Party/bar district in Shanghai

There's also Julu Lu and Changsu Lu - which is half sleazy, half nice. The Velvet Lounge and Mesa Manifesto are down there.

Accommodation around the bar areas in Shanghai sure ain't cheap. The "cheapest" I could think of would be Jiujiu Holiday Hotel for around 250-380 RMB depending on what kind of room you're looking for; stone's throw away from Xintiandi. And Xintiandi isn't cheap at all.
Cheers!

Thanks for all your replies

I am basically looking for a few cool places, similar to dragon-i, etc;;;. If anything, I would like to meet more of the locals and expats rather than other toursists. I was told a good area for me to stay in and it is also near much of the night life is the french concession area, is this true? If not, with what I have said in regards to what I am looking for where is the best place for me to stay.

the french concession is pretty large - it stretches from xujiahui all the way over to old town. That's probably 30 blocks (big huge city blocks).

similar to dragon-i? then glamour bar, bar rouge, fenestre, maybe some of those places up at the New Factories. Face is good too - but it's not quite as current. Guandii and bonbon for clubbing. Check out the listings on smart shanghai - they should link directly to each bar's website. other resources might be shanghaiist, city weekend or shanghai expat