City Guide
Shanghai
Arriving in Shanghai at night is one of China’s most immediate thrills, especially if you swoop in via taxi over raised highways – you’ll feel like you’re flying into science fiction incarnate. The metropolis’ bright lights and skyscrapers never fail to wow; coupled with the city’s 24 million inhabitants, they can even seem overwhelming. Happily, Shanghai doesn’t just thrill with its visuals. Forward-thinking fashion, food, art and nightlife scenes dovetail to make it a place that rewards those who delve beyond obvious attractions such as The Bund.
When to go:
April to May and September to October are the most pleasant times to visit Shanghai, which has sweltering summers and bone-chilling winters. Avoid the October Golden Week national holiday and Chinese New Year in February; do also watch out for June’s humid plum rain season, which sees brief, monsoon-like showers descend.
How to get around:
Shanghai’s metro train system is the biggest in the world and is super-clean, super-efficient and super-quick. Taxis are cheap but it’s best to use a hailing app such as Didi, as bagging metred cabs at peak times can be tough.
Where To Stay In Shanghai
Where To Eat In Shanghai
1929 by Guillaume Galliot
A refined French bistro by a three Michelin-starred chef
ZUP Pizza Bar
Famed for their tavern-style, chewy and thin-crust Chicago-style pizzas
Siu Tang Li
A sophisticated spot for Cantonese, Sichuanese and Shanghainese cuisine
Yaya’s
Neighbourhood, neon-lit pasta bar serving Italian-Chinese eats with great beats
Bastard
Fusion Chinese comfort food down a hip alleyway in Jing’An
Where To Drink In Shanghai
Roof at The Shanghai EDITION
Plush, open-air terrace with a paranomic panoramic view of Shanghai’s glittering skyline
Root Down
Jazzy vinyl bar serving classic and inventive cocktails
Union Trading Company
A well-loved neighbourhood cocktail bar nestled in the French Concession
Sober Company
A multi-level bar and speakeasy in the nightlife mecca of Fuxing Park
Pony Up
Lively spot for day-to-night drinking and East-meets-West bar snacks
What To Do In Shanghai
Shanghai Museum
A world-class museum packed with artifacts spanning 5,000 years
Fotografiska
Contemporary and cutting-edge photography exhibitions in a beautiful location on Suzhou Creek
Yuyuan Garden
Picturesque Ming Dynasty garden popular for souvenir-shopping and local snacks
Jing’an Temple
An ancient, golden Buddhist temple in the Jing’an district
The Stage
Former helipad turned observation deck on top of the White Magnolia Plaza
Where To Shop In Shanghai
HAUS NOWHERE
Gentle Monster’s experiential retail concept that merges fashion, art and food
Basement FG
One-stop shop for all things trendy in fashion in a historical mansion that once belonged to a mobster
DOE
Paradise for men’s streetwear fans with limited-edition clothing and sneakers
Bee’s Knees
A haven for vintage fashion lovers
Labelhood
An incubator and showcase for China’s most promising fashion designers
