Cant speak for Shanghai but if you end up studying in Chengdu (you should if you want to ride while you are here because Sichuan and Yunnan are freakin awesome) the license process is straightforward . Basically sit the weird and badly translated computer test and hopefully pass it by learning all the tests. A half assed medical, pay a bit of money and you are as qualified as anybody else in China.

The guys living in Shanghai put their bikes on the train and send them to Chengdu to go for a ride so...