Shanghai Shopping Tips by nomadig

Name of Shop: No 1 Department Store

No 1 Department Store is located near the People's park, on Nanjing Road that is one of the main shopping streets in Shanghai. The store consists of two buildings; western and eastern. The names are a tad confusing, as the western building looks and smells like department stores in former Eastern bloc, the name included. The eastern store is the opposite, at least on the ground floor, and feels like any other department store in the Western countries. The upper floors have more of the Eastern bloc atmosphere.

The selection is wide and all major needs are catered for with several brands. The store doesn't carry big Western brands and most of the labels are unknown the average Joe. There are some exceptions, such as smallish Banana Republic shop-in-shop.

Most of the items are cheaper compared to European shops, but unfortunately the design and the quality are not on the same level.



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Theme: Department Store
Address: Nanjing Road, Shanghai, China
Directions: Near People's Square

Name of Shop: Silk King

China is one of the best places to buy silk and Shanghai is no exception. The silk can be bought as a fabric or readymade garment, if you don't know how to make clothes by yourself.

Silk King is a multistorey silk and wool shop on the busy shopping street Nanjing Road. There are several different qualities of silk and cashmere wool available, in all the colours of the rainbow + black and white. The store has also several branches around the city.

Unfortunately, all the material is not what it looks like and some fabrics are advertised as silk, but are something artificially fabricated. If you don't know the difference -- in other words, you are buying for your wife or girlfriend -- be careful. The staff doesn't speak good English, or English at all, so you may end up buying something that you really didn't want to purchase.

If you have more time to spend, I'd suggest to go to Dongjiadu cloth market for better bargains.



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Theme: Local Craft
Address: 66 Nanjing Road

Name of Shop: Dongjiadu Cloth Market

The best way to buy cloth, were it silk, cashmere, satin or something completely different, is to go to Dongjiadu cloth market. There are several dozens of stalls selling all the colours and materials you need to make the next cocktail dress or something else.

The outside shops sell mostly silk and rayon, some odd cashmere stalls are there, too. Inside, the variety increases. The shopkeepers speak a little English, but pocket calculator and gestures usually convey the message. There are also tailors that can make you the item you want with the material you want.

Be prepaped to tolerate some pestering as some sellers are keen to give you the best price and quality. The market is not easily accessible with public transporation, but fortunately taxis are cheap and plentiful. Remember to have the address written in Chinese or a Chinese map with you.

What To Buy: Silk and cashmere have the best discounts compared to Western countries. Be aware of the quality and authenticity.


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Theme: Local Craft
Address: Dongjiadu Lu
Directions: It's best to take a taxi to and fro.

Name of Shop: Old Street

If you're interested to bring items that are typically Chinese, go to Shanghai Old Town, Central Fang Bang road that contains remodelled old town shops selling all kinds of touristy gimmicks.

The street is a little tacky, but it can be great fun to browse the shops and try to figure whether some wood carving would fit over the fireplace. Remember, that the items are not antique, only recently made and antiqued.

The street life is also fun to watch, as the cars and scooters are blowing horns to cyclist and walkers, and the whole traffic looks like a chaos to a Westener. There are some restaurants and cafes nearby, including also the omnipresent McDonald's and KFC. The best way to get there is to take a taxi.



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Theme: Local Craft
Address: Fang Bang Road
Directions: Near the Yuyuan Gardens

Name of Shop: Xiangyang Market

Xiangyang Market is the place to get brands for less. Sometimes you get even three of more designer labels on the same garment, and as the service is not with the par of designer boutiques, you may already guess that the items sold here are fake.

There are more than a hundred stalls selling bags, garments, watches, movies, CDs and other items worth replicating. If you're going to buy something, check the item carefully, as you don't have any rights for claims. Note that your home country may have a strict rule for pirated items, and the customs may take them away and give a fine instead.

The police raids the place from time to time, so the selection may be limited. Come again in a few days and the stalls have been supplied new items. Prepare for heavy pestering for watches, DVDs, bags and scarfs. Remember to smile while saying no, so nobody looses face. I smiled so much that my jaws were hurting still in the evening.



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Theme: Other
Address: Central HuaiHai Road x Xiangyang Road

Name of Shop: Westgate Mall

The Western end of the Nanjing Road has a few more Western oriented malls; West Gate is the first west from the Shimen Yilu metro station. The mall itself is quite small, only a few shops per floor, but there is also an Isetan department store, so the selection is good.

The department store has mostly upscale Asian brands -- that have, funnily, very European names -- and some Western brands, too. The mall hosts, for example, shops of Burberry, Versace and Givenchy (smallish) from the luxury end of the spectrum, and Mango for more affordable garments. There is also Watson's pharmacy on the ground floor.



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Theme: Department Store
Address: 1038 Nanjing Xilu

Name of Shop: Citic Square

Citic Square mall shops are either targeted for those of us with thick wallet or desire for youngful attires. The bottom floors have several upscale boutiques to get rid of all your money, such as Bally, Kenzo, MaxMara, Trussardi and Armani Exchange.

On the upper levels, you can find several stores specialising in young fashion. Miss Sixty is one example, and there are several Chinese and Asian brands, too. Victorinox has a small outlet here as well, and it can come handy if you'd need to purchase a multipurpose tool or excellent luggage. There are a few restaurants in the mall, too.



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Theme: Department Store
Address: 1168 Nanjing Xilu

Name of Shop: Plaza 66

Plaza 66 hosts the most exclusive brand boutiques found in Shanghai. You can empty your wallet, for example, in Prada, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chanel, Dior or Boss shop. And this was only the first floor, the list could be continued with lesser brands from the second and third floor.

The top-most floor have several furniture and interior shops, so if you're going to relocate in Shanghai, don't forget to visit this mall.

The restaurants in the mall are said to be extremely good. We didn't have opportunity to test them, but several independent sources said that they are well worth their value (which is quite much in Shanghainese terms).



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Theme: Department Store
Address: 1266 Nanjing Xilu

Name of Shop: Shanghai Tang

Shanghai Tang, David Tang's East meets West fusion fashion concept store has landed Shanghai for a couple of years ago. There are several locations around the city, we visited the small boutique in Xintiandi.

The clothes and accessories combine Asian aesthetics with Western design and quality. Currently, these garments have also some curiosity value, as they aren't found that easily from Europe or America.

The small shop contains a small selection of clothes and a good variety of scarfs. Pop over while you are going to eat in the Xintiandi restaurants, but remember to save some money for the restaurant bill.



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Theme: Women's Clothes
Phone: +86 21 6384 1601
Address: 15 Xintiandi North Block, Lane 181 Tai Cang Road
Directions: In Xintiandi Plaza
Website: http://www.shanghaitang.com

Name of Shop: Super Brand Mall, 168 Liujiazui Xilu, Shanghai, Ch

If you are located in Pudong, for example in Grand Hyatt or Intercontinental Pudong, you don't have to cross the river to do some serious shopping. Super Brand Mall is the biggest lure on this side of the river, specialising mostly to Chinese and Asian brands.

The ground floor of the mall has the biggest shoe store that I've ever seen; Al Bundy would be green with envy. The goods are not always of top quality, but you can find also real bargains.

The mall contains also a cinema, fast food joints and several reasonably priced restaurants, located on the upper floors.



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Theme: Department Store
Phone: +86 21 6887 78888
Address: 168 Liujiazui Xilu