Exploring China: Disneyland Shanghai

China isn’t complicated—you’ve just never been shown how to do it properly. This guide breaks down the China visa process and the Shanghai Disneyland trip.

Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own and based on personal experiences. They do not represent the views of any organization or entity I am, have been, or may be affiliated with.

March 12, 2025
Batangas, Philippines

Date of China Trip: February 14-24
Date of Shanghai Trip: February 14-16

My itinerary for my China trip includes the following: First Part Shanghai Disneyland, 2nd Part Shanghai, 3rd Part Beijing, 4th Part Xian, 5th part Leshan and 6th part Chengdu

Before visiting China, I had a lot of misconceptions about the country, which made me hesitant to go. I had heard so many conflicting opinions that I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, the moment I arrived, I realized just how wrong my assumptions were. Out of all my travels, China was by far the most surprising and eye-opening experience.

What struck me the most was how vastly different it was from what I had imagined. The cities were incredibly safe and clean, the rich history and culture were truly mesmerizing, and the food—oh, the food! Every meal was an adventure in itself, filled with bold flavors and unique dishes. But beyond the sights and cuisine, what left the biggest impression on me were the people. They were warm, welcoming, and eager to share their culture with me.

Despite the political and cultural differences, my time in China became one of the most unforgettable highlights of my Asia trip. The experience changed my perspective in ways I never anticipated. I fell in love with the country so much that I know I’ll be coming back again and again. And honestly, I can’t stop telling everyone about it!

If you’re considering visiting China but have doubts, let me assure you—it’s a journey worth taking. You might just find yourself as captivated by it as I was.

Visa Requirements

Filipino citizens intending to visit Mainland China need to obtain either a tourist or business visa. The only authorized visa processing center in Manila for this purpose is the Chinese Visa Application Service Center located in 6th floor, Noble Square, 6762 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Manila

Visa Center Hours & Tips:

Office Hours: Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Application Submission: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Rush service available before 11:30 AM)
Payment & Collection: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Note that the center is closed on both Philippine and Chinese holidays, so it’s important to check ahead if you’re planning to go during these times. Please also wear proper clothing, shorts and flip flops not permitted.

Process Overview:

Create an Online Account

Begin by setting up an online account to start your application process. Link here.

Complete the Application Form

Download and print the application form.
Fill it out and sign it, as a physical copy with your signature and photo are required for submission.
You can refer to the sample form I submitted for guidance.
If you forget to print your documents or need to make revisions, there are multiple computers available, and they can print them for you. I experienced this myself—the cost is PHP 10 per page.
If you need photos for your application, there are photo shops located below the visa center where you can get them taken.

Chinese Visa Form Download

Review the Required Documents for Tourism

Since I applied as a tourist, I can only provide details specific to tourism requirements.
One key requirement is a return flight reservation from Manila to China, which must be submitted along with your application form.
You also need to book a hotel which you can make a reservation to Agoda or Booking.com platforms

Requirements – Chinese Visa Application Service Center Download

Flight Reservation Details:

I coordinated with Gazelle Travel and Tours, which offers regular reservation processing within 3-5 days.
When booking, they will ask for your intended submission date and will provide your flight reservation one day before submission.
Make sure to follow their instructions carefully.
The flight reservation is valid for only 5 business days.
The cost for regular processing is PHP 990.00 per person.

Walk-in Submission

No appointment is required—you can submit your application as a walk-in. The whole process was very smooth. I went there in the morning and finished in less than an hour. As a bonus, there’s a coffee shop (Moment cafe) nearby, which was a nice convenience.

Important Details:

Payment: Only cash is accepted, so be sure to bring the correct amount. The visa processing fee is 2898 PHP. Please see more details here.
Passport Surrender: Your passport will be temporarily surrendered for processing.

Timeline:
My visa was approved in just four days. They have a streamlined process for visa collection, making it easy to know when your visa will be ready.

Additionally, someone else can pick up your visa on your behalf as long as they present the claim stub provided to you after submitting your documents. For first time application, you can only apply for single entry visa.

Visa Type & Validity:
I received a single-entry visa, which means I must enter Mainland China within 3 months of the visa issuance. For first time application, you can only apply for single entry visa. Once in China, I’m permitted to stay for up to 14 days. Keep in mind the entry and stay periods for your specific visa type.

Flight Details

I booked my flight to Shanghai with Philippine Airlines for PHP 9,996, while my return flight from Chengdu was with Air China, costing PHP 8,184.

Electronic Ticket Receipt 14FEB for MARIA NISKIE FERRER Download

Chengdu Download

Things to Note:

1. All visitors entering or leaving the Philippines must register at the eTravel website at least 72 hours before their arrival time. When it’s done, guests will get a QR code that they need to either scan or take a picture of and show when they get to the country.
2. Please make sure to bring pen because you need to present arrival card to the Immigrations officer at Pudong International Airport.
3. It’s always a good idea to have travel insurance for every trip. I secured travel insurance from Standard Insurance Co. for the entire duration of my trip, costing 808 PHP.

Currency – The current exchange rate is 0.12 CNY = 1 PHP.

When traveling abroad, I always use my GCash Debit Card to withdraw cash, as it’s a convenient way to access funds at ATMs and convenience stores in China. However, keep in mind that ATM withdrawal fees may vary depending on the bank.

It’s also important to note that most establishments in China operate cashlessly. For payments, I use Alipay, which I linked to my GCash Debit Card for seamless transactions. While you can also use GCash (as it integrates with Alipay for international payments), I personally found Alipay app in China more useful throughout my trip.

Power Socket – Plug type A is the plug which has two flat parallel pins 220V

Language – Mandarin, English and translation apps are not widely used.

Timezone: China geographically spans 5 different time zones, but when the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949, the government unified the entire country under a single clock — Beijing Time (UTC+8) — to promote national identity and unity. To this day, the sun can rise as late as 10 AM in western China because of it!

Weather -Mainland China experiences four distinct seasons: spring from March to May, summer from June to August, fall from September to November, and winter from December to February. I visited during winter.

Internet Connectivity -I purchased a 10GB e-SIM from Klook Airalo for PHP 2,041, which is valid for 30 days. Please note that this is a data-only e-SIM, meaning it does not come with a Chinese phone number for calls or text messages.

One advantage of this e-SIM is that you don’t need a VPN to access blocked sites in China. It connects through a neighboring country, allowing access to restricted websites. While I’m not necessarily encouraging the use of a VPN, this can be an alternative if you prefer unrestricted internet access during your trip.

Transportation – Mainland China has an excellent train system, including the world’s fastest train, the Maglev, which costs 40 yuan. Buses are also available, and instead of buzzers, they stop at every terminal where passengers can get off. For taxis, you can use the Didi app, with a flag-down rate of 13 yuan

VPN – I purchased Lets VPN for this trip which cost PHP499 per month. They offer a 7-day free trial when you download the app, making it a great option for short trips to China. I use a VPN when connecting to hotel WiFi.

Esclators and Elevators in Train Stations – Yes

Lockers – Everywhere

Security Checks: X-ray security screenings are present at all train stations across Mainland China. Avoid bringing aerosol sprays, as they will be confiscated

Honesty Refrigerator Shops in Shanghai – Instead of traditional vending machines, Shanghai has refrigerators where you pick your items and pay using Alipay. Unlike vending machines, these operate on an honesty system—what you pay is what you take. It looks like this

Convenience Stores – Mainland China doesn’t have its own local convenience store chains like South Korea and Japan, where convenience stores feel more like small grocery stores with a wide range of options. In Shanghai, the only 24-hour convenience store I saw was 7-Eleven.

Toilet – Public toilets in Mainland China are mostly squat-style, though regular sitting toilets are available but rare. Additionally, bidets are generally not provided.

Passport Requirement: Always carry your passport, as it is frequently checked at major tourist attractions and other important locations.

Apps to Use When in Mainland China

Apps are blocked in China due to the country’s strict internet regulations under the Great Firewall of China. The government enforces these restrictions to control information flow, maintain cybersecurity, and regulate content that may be considered politically sensitive. Instead, China promotes domestic alternatives that comply with local laws and regulations.

Here are some major apps and websites that are inaccessible in China without a VPN:

Search & Email: Google (including Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive)
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Reddit, Threads
Video & Streaming: YouTube, Twitch, Vimeo
Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Discord, Signal
News Websites: BBC, The New York Times, Reuters, Bloomberg
E-commerce & Services: Amazon, Dropbox, Slack, Uber, Grab

Essential Apps for Traveling in China

Messaging App: WeChat
Navigation & Maps: Amap
Payment (for convenience stores, transportation, etc.): Alipay
Ride-Hailing Service: Didi Travel
Trip.com: For booking train, flights, activities and hotels
GetYourGuide: For booking activities

💡 Tip: Alipay and WeChat are more than just payment and messaging apps—they also integrate various services, including eSIM purchases, Didi Travel, translation tools, and train/flight booking (Trip AirTrain), making them incredibly useful for travelers.

Please message me and I will send you the screenshots on how to translate your Amap from Mandarin to English

February 14 (Friday)
Day1

I arrived at NAIA Terminal 1, and the airport, including immigration, was not crowded. While waiting for boarding, I had a Subway sandwich and a coffee from Starbucks. Everything went smoothly from check-in to departure.

Upon landing at Pudong International Airport, I arrived just in time and had to take a train to the baggage counter before heading to immigration. The airport was massive, but the process was seamless. I was thrilled to finally be in Shanghai. Despite my initial apprehensions, I made the effort to plan this trip, and I’m so glad I did—it was absolutely the right choice. I also came across various itineraries from travel agencies, but I felt that experiencing it on my own would be far more rewarding.

After clearing immigration, I was ecstatic to ride the Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train—the fastest train in the world, and the only one of its kind in Shanghai. It was an experience I had been looking forward to!

Another thing I appreciated about Shanghai was the convenient elevators and escalators, making it easier to navigate the city.

I got lost while walking to my hotel and was exhausted by the time I arrived. Thankfully, I was able to check in early.

I was also relieved to come across local guides Fran and Shiyu from GetYourGuide, who helped me navigate Amap and Alipay for booking a Didi Ride to Disneyland.

Accommodation

I stayed at Campanile Hotel (Shanghai The Bund) for PHP 6,650.14 for two nights. The staff was accommodating, the hotel had a café downstairs, and there was also an elevator for convenience. My room was clean and spacious, making for a comfortable stay. The hotel is about an hour from the airport by train.

Disneyland Shanghai
PHP4,459.46

I booked my Shanghai Disneyland ticket through Trip.com, but I believe it may have been cheaper if purchased through Klook or directly at the park.

For transportation, I booked a Didi Ride to Disneyland, which cost around PHP 1,000. The ride took 50 minutes from my hotel, and considering it was a premium taxi service with no traffic delays, I found it to be a cost-effective option.

Shanghai Disneyland is the largest Disneyland theme park in the world. Upon arrival, I had to walk about 10 minutes to reach the entrance. If you’ve been to Sentosa in Singapore, the setup is similar—but twice as big!

Entering the park was seamless—I simply presented my QR code from Trip.com along with my passport. The atmosphere at Shanghai Disneyland was incredibly lively, and I loved every minute of it. I felt like a kid again, excited for the rides and shows!

To make the experience even more special, I booked a photography tour through Klook for PHP 2,296 (one hour). It was the perfect way to capture memorable moments of my Disneyland Valentine’s Day experience.

One thing that surprised me was the lack of couples carrying flowers or going on dates. In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day is filled with people walking around with bouquets, but here, it felt different. Now I know where to spend my next Valentine’s Day—hahaha!

When I arrived at Shanghai Disneyland around 4:00 PM, it was raining quite a bit. Despite the weather, I met my photographer, who guided me on how to pose in the rain, making the session even more fun—I had an absolute blast!

After the photoshoot, I explored the park, watched shows, and enjoyed the rides. I especially loved the Chinese-themed elements throughout the park, as it was right after Chinese New Year. Many characters, like Goofy, Daisy and Duffy Duck, were dressed in beautiful Chinese-inspired outfits, which was such a lovely touch!

Some of the highlights of my visit included:
🎢 Pirates of the Caribbean Ride & Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular – The show was in Mandarin, but I was surprised by how much I loved it! It was incredibly interactive and featured state-of-the-art performances.
🐻 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – A charming and nostalgic attraction.
🦊 Zootopia – Such a cool experience! It even made me watch the animated film after my visit.
⚡ TRON Lightcycle Power Run – I was really looking forward to riding this! An absolute thrill ride and a must-try for adrenaline seekers!
🐭 Meeting Mickey Mouse – A magical moment as always.
🎇 Illuminate at Night Show (8:30 PM) – The night parade was canceled due to the rain, but the fireworks display made up for it! It was completely different from what I had experienced at Disneyland Tokyo, and I loved every second of it.