Beijing and Shanghai, as two of the world’s most famous cities with two distinct style attract the people throughout the world. In Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Hutong, Peking Opera, roast duck etc make you feel a strong cultural atmosphere here; but if you want to know China’s rapid development, the recent outcome of Shanghai’s science and technology, information technology, trade, financial will make you feel an international cultural exchange and integration in the bustling city.
Shanghai has been hailed before as the “Shopping
Paradise” and “Oriental Paris”. It is an ideal destination for
those who love shopping. Shanghai has long been famous for its
clothing and fashions. Its local fashion and garment industry
has been China's trendsetter for decades. So, if you come to
Shanghai for the historical and cultural sites, do not casually
dismiss a local shopping excursion as mere consumerist trifle.
Form ancient Chinese artifacts to trendy western wear; Shanghai
has everything that you could possibly want! Western-style shopping
malls, huge department store, small street stalls, and colorful
open-air markets can be found all over Shanghai. Most shops
are open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, and also on weekend. Sunday
is definitely China's busiest and craziest day to shop. Great
shopping has become an indispensable part of Shanghai' tourist
industry. So, take advantage of it, even if you are reluctant
to do so, because it makes for a much more rewarding experience.
Shanghai is divided into a few main shopping areas. The most
famous stop is Nanjing Lu, considered to be the number one commercial
street in China. Nanjing Lu is lined with modern shopping malls
and department stores, as well as smaller individually owned
shops. The promenade on Nanjing Donglu is popular with tourists,
while Huaihai Zhonglu is known for its elegance and for selling
designer goods from around the world , including such brand
names as Armani and Versace. For visitors more interested in
crafts and wares, Hengshan Le, Shanghais's Chenghuang Miao,
and the Dotai Lu curio market are three good places to go for
antiques and local arts and crafts. Be sure to also take a look
at Shanghai Lao Jie and Cangbao Lou, where you should be able
to find ceramics, hand-made embroidery, tepots, painted fans,
hand-bags, carpets, coins, painted snuff bottles, and peasant
paintings.
Shanghai is also known for its wide range of low-priced Chinese
silks. You should be able to find fabrics such as cotton, wool,
and silk sold in markets or on the street for decent prices.
Shanghai is also an ideal stop for jade, gold, silver, and freshwater
pearls. However, you have to be especially vigilant when shopping
for jewelry, and just like in any other Asian city, bargaining
is a must. Please do not mistake Shanghai with Hong Kong, as
you will find no deals on electronics or high-tech goods in
Shanghai. In fact they are often more expensive here than at
home. But, if you need anything replaced, whether it is for
your camera or your cellular phone, you should be able to find
what you need. You should definitely try making a point of not
focusing on the big malls, and try out the thousands of privately
owned little stores that make up Shanghai. Just wander around
and see where the wind takes you. Shanghai is full great little
shops just waiting for you to discover them.
Special Note
1. Bargaining
Bargaining is skill that is necessary not only in Shanghai,
but all over China. This is especially true in open air markets
and place where small goods peddlers congregate. Aside from
a few rare exceptions, Chinese store owners treat everyone equally.
The price that they give you is just as high as the price they
give their Chinese customers. In touristy markets, sometimes
prices are inflated up to five or six times their actual worth.
Do not feel shy or embarrassed when you bargain the price down.
Most shop owners are happy to bargain with you for their goods.
Please note that you can not bargain for goods in supermarkets,
licensed boutiques (like an Armani or Nike store), an many state-owned
enterprises.
2. Spale As the Local Saying Goes
“Everything is fake, only the fake things are real”. Keep this
phrase close to heart, especially in open-air markets and at
kiosks near the entrances to major tourist sites. This is where
many of the fake goods are usually found.
Best Places to Shop
Nangjing Lu :
Location: Nanjing Lu is connected directly to the
Bund. To get here take subway lines 1 or 2 to the People's Square
or Henna Zhonglu stations. You can also take bus lines 20, 37,
15, 18, 21, 49, 315, 330, 451, 921, to the People's Square or
Fuzhou Lu stops.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Nanjing Lu, the “paradise
of foreign travelers”, was one of Shanghai's representative
symbols with its grand race track and famous shops.
In the 1990's Nanjing Xilu (the western end of Nangjing Lu)
gradually transformed from a residential area to a commercial
one, with the “golden triangle” of shopping malls, Plaza 66,
Westgate Mall, and CITIC Plaza becoming established. Plaza 66
is modernist tower-style work of architecture with sky-scraping
glass walls and shining main building. Designed by the American
architectural firm, KPF, Plaza 66 has stores selling just about
every international name brand and several of their Chinese
flagship stores. In comparison, the Westgate Mall, ISTEAN, and
CITIC are more down to earth, carrying middle class and upper-middle
class brand names. This is where regular Shanghai people like
to shop.
Huaihai Zhong
Lu: To get there, take subway line 1 to the
Huangpi Nanlu, Shaanxi Nanlu, or Chanshu lu stations.
Huaihai Zhong Lu is well-known for its great shopping malls
and boutique stores selling the largest in high fashion. One
such high class mall, Maison Mode, was opened in Shanghai by
Hong Kong's Lane Crawford. Shanghai locals consider shopping
at Maison Mode to be the ultimate in social prestige, a place
where you can find clothes that are up to date with the latest
fashions emerging on the streets of Europe. Beginning at the
head of Xizang Nanlu there are several shopping malls that popular
with Shanghai yuppies, such as the Lansheng Dasha and Liu Lin
Tower. Continuing west you will find, Shanghai Times Square,
Huaihai Shanghu, Lippo Plaza, Hong Kong Plaza, and Pacific Plaza.
There is also the ISTEAN, Shanghai No.2 Department Store, Parkson,
and Printemps.
Be sure to also check out Maoming Lu, Taikang Lu, and Changle
Lu area for excellent clothing shops and trendy stores. All
three roads run right off of Huaihai Lu.
Xujiahui Commercial
Center: To get there, take subway line 1 to
the Xujiahui Station, or you can take bus lines 42, 43, 15,
931, 548, 830, 824, 93, 44, 50, 02, 72, 50, 847, 572, and 926
to the Xiujiahui bus stop
Shanghai locals become nostalgic when they think Xiujiahui's
oldest department stores, Shanghai Liubai. When it first opened,
Liubai offered little more than sewing goods, bicycles, clothing,
shoes, hats, and daily goods. Today, the shopping center of
choice among young women is the Pacific Department Store. Other
place of interest include the Grand Gateway, Metro City, Sunrise
Department Store, and Huilian Store. Metro City definitely offers
a captivation shopping exp0erience. Metro City, is not just
the province of the wealthy and fashionable; it is also a nice
selection of goods for practical people and deal finders. Metro
City's second floor sells cell phones. Computers and stereos
can be found on the third floor, and the fourth floor has Scholar
Book Store. Kodak Cinema World is located on the sixth. If you
want to buy gold or computers there are several stores to choose
from such as Lao Fengxiang Jewelry Store, Buy Now Computer store,
Pacific Computer and Withub.
The Orient Pearl
TV Tower: The Orient Pearl TV Tower is 468 meters
high, the tallest in Asia and third tallest in the world. It
faces the Bund across the Huangpu River. When viewed from the
Bund, the tower and the Nanpu and Yangpu bridges create a vivid
imagery known as "two dragons playing with a pearl."
The sphere at the top has a diameter of 45 meters and is 263
meters above ground. The observation deck in the sphere offers
a sweeping view of the city. The revolving restaurant is set
at 267 meters above Pudong New Area. The dance ball, piano bar
and 20 karaoke rooms, at 271 meters, are also opened to the
public. The penthouse, which sits at 350 meters, has an observation
deck, meeting room, and coffee shop. The tower integrates broadcasting
technologies with sightseeing, catering, shopping,
amusement, and accommodations. It has become the symbol of
the city and a major tourist attraction in Shanghai.
Other locations worth considering
Times Square:
500 Zhangyang Lu, Pudong.
This modern department store in Pudong has seven floors, all
very well arranged. It has everything from clothing, appliances,
and toys to a food court including McDonalds. They stock good
merchandise at fair prices. Just opposite to Yaohan.
Markets
When shopping in Shanghai's open air and
wholesale markets, only one rule applies – anything goes. Shopping
in street markets and alley bazaars will provide you with some interesting
experiences. In these markets you can buy anything form crafts, antiques,
coins to jewelry, but whether or not you come up with a good bargain
depends on your bargaining skills. So, pull up your pants and roll
up your sleeves, and get to it!
South Bund Cloth Market
Located at 399 Lujiabang Lu; to get there, you can take bus lines
65, 305, 324, 801, 868, 910 or 928.
The South Bund Cloth Market operates in wholesale fabrics selling
silk, wool, tweed, cotton etc….If you want to have a suit made, come
prepared with an idea of what kind of style you want and possible
images to show and help guide the tailor. While the prices are cheap,
you have to be assertive about what you want. There is no point in
buying at all if you turn up with something you are embarrassed wearing.
Expect a suit to take over a week. Open Monday through Sunday. Do
not come on Monday, because that is the day the shop owners leave
to bring in new shipments of goods.
Yuyan Shopping City
Located at 218 Anren Street. Come here for Chinese goods and local
crafts.
Qipu Lu Wholesale Clothing Market
Qipu Lu is located at the international of Sichuan Beilu and Haining
Lu. To get there take bus line 15 and get off at the Qipu Lu stop.
You can also take lines 17, 55, 61, 100, 123, 147,and 307 to the Haining
Lu stop and walk toward Qipu Lu.
The Wholesale Market is the prize of Qipu Lu. 200 RMB can get you
a shirt on Shaanxi Nanlu, but it can buy you a full outfit at the
Qipu Lu clothing market. The clothes that they make are of excellent
quality and they regularly receive orders from famous brand-name clothing
outlets abroad. The business at Qipu Lu sell retail as well as wholesale.
You can bargain with them too, but they will only budge 3 RMB to 5
RMB
Dongtai Lu Antiques Market
Located near the Huangpi Nanlu subway station.
Come before 5 pm or you will not make it before the shops clothes.
Dongtai Lu is one of China's most famous curio markets. (For more
information about Dongtai Lu, please turn to Dongtai Lu section right
after Wenmiao and the Second Hand Book Market)
Cangbao Lou Antiques Market
Located at the eastern entrance of Shanghai Lao Jie.
More ceramics, coins, snuff boxes, and bronzes than you can imagine,
this is one of the largest curio markets in China, with buyers and
sellers from all over the country. Step out of the way and look on
as the expert buyers go to work, appraising, examining, debating,
and bargaining. If you can get up in the wee hours of the morning
, come in for the ghost market, and try your hand at bargaining for
that porcelain donkey that catches you out of the corner of you eye
– the perfect gift for mom! (For more information regarding Cangbao
Lu, please turn to the section right after Shanghai Lao Jie)
Dimei Shopping Mall and Hong Kong Branded Street
Take subway line 1 or 2 to the People's Square station. The subway
station has a path leading to the store street. Just follow the signs.
You can also take bus lines 18, 49, 71, 202, 127, 46, and 505 or tunnel
line number six to the People's Square stop; hours of operation: 9
am to 5 pm
If you long for the vigor of youth, freedom, and the avant-garde,
you do not want to miss Dimei Shopping Mall and Hong Kong Branded
Street, Shanghai' two famous underground shopping centers. This is
truly a new age Shanghai amusement park where you can buy inexpensive
perfume, good quality nail polish, trendy, avant-garde and unique
items. Everything here is fresh and out of the ordinary. Dimei and
Hong Kong Branded Street are connected together and known collectively
as “ xiao yao de jie” – Little Demon Street.
Jingan Xiaoting Market
Located next to the Jingan Si Temple, to get here, take the subway
to the Jingan Si Station.
You can find just about anything you want in this swarming market.
Fashionable designs, meticulous craftsmanship, and great prices make
this a prime shopping location. No wonder the locals often say, “When
I get off work, if I'm not at Jingan Xiaoting, than I am on the way
there!” Before you go, you had better polish you bargaining skills.
Otherwise, you may become what the locals call “an onion” – a sucker
Taikang Lu Art Stores
To get there, you can take bus lines 17, 24, 96, 43, 786,864, 931,
984, and 986, the airport line number three, or tunnel line number
eight. You can also take subway line number one to the Shaanxi Nanlu
station.
Taikang Lu is full of art sudios and young fresh designers. They are
all independent artists who create original and distinctive works.
All of the art work is open for public viewing. You can choose to
buy or reserve a work, or simply come by to look. This street is pretty
bleak in the morning. The best times to come by are between 2 pm and
6 pm.
Changle Lu
To get there take the subway line number one to the Shaanxi Nanlu
Station. When you come out of the exit, walk over from Maoming Lu.
People come to Changle Lu to buy Chinese cheongsam dress and ceremonial
outfits. This street has so many cheongsam tailors that it may be
difficult for you to get your bearings at first. From materials to
tailoring to the elderly women watching the store, there stores all
have a very local feel. Many young couples stop by here to check out
cheongsams to wear for weddings. Other stores on Changle Lu sell blue
prints, art work, and country style furniture. Bars can be seen here
and there up and down the street, and little tasteful boutiques can
be found nearby. There is also a rather large concentration of stores
selling antiques.
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