Shopping in Shànghǎi
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Ferguson Lane
The restored red-brick architecture and swish design shops and cafés of Ferguson Lane form a comforting refuge for chic shoppers. Tempting smoothies, cool ceramics and Chinese Mulberry facial toner can be found in its small band of shops.
reviewed
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Han City Fashion & Accessories Plaza
This unassuming-looking building is one of the best locations to pick up bargain T-shirts, jackets, shoes and so on, with hundreds of stalls spread across several floors. Bargain hard.
reviewed
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C
Dashanghai
This shop on Duolun Rd has a marvellous deluge of Mao-era badges and posters, old records, photos, books, typewriters and assorted Shànghǎi bric-a-brac from the decadent days. With a bit of exploration you are bound to dig up something interesting.
reviewed
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D
Chinese Printed Blue Nankeen Exhibition Hall
The spectacle here of bolts of indigo cloth drying in the summer sun is gorgeous. Surly staff aside, focus on the delightful blue-and-white cotton fabric, shoes, slippers, blouses, qipao (cheongsam) and small cloth bags. Follow the signs down the alley.
reviewed
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E
South Bund Fabric Market
This old building with over 100 hundred stalls is similar to the Shiliupu Fabric Market, with an atmospheric location not far from the markets and tailoring shops along Dongjiadu Rd. It’s further out of the way, but more popular with expats.
reviewed
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Shanghai Trio
Ravissant! C’est tout moi! French women go crazy for the chic eco-friendly fabrics here, which incorporate traditional Chinese motifs into much of the collection. Among the finds: cute children’s clothes, purses, scarves and quilt (duvet) covers.
reviewed
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Wine-Link
Tucked down a small alley off Anfu Lu, this wine shop offers a solid range of mostly Australian and New Zealand wine, with a few South American brands. French champagne is cheaper here than anywhere else in town. They sell wine glasses and do monthly wine-tastings as well.
reviewed
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Wangjia Docks Fabric Market
Those in the market for a luxurious silk quilt (comforter; 蚕丝被 ) should make the trek south to this fascinating neighbourhood, awash in tailors and fabric dealers. Quilts are sold by weight and size – figure on about Y650 for a queen-sized quilt weighing 2kg.
reviewed
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Shanghai No 1 Food Store
Brave the crowds here to check out the amazing variety of dried mushrooms, ginseng and sea cucumber, as well as more tempting snacks like sunflower seeds, nuts, dried fruit, moon cakes and tea. Built in 1926, this used to be Sun Sun, one of Shànghǎi’s big department stores.
reviewed
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Zhang's Textiles
The Shanghai Centre address means this top-end shop caters to flush expats, offering a sublime collection of antique and framed embroidery, dragon robes and shoes for bound feet. Strangely enough, Bill Clinton prefers the Běijīng branch, but everyone has the right to be different.
reviewed
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Old Street
The morass of Mao-era keepsakes brings no surprises, but the ye olde China streetscape of Old Street is entertaining. Vendors are tamer than at Yuyuan Bazaar, and there’s a glut of souvenirs: shadow puppets, calendar posters, Yixing teapots, Tibetan jewellery, calligraphy scrolls and kites.
reviewed
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Amy Lin’s Pearls
The most reliable retailer of pearls of all colours and sizes. Both freshwater pearls (from Y80), including prized black Zhèjiāng pearls (from Y3000), and saltwater pearls (from Y200) are available here. The staff speak English and will string your selection for you. They do jade and jewellery too.
reviewed
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M
Chouchou Chic
French-Chinese hybrid Chouchou Chic sells kids’ clothes (ages 0 to 8) that are infinitely cuter than what you find at the souvenir stalls. Most of the clothing is Western-style, but you can find some attractive floral-patterned fabrics and Chinese-style cotton dresses as well. Prices start at Y148.
reviewed
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Chouchou Chic
French-Chinese hybrid Chouchou Chic sells kids’ clothes (ages 0 to 8) that are infinitely cuter than what you find at the souvenir stalls. Most of the clothing is Western-style, but you can find some attractive floral-patterned fabrics and Chinese-style cotton dresses as well. Prices start at Y148.
reviewed
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Liúligōngfáng
If you like the decor at TMSK you’ll definitely want to check out this one-of-a-kind crystal-art shop next door, where you can marvel at iridescent cast-glass creations such as a contemplative monk (Y1165) and exquisite earrings (Y600) and pendants (Y520). There are nine branches around town.
reviewed
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A.P. Xīnyáng Fashion & Gifts Market
Below ground in the Science & Technology Museum metro station is Shànghǎi's largest collection of discount shopping stalls, including a branch of the Old Town fabric market and a separate area devoted exclusively to pearls. Bargain hard.
reviewed
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Shanghai Antique & Curio Store
A long-established government-run store that takes up an entire block and offers some interesting curios. You'll find porcelain, jade, jewellery, cloisonné and embroidered silk. Designated tourist shops like this are expensive alternatives to the markets. Their range is good, but you need a shrewd eye.
reviewed
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Urban Tribe
Urban Tribe is the only contemporary Shànghǎi label to draw inspiration from the ethnic groups of China and Southeast Asia. The collection of loose-fitting blouses, pants and jackets are made of natural fabrics and are a refreshing departure from the city’s on-the-go attitude and usual taste for flamboyance.
reviewed
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Q
Henry Antique Warehouse
This enormous showroom, with more than 2000 high-quality antique pieces, both large and small, is a good first stop for antique hunters. It’s down a lane off Hongzhong Rd in a not-so-obvious location; look for the signs. The Traditional Furniture research department of Tongji University is based here.
reviewed
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R
Nextage
This giant department store has 150 retail outlets selling from 100,000 sq metres of floor space. The 10-storey monster is owned by the Shanghai No 1 Department Store, and there's a cinema and Internet café on the top floor. The food court has branches of Bì Fēng Táng, Pizza Hut and Tairyo.
reviewed
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Shílìupǔ Fabric Market
Expats and travellers line up for made-to-measure clothing at this market, popular for its bolts of cheap silk, cashmere, wool, linen and cotton. Follow Middle Fangbang Rd from the Yùyuán Bazaar east towards the river and you'll reach it after about 10 minutes (500m).
reviewed
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Silk King
The city’s largest fabric chain sells attractive silk from Y158 per metre, although prices can go far higher. In-store tailors can make you a custom-fit qípáo (cheongsam), shirt or jacket in three to 10 days for around Y1800. Twenty-four-hour rush jobs are also possible. There are numerous branches around Shànghǎi.
reviewed
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Silk King
The city’s largest fabric chain sells attractive silk from Y158 per metre, although prices can go far higher. In-store tailors can make you a custom-fit qípáo (cheongsam), shirt or jacket in three to 10 days for around Y1800. Twenty-four-hour rush jobs are also possible. There are numerous branches around Shànghǎi.
reviewed
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Cool Docks
A recent development project often billed as Xintiandi 2, the Cool Docks, east of the Old Town, consist of several shikumen (stone-gate houses) surrounded by red-brick warehouses near the waterfront. Most of the shops and restaurants had still failed to take off as ‘in’ destinations as we went to press.
reviewed
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Shiatzy Chen
One of the top names in Asian haute couture, Taiwanese designer Shiatzy Chen finds her inspiration in traditional Chinese aesthetics. Her exclusive collections (women’s and men’s apparel) display a painstaking attention to detail and cross cultural boundaries with grace. Located at the entrance to the Jinjiang Hotel.
reviewed