Shopping in Shanghai

Shanghai is known as the shopper’s paradise or the Paris of the east. Shopping here is just like any other attraction which is a must do. Shopping in Shanghai is different from shopping in Hong Kong or New York, since not only famous brand name fashions are available, but also many local products that cannot be found anywhere else. Shanghai features many famous name designer boutiques. For those on a more limited budget, there are plenty of wonderful shopping areas that are fun to wander around and pick up less expensive, but equally fabulous items. Shopping areas in Shanghai are clearly divided into “Four streets and Four cities”. Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, Middle Tibet Road and North Sichuan Road are the 4 streets. Yuyuan Shopping City, Xujiahui Shopping City, New Shanghai Shopping City and Jiali Sleepless City are the bustling 4 cities, basically the 4 main shopping districts in Shanghai. Haggling, bargaining and making quick deals are commonplace in Shanghai, China. The outcome of the haggling goes often depends on who yields the most power in the discussion. In China, gold jewellery has traditionally been a sign of wealth. Chinese have traditionally bought gold, in the form of jewellery, as a hedge against inflation, volatility and war. Just be sure not to head to Shanghai, China during the Chinese New Year holidays in February unless you want to face empty shops and streets.

 

The Four Streets

Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road is often considered the no.1 commercial street in China. The several mile-long street, including its numerous side streets, immediately makes you realize why so. It starts at the Bund in the east and ends in the west at the junction of Jing'an Temple and Yan'an West Street. The street started its main development at the end of the nineteenth century and today, the mix of historic stores and speciality shops with hyper modern department stores give you a good sense of the street's development. In these modern times, Nanjing Road is not out done by its numerous competitors but becomes more and more prosperous. The opening hours of most stores are from about 10 in the morning to 10 at night. Both cash and credit cards are accepted at stores, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Huaihai Road

Huaihai Road, no less famous than Nanjing Road, is celebrated for its elegance. It features top-end designer brands from all over the world and is an especially elegant street. Recommended stores are Parkson Shopping Center and Maison Mode. Parkson Shopping Center is worth visiting. Here you will find reasonable prices and many special offers in the form of discounts and other promotions. Even the brand-name clothing is reasonably priced here. While the first offers many discounts and other special and promotional offers, the latter focuses on the leading designer clothes and brands. Maison Mode, located at No.1312, Huaihai Road, claims to be the aristocrat on this street. You will find the leading designer brands such as Gucci, Ferragamo, Hugo Boss, Bally, Kenzo, etc. here. It is no exaggeration to say that the reputation of Huaihai Road is enhanced by the presence of Maison Mode.

North Sichuan Road

If affordable shopping is what you are looking for, North Sichuan Road will be the perfect Shanghai shopping street for you to visit. This street is popular with ordinary Shanghai locals because of its good but inexpensive merchandise.

Middle Tibet Road

The last of the "Four Streets" is Middle Tibet Road in which you will find a variety of food and tourist merchandise. The street is rich in culinary delights from streets snacks to international cuisines. The street otherwise offers an array of souvenir shops and gift stores.

 

The Four Cities

Yuyuan Shopping City

Yuyuan Shopping City is the venue for traditional Shanghai art and crafts and specialist Chinese goods ranging from small articles, local crafts and the like to antiques, jade wares and gold and silver jewellery. And all this is set in the beautiful traditional environment of the City God Temple and Jade Buddha Temple. Just be sure to bargain hard and fast in these markets.

Xujiahui Shopping City

At the junction of four of Shanghai's main streets Hongqiao Road, Zhaojiabang Road, Huashan Road, and North Caoxi Road, Xujiahui is the old city's centre turned-into hypermodern shopping and entertainment district. The 6 large malls represented here sell everything from clothes to food to electronics, and in every price range.

New Shanghai Shopping City

New Shanghai, or New Town, is the only shopping 'city' in this list that is located in Pudong. The commercial area located in the middle of Lujiazui financial centre and has everything from designer clothes to Chinese and international restaurants to electronics markets and much more. New Shanghai Shopping City is on the grand scale and offers the best facilities and amenities and is surrounded by a variety of retail outlets.

Jiali Sleepless City

At the opposite end of the Shanghai Railway station, Jiali commercial district is also known as "the city that never sleeps." Here, one will find everything considered typically Shanghai making Jiali a popular shopping district for both local people and tourist.

 

 

Apart from the famous "four streets, four cities" that focus on shopping in Shanghai, there are a number of other renown areas that deserve to be visited.

Fuzhou Road
Fuzhou Road runs from People's Square to the Bund parallel with Nanjing Road. Also known as "culture street," Fuzhou Road has a century-long tradition of selling many cultural items. This street houses a variety of book stores, paint and calligraphy shops and other art-related stores as well as a number of cafes and restaurants.

Xiangyang Road Market
Since the year 2000 numerous shops dealing in clothes and ornaments that were located on the Huating Road Clothes Street have relocated to Xiangyang Road Market. Here you will be able to find many fancy goods at low prices. Beware of the fact that many of the items sold are fake, but spend some time here and you will be able to find items of reasonable quality.

North Shaanxi Road
Shaanxi Road is renown for its many, many shoe stores, all sold at various makes and prices. At an equally various supply this street also houses many clothes stores selling to all ages, some shops even provide tailor-made traditional Chinese costumes. Some shops selling them are on Maoming Road, Changle Road will meet your requirements. Generally clothes will be tailored to ensure a good fit.

Dongtai Road
Is it antiques that has your interest? Then Dongtai Road is the place to be to find everything from bronze ware and porcelain to paintings and calligraphy. The street's antique market is the largest in Shanghai and is a great place to go treasure hunting.

 

Shanghai, Pearl of the Orient

Shanghai, which is also known as the Pearl of the Orient, is famous for pearls and there is a wide selection of shops catering to this crowd. One of the popular pearl markets in Shanghai is Pearl's Circles, Wholesale Pearl & Stone Market. Pearl's Circles, Wholesale Pearl & Stone Market is located in First Asia Jewellery Plaza, 3rd floor, 288 Fuyou Lu. It sells wholesale freshwater pearls, sea water pearls, natural stones and crystals. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, vendors are at hand to offer ready-made jewellery as well as craft a custom made one for your right in front of your eyes.

 

If you just intend to buy small articles and inexpensive clothes, Hong Kong Famous Shops Street and Dimei Shopping Center beneath People's Square and Xiangyang Road will whet your appetite. In Dimei Shopping Center, clothes are competitively priced and fashionable, but you will seldom find the top brands here. With the alternation of four seasons the small shops here, sell clothes in vogue which cater for the needs of young people. In these locations, bartering is expected, and the price given is usually twice as much as will be expected by the shop owners. Bargain with ease.