angie's guide to shanghai
for exollent~ this ended up being not so quick lol
if i suddenly think of anything i missed, i might go back and edit. hope this helps ^^
General Info
-Shanghai is a really big city, but has a relatively low crime rate. This is largely because of the CCTV cameras located almost everywhere. (Big Brother is watching! But it's okay, he'll keep you safe.) You should still be wary of petty crime though, specifically pickpockets in crowded areas. Although I've never had problems with that before, watch your belongings.
-If you're not fluent in Chinese, don't worry. Most people in Shanghai understand basic English, especially in major tourist areas.
-Don't drink the tap water. I mean, I guess you could, but who'd want to? That stuff tastes like disgusting herbal medicine mixed with watery tea. And it's probably not safe anyway.
-Public restrooms can be pretty gross. Ever heard of the squatty potty? Yeah. If you want a normal, up to standard restroom, go to one of the large shopping malls, like Superbrand, which offers toilet paper too. I recommend investing in a small pack of tissues/napkins because most restrooms don't provide toilet paper.
-When crossing the road, run for your life. No, really. Most drivers drive like they're trying to kill you, and I have yet to find evidence to the contrary. I guess those awful traffic jams can take a toll on your mentality.
Where To Go
Nanjing Road: My favorite shopping place and a very popular tourist destination. There's two parts to it, an East and a West, and both are lined with small to large department stores and restaurants. You can find cheap knockoffs as well as expensive high-end brands. They're technically the same road but two subway stations apart. That should give you some indication of how huge it is. I would compare it to Las Vegas in terms of brightness after the sun sets. It's also pretty close to the clubbing district, which I'll talk about more in-depth later.
The Bund: Specifically refers to the river area between Pudong and Puxi. The Bund is known for having a line of obscenely expensive restaurants which are labeled as "[#] on the Bund", and also for having a fantastic view at night. On a similar note, any restaurant that offers a "Bund view" will charge you more on average. (But trust me, it's worth it.)
Superbrand Mall: Located in Lujiazui, aka the glittery part of Shanghai that you see on magazine covers and promotional materials. It's a huge mega mall with over 500 stores, covering your typical range of designer brands plus many other more affordable ones.
IFC: Also located in Lujiazui, across from Superbrand Mall. Extremely high-end and luxurious, and the prices reflect it. Expect to either window shop or eviscerate your wallet. Don't forget to explore the basement though, because that's where all the awesome little snack shops are.
Oriental Pearl TV Tower: Very close to Superbrand Mall, and probably the most distinctive part of the Shanghai skyline. It's a futuristic-looking building with purple spheres. There are observation decks throughout, and the second sphere houses a rotating restaurant. If you're into sci-fi (and not afraid of heights), this is a good place to check out.
Tianzifang (or Taikang Road): A miniature labyrinth of quirky little souvenir shops in alleyways and a variety of restaurants. Located in the French Concession, on the Puxi side. Has a tendency to attract hordes of young couples and hipster tourists on the weekends. Still, it's a pretty cool place to visit.
Nighttime (aka when all the fun stuff happens)
For more detailed info, go to http://www.smartshanghai.com/listings/nightlife/clubs/.
Muse: Two floor lounge, right next door to Sky, which is highly convenient for those who like to club hop without spending too much on taxi fares. Music is typical, top 40 remixes, but definitely danceable. This place is considered "classic" club fare and I'd say it's decent. Drink promo: 100 RMB (~15 USD) for 10 drinks.
Muse 2: Fun fact, Yoochun of JYJ was seen partying here. I haven't been here personally, but it's basically a sister club of Muse. Charges an entrance fee of 100 RMB (~15 USD). Muse also has several other branches owned by the same company, such as Park97 and Muse on the Bund.
Sky: Muse's next door neighbor. They offer all-you-can-drink for 100 RMB (~15 USD) which you'd think is a good deal, except their drinks are terribly watered down. Other than that, it's alright. Their dancefloor is on an interesting raised platform, so be careful if you're in heels.
Club G+: Nicely-sized dancefloor, which is the main reason I decided to mention it. They played some hip-hop the last time I went and I had mixed feelings about that. Standard club. No drink promo that I know of.
Richbaby: I only spent about half an hour in here because it was so crowded, but from what I remember it's a pretty good club. Tiny dancefloor, but I've heard it lives up to its name by attracting Shanghai's wealthy young and restless.
No.88: Sadly I've only been here once, but it was one hell of an experience. This place is popular among native Shanghainese, and it's known for its crazy shows and dice games. Their sound system is bangin' and I still miss the freeze frame lights. And the topless guys in leather pants. (EXO needs this concept, fuck.)
Phebe 3D: I almost forgot about this one, but I think it deserves a note for its stripper poles. Those can be a lot more fun than the standard 3 square meter dancefloor. Also I've heard they have shows much like those in No.88, of the sexy male dancer persuasion.
Clubbing Tips
-As I mentioned briefly, some clubs may charge an entrance fee, which is usually 100 RMB (~15 USD). I haven't heard of or been to any that charge more than that. Personally I prefer visiting the ones that are open for free, because it's exactly the same experience. Most clubs earn their revenues from the drinks, which are always ridiculously overpriced. 10 dollar beer, anyone?
-On that note, be careful with your drinks. Sometimes roofie-equivalents end up in there. I've experienced this personally and know many others who have as well. Stick with friends if you plan on getting a little tipsy.
-Occasionally you might see a group of pretty people clustered together and sort of dancing but not mingling with the crowd. Odds are they're hired by the club to attract more customers. It's kind of like facial prostitution and it's not uncommon. There are also many "escorts" in the clubbing districts, but I'm not going to cover that.
Miscellaneous
-If you need to pick up groceries, Carrefour is your best bet. Unlike typical American grocery stores, they sell alcohol in great variety. And most of it is really, really cheap, so take advantage of it. (2 USD for a Bacardi breezer, 50 cents for a Chinese brand beer). Same goes for cigarettes, which sell for about 2 USD a pack for a Chinese brand, and 3? USD for a brand like Marlboros. They're sold outside the actual store, but inside the building, at one of those counters with glass display cases. If you need to buy a lighter, mime clicking a lighter and they'll get it.
-Typical Chinese restaurants don't offer one-person entrees like those in America do, so it's best to go out with friends. That way you can share dishes and split the check, which makes meals pretty affordable. At a mid-end restaurant, I wound up paying around 15 USD, and double that for a high-end restaurant. Also, in China, you're not expected to tip your waiter.
-Transportation is fairly easy to find. Subways are foreigner-friendly and run from 6AM to around 10:30PM. Fare costs less than a dollar for a ticket to a specific station. Taxis are also readily available in most areas, with base fees of 12 RMB (2 USD). Depending on your location, it costs about 30-60 RMB (5-10 USD) to get around the main areas of Shanghai. If they charge you more, they're ripping you off. Unfortunately, many taxi drivers suck at English and some still get lost even when you can speak Chinese, so it's best to print out the address.
if i suddenly think of anything i missed, i might go back and edit. hope this helps ^^
General Info
-Shanghai is a really big city, but has a relatively low crime rate. This is largely because of the CCTV cameras located almost everywhere. (Big Brother is watching! But it's okay, he'll keep you safe.) You should still be wary of petty crime though, specifically pickpockets in crowded areas. Although I've never had problems with that before, watch your belongings.
-If you're not fluent in Chinese, don't worry. Most people in Shanghai understand basic English, especially in major tourist areas.
-Don't drink the tap water. I mean, I guess you could, but who'd want to? That stuff tastes like disgusting herbal medicine mixed with watery tea. And it's probably not safe anyway.
-Public restrooms can be pretty gross. Ever heard of the squatty potty? Yeah. If you want a normal, up to standard restroom, go to one of the large shopping malls, like Superbrand, which offers toilet paper too. I recommend investing in a small pack of tissues/napkins because most restrooms don't provide toilet paper.
-When crossing the road, run for your life. No, really. Most drivers drive like they're trying to kill you, and I have yet to find evidence to the contrary. I guess those awful traffic jams can take a toll on your mentality.
Where To Go
Nanjing Road: My favorite shopping place and a very popular tourist destination. There's two parts to it, an East and a West, and both are lined with small to large department stores and restaurants. You can find cheap knockoffs as well as expensive high-end brands. They're technically the same road but two subway stations apart. That should give you some indication of how huge it is. I would compare it to Las Vegas in terms of brightness after the sun sets. It's also pretty close to the clubbing district, which I'll talk about more in-depth later.
The Bund: Specifically refers to the river area between Pudong and Puxi. The Bund is known for having a line of obscenely expensive restaurants which are labeled as "[#] on the Bund", and also for having a fantastic view at night. On a similar note, any restaurant that offers a "Bund view" will charge you more on average. (But trust me, it's worth it.)
Superbrand Mall: Located in Lujiazui, aka the glittery part of Shanghai that you see on magazine covers and promotional materials. It's a huge mega mall with over 500 stores, covering your typical range of designer brands plus many other more affordable ones.
IFC: Also located in Lujiazui, across from Superbrand Mall. Extremely high-end and luxurious, and the prices reflect it. Expect to either window shop or eviscerate your wallet. Don't forget to explore the basement though, because that's where all the awesome little snack shops are.
Oriental Pearl TV Tower: Very close to Superbrand Mall, and probably the most distinctive part of the Shanghai skyline. It's a futuristic-looking building with purple spheres. There are observation decks throughout, and the second sphere houses a rotating restaurant. If you're into sci-fi (and not afraid of heights), this is a good place to check out.
Tianzifang (or Taikang Road): A miniature labyrinth of quirky little souvenir shops in alleyways and a variety of restaurants. Located in the French Concession, on the Puxi side. Has a tendency to attract hordes of young couples and hipster tourists on the weekends. Still, it's a pretty cool place to visit.
Nighttime (aka when all the fun stuff happens)
For more detailed info, go to http://www.smartshanghai.com/listings/nightlife/clubs/.
Muse: Two floor lounge, right next door to Sky, which is highly convenient for those who like to club hop without spending too much on taxi fares. Music is typical, top 40 remixes, but definitely danceable. This place is considered "classic" club fare and I'd say it's decent. Drink promo: 100 RMB (~15 USD) for 10 drinks.
Muse 2: Fun fact, Yoochun of JYJ was seen partying here. I haven't been here personally, but it's basically a sister club of Muse. Charges an entrance fee of 100 RMB (~15 USD). Muse also has several other branches owned by the same company, such as Park97 and Muse on the Bund.
Sky: Muse's next door neighbor. They offer all-you-can-drink for 100 RMB (~15 USD) which you'd think is a good deal, except their drinks are terribly watered down. Other than that, it's alright. Their dancefloor is on an interesting raised platform, so be careful if you're in heels.
Club G+: Nicely-sized dancefloor, which is the main reason I decided to mention it. They played some hip-hop the last time I went and I had mixed feelings about that. Standard club. No drink promo that I know of.
Richbaby: I only spent about half an hour in here because it was so crowded, but from what I remember it's a pretty good club. Tiny dancefloor, but I've heard it lives up to its name by attracting Shanghai's wealthy young and restless.
No.88: Sadly I've only been here once, but it was one hell of an experience. This place is popular among native Shanghainese, and it's known for its crazy shows and dice games. Their sound system is bangin' and I still miss the freeze frame lights. And the topless guys in leather pants. (EXO needs this concept, fuck.)
Phebe 3D: I almost forgot about this one, but I think it deserves a note for its stripper poles. Those can be a lot more fun than the standard 3 square meter dancefloor. Also I've heard they have shows much like those in No.88, of the sexy male dancer persuasion.
Clubbing Tips
-As I mentioned briefly, some clubs may charge an entrance fee, which is usually 100 RMB (~15 USD). I haven't heard of or been to any that charge more than that. Personally I prefer visiting the ones that are open for free, because it's exactly the same experience. Most clubs earn their revenues from the drinks, which are always ridiculously overpriced. 10 dollar beer, anyone?
-On that note, be careful with your drinks. Sometimes roofie-equivalents end up in there. I've experienced this personally and know many others who have as well. Stick with friends if you plan on getting a little tipsy.
-Occasionally you might see a group of pretty people clustered together and sort of dancing but not mingling with the crowd. Odds are they're hired by the club to attract more customers. It's kind of like facial prostitution and it's not uncommon. There are also many "escorts" in the clubbing districts, but I'm not going to cover that.
Miscellaneous
-If you need to pick up groceries, Carrefour is your best bet. Unlike typical American grocery stores, they sell alcohol in great variety. And most of it is really, really cheap, so take advantage of it. (2 USD for a Bacardi breezer, 50 cents for a Chinese brand beer). Same goes for cigarettes, which sell for about 2 USD a pack for a Chinese brand, and 3? USD for a brand like Marlboros. They're sold outside the actual store, but inside the building, at one of those counters with glass display cases. If you need to buy a lighter, mime clicking a lighter and they'll get it.
-Typical Chinese restaurants don't offer one-person entrees like those in America do, so it's best to go out with friends. That way you can share dishes and split the check, which makes meals pretty affordable. At a mid-end restaurant, I wound up paying around 15 USD, and double that for a high-end restaurant. Also, in China, you're not expected to tip your waiter.
-Transportation is fairly easy to find. Subways are foreigner-friendly and run from 6AM to around 10:30PM. Fare costs less than a dollar for a ticket to a specific station. Taxis are also readily available in most areas, with base fees of 12 RMB (2 USD). Depending on your location, it costs about 30-60 RMB (5-10 USD) to get around the main areas of Shanghai. If they charge you more, they're ripping you off. Unfortunately, many taxi drivers suck at English and some still get lost even when you can speak Chinese, so it's best to print out the address.