Shanghai is not the easiest of new environments, and moving to China can prove challenging even to the most seasoned expat.
ARK is here to help.
Our orientation services are focused on making your transition to Shanghai as easy as possible. Our unique orientation program will acquaint you with the basics of Shanghai and allow you and your family to settle comfortably in to your new work, school and leisure activities in this vibrant city as soon as possible.
Our ARK City Settler program is customized to your needs.
It can include:
ARK always initiates your home search with a detailed briefing of the different areas and districts of Shanghai in order to establish the most suitable place for you to live. In a city over 70km wide, the environment, property types and infrastructure differ significantly—which all play a vital part when deciding where to set up home. For further information, please visit Shanghai Districts page.
After the initial district orientation, we carefully select a range of properties according to your requirements and budget, and schedule viewings at your convenience. We are with you every step of the way; from home selection, right until the day your lease expires and you hand back the premises. To see a selection of our favorite properties, please visit our Hot Homes listings.
Shanghai offers a wide range of institutions and educational facilities for your toddlers and teenagers. Most Asian, American and European education methods and principles are represented through the various schools and pre-schools. ARK will provide detailed information about the most suitable places for your children's educational careers. After establishing your preferences, ARK can arrange for meetings with the school/kindergarten administrators for a more personal introduction.
A vast range of local and western medical service providers offer their expertise to the Shanghai Expat community. ARK will point you to the medical centers located closest to you, and more importantly, explain which offer quality and service you can trust.
ARK will help you find the easiest solution to your transportation needs. We can assist you in hiring and purchasing a car or help you find a local driver. If you prefer to drive yourself, we will advise you on how to obtain the necessary local permits and driver's licenses.
ARK provides extensive listings of Western supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants and places of interest. We make sure that you always know where you can find what you and your family need.
Shanghai's leisure landscape is filled with sport centers, fitness clubs, social organizations, expat community gatherings, business associations and international chambers of commerce. There are also an extensive number of charity and fund raising organizations, cultural societies and social children's groups. After determining which particular activities you and your family are interested in, ARK will suggest and put you in touch with organizations and clubs suited to what you are looking for in your free time.
Cats and dogs brought to Shanghai need to be registered with the authorities upon arrival. ARK will help you with the often frustrating registration procedures, obtaining the necessary licenses and informing you of the municipal regulations governing your faithful friend.
Hired help in China is relatively cheap and most foreign families chose to have their own live-in housemaid for the duration of their stay. A housemaid (in Chinese "ayi" which literally means "aunt") will do your cleaning, laundry, cooking and any other housework that you need help with. We only recommend staff that has previous experience working for foreign families.
Whether you are looking for a Catholic church, a Jewish reading group, or a Buddhist place of worship it can all be found right here in Shanghai. ARK can help you locate the right place for you and your family to practice your beliefs.
ARK is here to help you settle into your new and challenging life in China. It is a great adventure, and we are proud to be by your side.
For any HR Manager in charge of new foreign employees, the process of settling them in Shanghai can be a daunting and time-consuming task. ARK has got the expertise, the understanding and the resources to do the job for you. We will be able to show your employees the basics of Shanghai, so you can concentrate on more productive work.
Our ARK City Settler program can be customized to your company needs, and any new employee moving to China from abroad, will be able to enjoy the same secure and trusted service.
The program can include:
ARK will guide your new employee through the challenges of coming to Shanghai on your behalf. For a more detailed overview of what ARK can do for your employees, please do not hesitate to contact our Managing Director Kate Whitton at kate@ark-shanghai.com.