Must-see entertainment in Shanghai

  • Shanghai Grand Theatre.

    Shanghai Grand Theatre

    The Bund & People's Square

    Shanghai’s state-of-the-art concert venue hosts everything from Broadway musicals to symphonies, ballets, operas and performances by internationally…

  • JZ Club

    French Concession

    The JZ brand has been in Shanghai for decades, and its newest spot hosts live music every day of the week in an old Shanghai–style jazz club. It's always…

  • Yùyīntáng

    Shanghai

    Small enough to feel intimate, but big enough for a sometimes pulsating atmosphere, Yùyīntáng has long been one of the top places in the city to see live…

  • Heyday

    French Concession

    An intimate jazz bar with an art deco feel and a drinks menu to match Shanghai's decadent era. Cocktails are top notch, with plenty of vintage flavours on…

  • Wooden Box

    Shanghai

    Down a quiet street, this leafy cabin surrounded by trees is an intimate live venue run by the JZ family with live jazz, and regular acoustic folk and…

  • Acrobats at Shanghai Centre Theatre.

    Shanghai Centre Theatre

    Shanghai

    The Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe has popular performances here most nights from 7.30pm. It’s a short but fun show and is high on the to-do list of most…

  • Fairmont Peace Hotel Jazz Bar

    The Bund & People's Square

    Shanghai’s most famous hotel features Shanghai’s most famous jazz band (starts at 7pm), a septuagenarian sextet that’s been churning out nostalgic covers…

  • House of Blues & Jazz

    The Bund & People's Square

    Fittingly dark and divey, this vintage jazz and blues bar exudes plenty of class with its polished heavy wood decor. The house band delivers live jazz or…

  • Modern Sky Lab

    Hongkou & North Shanghai

    Mid-sized live venue with excellent sound quality, run by the Modern Sky record label. It's a top place to catch touring bands: previous acts include…

  • Oriental Art Center

    Shanghai

    Home of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the Oriental Art Center was designed to resemble five petals of a butterfly orchid. There are three main halls…

  • Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall

    French Concession

    Designed by architects Isozaki Arata and Yasushisa Toyota and opening in 2014, this modern concert venue is now the home of the Shanghai Symphony…

  • Shanghai Circus World

    Hongkou & North Shanghai

    On the far northern outskirts of town you'll find this impressive show – Era: Intersection of Time – combining awesome acrobatics with new-fangled…

  • Haoledi KTV

    French Concession

    Private karaoke rooms are hugely popular in Shanghai, and this one is as bling as they come, with a neon blue LED archway for a doorway and a booze shop,…

  • Blackstone Magic Bar

    French Concession

    China’s first magic bar mixes playful diversion with classy cocktails. Full-length magic shows are held Fridays and Saturdays in a sleek, custom-made 30…

  • Shanghai Conservatory of Music

    French Concession

    The auditorium here holds classical music performances (Chinese and Western) usually on weekends at 7.30pm; the musicians are often the stars of the…

  • Shanghai Concert Hall

    The Bund & People's Square

    A decade or so ago, the government shunted all 5650 tonnes of this classic 1930s building 66m away from busy East Yanan Rd to a quieter parkside setting…

  • Shanghai Culture Square

    French Concession

    State-of-the-art theatrical facility with a focus on musicals, drama, ballet and classic traditional Chinese and international productions. Previous shows…

  • Hongkou Football Stadium

    Hongkou & North Shanghai

    The home of Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, this stadium seats more than 30,000 fans, and games have a great local atmosphere. You can buy football tickets…

  • Yifu Theatre

    The Bund & People's Square

    One block east of People’s Square, this is the main opera theatre in town. The theatre presents a popular program of Beijing, Kun and Yue (Shaoxing) opera…

  • Pearl Theatre

    Hongkou & North Shanghai

    Formerly known as Chinatown, this magnificent three-floor theatre has boxes and ornate detailing. It was once a Japanese Buddhist temple in the 1930s; now…

  • MAO Livehouse

    French Concession

    One of the city’s best and largest music venues, MAO is a stalwart of the Shanghai music scene, with acts ranging from rock to pop to electronica. Check…

  • Palace IMAX

    French Concession

    With six large screens, comfortable 3D glasses and an intimate VIP cinema with 50 seats (at an extra cost), this is one of the best movie houses in town.

  • Cathay Theatre

    French Concession

    Retro 1932 movie house showing films in 2D and 3D, with some in English. Ticket prices vary depending on the title and movie show times.

  • SFC Metro City Cinema

    Shanghai

    This cinema on the 5th floor of the Metro City mall has four screens and shows some English-language films.

  • Daguan Theater

    Shanghai

    This state-of-the-art 1100-seat theatre in the impressive Himalayas Center, attached to the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, stages Chinese opera, other…

  • Mercedes-Benz Arena

    Shanghai

    The galactically styled UFO structure of the Mercedes-Benz Arena at the former World Expo site is a truly impressive building. It hosts big-name…

  • Lyceum Theatre

    French Concession

    Landmark building built in the 1930s, with many original features. It shows a number of performances, from acrobatics and film screenings to family magic…

  • UME International Cinema

    French Concession

    Modern movie complex showing films in 2D and 3D, with some in English. There are also VIP rooms with reclining chairs. Occasional Hollywood premieres…

  • Grand Cinema

    The Bund & People's Square

    This striking 1930s art deco cinema was once one of Shanghai's most famous movie theatres, and today continues to screen the latest blockbusters.

  • Shanghai Film Art Centre

    Shanghai

    This cinema is the main venue for the Shanghai International Film Festival and usually has at least one movie showing in English at other times.

  • UA Cinemas

    Shanghai

    Modern cinema complex in the Westgate Mall with 2D and 3D screens.

  • Peace Cinema

    The Bund & People's Square

    People’s Square cinema with an attached IMAX theatre (巨幕影院, Jùmùyǐngyuàn).

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