This paper examines the perception of smart city services in Shanghai in the context of international city marketing. The main objective is to analyze how digital urban technologies are accepted by users and which factors play a central role in this process. The study is based on survey data collected in March 2026 and analyzed with Excel. After data cleaning, the analysis focuses on respondents who are familiar with the concept of smart cities and currently live in Shanghai or the greater Shanghai area. The theoretical framework combines the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Product, Price, Place, and Promotion (4P) model, the Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) strategy, and a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. These models help to explain both user acceptance and the strategic positioning of Shanghai as a global smart city. The results show that Shanghai is perceived very positively in several smart city dimensions, especially in Smart People, Smart Mobility, Smart Economy, Smart Governance, Smart Environment, and Smart Living. The findings suggest that perceived usefulness, daily convenience, institutional trust, and system integration are key factors behind the high acceptance of smart city services. At the same time, the study also shows that high acceptance does not necessarily mean that all potential risks are fully reflected by users. Issues such as data privacy, transparency, and public participation remain important challenges for the long-term development of smart cities. Overall, Shanghai can be seen as a strong example of how digital technologies, urban governance, and city branding can be combined in international city marketing.