Known as “the Paris of the east” and “China’s fashion capital,” Shanghai is a shopping paradise for everyone. From luxury brands to unique boutiques, from fancy shopping malls to local wet markets, shopping is an indispensable part of your traveling experience.
We have listed a few popular places for shopping, choose the one that suits your needs!
Areas to Find Big Shopping Malls
East Nanjing Road
As the No.1 Commercial Street in China, Nanjing Road is a must-see place even just for windows shopping or sightseeing. There are numerous shopping malls, time-honored stores, specialty stores, restaurants, hotels, and so on at East Nanjing Road. You can get clothes, electrical devices, food, silk, traditional Chinese medicine, and many other travel souvenirs.
Metro: East Nanjing Road Station by Line 2/10
Business Hour: 10am – 10pm
Huaihai Road
Compared with East Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road features high-end designer brands, luxury shopping malls such as IAPM, K11, Hong Kong Plaza, Shanghai Times Square, and so on. It is much more of a local’s fashion shopping zone than a tourist attraction. There also are lots of affordable high street brands flagship stores here like ZARA, UNIQLO, H&M, etc. Take your time to walk along with the Huaihai Road as it stretches for 5km long!
Metro: South Huangpi Road Station/South Shaanxi Road Station by Line 1
Business Hour: 10am – 10pm
Lujiazui Financial Area
Often called the ‘Wall Street of China,’ Lujiazui is the largest financial zone in mainland China. It lies on the east bank of Huangpu River facing the Bund. There are two main shopping malls there: Shanghai IFC Mall and Super Brand Mall. IFC Mall has many international luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, LV, etc. Super Brand Mall has more domestic brands and restaurants. The shopping mall here offers you magnificent scenery of the Huangpu River.
Metro: Lujiazui Station by Line 2
Business Hour: 10am – 10pm
Places to Get Authentic Chinese Souvenirs
Yuyuan Bazaar
Yuyuan Bazaar is a great place to buy all kinds of traditional Chinese souvenirs and cheap small made-in-china stuff, from silk souvenirs, antiques, jade wares to cheap jewelry, iPhone cases, bags, etc. Things cost you 20 USD on Amazon may only cost you 20 RMB there! Also, don’t forget to try your luck at bargaining: You may be surprised at what you can get!
Address: No. 368 Fuyou Road, Huangpu District
Business Hour: 6:30am – 5pm
Metro: Yu Garden Station by Line 10
Shanghai Wanshang Flower, Bird, Fish & Insects Market
Want to immerse yourself in an authentic local old-style market? Check out this place! The Wanshang Flower and Bird Market is more than a site selling “old people’s” toys, but a social home to show you the authentic old Shanghainese lifestyle. You will find people gathering around, chatting, joking, bargaining at buying flowers, goldfishes, birds, crickets, grasshoppers, things that you won’t believe that is still existing in modern Shanghai!
Address: No. 417 South Xizang Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 8 am- 5:30 pm
Metro: Laoximen Station by Line 8/10
Laoximen Tea Plaza
Located close to the Wangshan Market mentioned above, here you can find all types of tea, flower teas, and teawares. You can get some tea tasting experience and buy some tea-related souvenirs. However, it is necessary to bargain (HARD!) with the shop owner as, unfortunately, tea is a usually overpriced item in the Chinese market, so make sure you find an honest shop and get a reasonable price in the end!
Address: No. 1121, Fuxing Dong Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 8:20am-9:40pm
Metro: Laoximen Station by Line 8/10
Places to Get Clothes, Shoes, Accessories
Qipu Road Clothing Market
Qipu Road Clothing Market is the largest wholesale apparel market in central Shanghai. The shopping environment is decent but far from fancy, which allows you to be able to find super cheap stuff, including dresses, T-shirt, socks, belts, shoes… Coincidentally, the pronunciation of its name Qipu sounds quite similar to the English word“cheap.” Oh btw don’t think these cheap clothes are old fashioned. If you are lucky, there are tons of trendy and fashionable treasures to be hunted!!
Address: No. 168 Qipu Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 9 am-5:30 pm
Metro: Tiantong Road Station by Line 10/12
AP Plaza (Fake Market)
Located underground at the subway station behind the Science and Technology Museum, this plaza is a famous fake market in Shanghai. Here you can find long rows of shops selling a variety of fancy & fake items that you have dreamed of. Shoes, clothes, electronics, etc. Remember, you don’t have to hit the first store, just walk around and you’ll see similar stuff in other stores.
Address: No. 2002 Century Avenue
Business Hours: Daily, 10 am-8 pm
Metro: Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station by Line 2
South Bund Fabric Market
South Bund Fabric Market is the most chosen place for both locals and foreigners to get tailor-made clothes. Here you can simply select a fabric you like from hundreds of options listed and get yourself custom-made clothes. It takes as short as five days to finish your whole “project”! It is also recommendable to bring a picture to show the tailor what exactly you are looking for, as the language barrier may cause some misunderstandings. The price here is very affordable compared to what you may get used to at home.
Address: No. 399 Lujiabang Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 9 am-6 pm
Metro: Nanpu Bridge Station by Line 4
Places to Get Books and Artpieces
Fuzhou Road Bookstores
Fuzhou Road is the famous “book street” which has all kinds of bookstores. You will find cultural stuff such as books, magazines, music, art, stationery, etc.
Ancient Books Store
Address: 1-2F, No. 401 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 9:30am-6pm
Foreign Languages Bookstore
Address: No. 390 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 10 am-6:30 pm
Shanghai Books City
Address: No. 465 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 9:30 am-9 pm
Metro: People’s Square Station by Line 1/2/8
Shanghai Book Traders Used Books
Close to Fuzhou Road, this small bookstore buys and resells old books at a great price – as cheap as 10% of the book’s original price! Tiny and messy as it might seem, you may be able to find your English treasure book that has disappeared anywhere else!
Address: No. 36 South Shanxi Road, Huangpu District
Business Hours: Daily, 9 am-6:30 pm
Metro: East Nanjing Road Station by Line 2/10
READWAY
READWAY is a trendy two-floor bookstore in Xintiandi shopping plaza. There is a very eye-catching spiral staircase in the middle. This place is known for its fancy and cozy reading environment, which, on the other hand, indicates the book’s price here is above the average. There is also a music gallery on the 5th floor selling CDs and Vinyl discs-perfect for book and music lovers!
Address: 4-5/F, Xintiandi Plaza, No. 333 Middle Huaihai Road
Business Hours: Daily, 10 am-10 pm
Metro: South Huangpi Road Station by Line 1; Xintiandi Station by Line 12/13
The Mix Place
Advertising as “First Commune, then a Store,” the Mix Place is a compound housing a bookstore, a small exhibition area, a cafe, and some designer boutiques. Here you can find both Chinese and English books magazines, posters, art pieces. Most people come to this place for events or meeting up with friends, so consider spending a cozy afternoon here immersing in the sunshine, coffee, and knowledge!
Address: No. 880 Hengshan Road, Xuhui District
Business Hours: Daily, 10 am-10 pm
Metro: Xujiahui Station by Line 1/9/11
