Must see entertainment in Shanghai

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Shanghai Grand Theatre
Shanghai’s state-of-the-art concert venue hosts everything from Broadway musicals to symphonies, ballets, operas and performances by internationally…
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JZ Club
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…
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Yùyīntáng
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…
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Heyday
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…
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Wooden Box
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…
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Shanghai Centre Theatre
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…
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Fairmont Peace Hotel Jazz Bar
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…
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House of Blues & Jazz
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…
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Modern Sky Lab
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…
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Oriental Art Center
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…
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Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall
Designed by architects Isozaki Arata and Yasushisa Toyota and opening in 2014, this modern concert venue is now the home of the Shanghai Symphony…
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Shanghai Circus World
On the far northern outskirts of town you'll find this impressive show – Era: Intersection of Time – combining awesome acrobatics with new-fangled…
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Haoledi KTV
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,…
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Blackstone Magic Bar
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…
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Shanghai Conservatory of Music
The auditorium here holds classical music performances (Chinese and Western) usually on weekends at 7.30pm; the musicians are often the stars of the…
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Shanghai Concert Hall
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…
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Shanghai Culture Square
State-of-the-art theatrical facility with a focus on musicals, drama, ballet and classic traditional Chinese and international productions. Previous shows…
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Hongkou Football Stadium
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…
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Yifu Theatre
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…
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Pearl Theatre
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…