Mandarin has been used much more, thanks to the city’s push to become more international, so schools are now requiring Mandarin. The regional language Shanghainese is common on the street and in other informal settings.
Shanghai tantalizes with tastes of both China’s past and future. The spectacle of the glittering Lujiazui skyline represents Chinese economic power and innovation. Meanwhile, the old world delights of Shanghai’s Qibao Old Town bring back the charms of a different time in Chinese history. The many iterations of Chinese culture in Shanghai will astonish interns and pique their curiosity in new and exciting ways.
Not only is Shanghai a giant of a city, but it’s also highly international. Interns in Shanghai have the chance to make friends and professional contacts with people from all over the world. Whether based in Shanghai or just passing through, the city is filled with many established professionals engaging in open-minded, multicultural communities. Expat communities have developed over recent years, with people coming in from France, Korea and the United States, among other countries. Unsurprisingly, this has caused Shanghai to develop many more international spaces like hamburger joints and Irish pubs. As Shanghai becomes increasingly international, English has become a more prominent language, especially among the city’s younger generation.
Food in Shanghai will make an intern never want to leave. The city is a prime place to try different types of Chinese cuisine, especially when you compare the quality of the food and the price. The city is full of inexpensive, authentic restaurants that serve up delicious Chinese and regional dishes for as little as US$2. A fancy restaurant will still only put you back US$10 or so, so you can keep costs low while you’re interning abroad and managing expenses. Dishes like xiao long bao, a dumpling soup, and yangchun noodles cannot be missed.
Sources: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/shanghai/introduction, http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/feature/28589/Shanghais-best-markets.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghainese, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Shanghai, http://travel.cnn.com/shanghai/play/worlds-greatest-city-50-reasons-why-shanghai-no-1-590704/, http://goingawesomeplaces.com/top-10-things-to-do-in-shanghai/, http://www.phyllisonthemap.com/10-reasons-shanghai-best-place-live-china/
Photos
1. based on Skyline, by Travis Wise, CC-by-2.0
2. based on DSC03251-Edit, by David Leo Veksler, CC-by-SA 2.0
3. based on The old market, Shanghai, by Johann Visagie, CC-by-2.0