Famous Shopping Centers and Stores
The Grand Gateway is the largest shopping all in Xujiahui district. As you enter the main entrance of this massive and modern shopping center, you are swallowed up by the atrium that spans seven floors with 245 shops, recreational facilities and restaurants. Shoppers will find entertainment venues ranging from the Bridge Street Dance Club to mini-gold. With its plentiful leisure options, The Grand Gateway appeals to all ages, an ideal outing for the whole family. Located on 2118 Hua Shan Road.
Orient Shopping Center has it all. On the first floor, you will find cosmetics, jewelry, pens, watches, and luggage. The next three floors display men's and women's fashions, along with office supplies, household goods. The top floor houses children's wear, shoes and toys. The Fun Dazzle children's play area gives parents time browse while the children let off energy and have fun. Located on 8 Northwest Cao Road.
Shanghai Westgate Mall is a favorite among Shanghainese shoppers.
It is among the most popular malls in Shanghai. With big names like Haagan Daaz, Isetan, Giovanni Valentino, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Burberry settingup shop here, who can stay away? The spacious mall is designed in a contemporary style but has borrowed much from the classical. The dominant color is blood orange, and he environment is comfortable. You are bound to find something with your name on it in the ten levels of shops, many of them high-end apparel boutiques. Also try some of the Chinese and Western restaurant available. Located on 12F Westgate Tower, 1038 West Nanjing Road.
International Shopping Center occupies a floor space of 40,000 square meters and is a place for shopping, food, amusement and office work. It has a unique layout and has paths among streets, small stores in big shops and small gardens among big ones.
It consists shops such as Huating Istan, Blue Belt International Amusements, and Fragrant Island Gourmet Food Plaza. On the 6th floor, there are all kinds of specialty merchandise stores, it is ideal place for customers to enjoy the elegant environment, unique fashionable design, and the best price as well. It also include couple specialized duty-free shops that supplies imported merchandise. Located at the intersection of Huaihai Zhong Road and Chengdu Road.
Parkson Shopping Center is one of the main consumption places on Huihai Road. In the Spacious and bright shopping center, you may buy all the best commodities from the world, which are arranged in an appreciate way. The customers may not only buy the goods, but also enjoy the layout. Clothes, footwear, and gold jewelry are the most attractive things in this center. Located on 918 Huaihia Zhong Road.
Hong Qiao Friendship Shopping Center is a tourist-friendly store carries more than just the usual assortment of souvenirs. The Friendship Store has two floors of the latest designer apparel for men and women with brand names such as Elle, Ports and Lacoste. Sporting goods, office supplies, and traditional contemporary Chinese furnitures are on the fourth floor, while home appliances and audio-visual goods can be found on the first floor. Often used as a venue for fashion shows and promotional events, then atrium coffee area makes an ideal meeting spot. Located on 6 South Zun Yi Road.
Shanghai First Department Store covers an area of 120,00 square meters and has more than 1,000 counters. It deals 40,000 kinds of goods of 60 categories. It is the largest store that receives the largest number of customers and registers the highest business volume in the country. Located on 830 East Nanjing Road.
Shanghai First Food Store is developed from Xinxin Co. and got the present name in 1956. It is the largest comprehensive food store in the city and sells fresh and dried food from other parts of the country or imported from other countries. Located on 720 Nanjing Road.
Xujiahui Commercial City covers an area of 1.2 square kilometers. The city includes Oriental Trade Mansion, Pacific Department Store, Huijin Department Store, Sixth Department Store, Zhongxing Department Store, Huilian Trade Mansion, Bailaohui, Xinluda Department Store. Located in Xujiahui District in Southwest of Shanghai
Women's Article Shop is the first of its kind in the country and has a special counter of clothes of middle-aged women. This shop deals famous, new and special commodities and high-grade commodities from other parts of the country or imported from other countries. Located on 449 Huaihai Road.
Hualian Trade Mansion was rebuilt in 1987. It has become one of the modern department stores in Shanghai. It has been ranked as one of the first three best department stores in terms of sales in the country for several years in a row. Located on 635 Nanjing Road.
Paris Spring Department Store Co. demonstrates a mixture of French and classical architecture and a modern style, selling clothes of the top international brands. Located on 939 HuaiHai Road.
New World Ltd., Co. is the largest modern trade mansion in Puxi Area and deals general merchandise and medium- and high grade commodities. Located on 2 West Nanjing Road.
Shopping along Old Town
This town is a large area which consists of separate attractions occupying several square blocks. There is a temple; a teahouse and crooked bridge; shopping within the Yuyuan complex; and further shopping on the outside perimeter. In recent years, it has split into two commercial street markets called Yuyuan Old Street and Yuyuan Fashion Street. As you enter the Old town, you will walk through the Yuyuan Old Street which borders on the Yuyuan bazaar.
Shanghai's Old town with a history of more than 400 years is one of the 10 major sights in Shanghai. Constructed in 1559 during the reign of Ming Emperor Jiajing, the landscape of pavilions, halls, rockeries and ponds all display a Southern-Chinese style as seen during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
This town is a large area which consists of separate attractions that occupy several square blocks. There is a temple; a teahouse and crooked bridge; shopping within the Yuyuan complex; and further shopping on the outside perimeter. In recent years, it has spilt into two commercial street markets called Yuyuan Old Street and Yuyuan Fashion Street. As you enter the Old town, you will walk through Yuyuan Old Street which borders around the Yuyuan bazaar.
If you're a visitor to China,you will find the Old town very unique and interesting. Old town is open all year round, but the best time to go is during spring festival when the street market is decorated with lights and lanterns in preparation for Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year. The lights, lanterns and music all add to the festivity of the spring festival and put you in a good mood. However too much of a good thing can also be bad. With the influx of tourists and citizens during this festive period, it becomes unbearably crowded and the prices of souvenirs and food might increase.
Yuyuan bazaar reflects the changes of the last century. It has become the city's largest flea market, although it was not originally set up to be a shopping district. There are shops specializing in things such as fans, scissors, brushes, Chinese inkstones and chops carved out of jade or wood, walking sticks and traditional Chinese costumes. Pearls from Lake Tai are sold everywhere and can be a good buy provided you have a good eye for it. Do wander, take pictures and shop around the surrounding areas and not just in Yuyuan bazaar it.
Yuyuan Old Street
Connecting with the crooked Bridge in the south, Yuyuan Garden in the east and the small commodity market in Fuzhou Road in the north is Yuyuan Old Street. It's 100 meters long and gathers over 40 traditional Chinese brands and specialty stores selling Chinese commodities. Also known as "the kingdom of small commodities in Shanghai", it is a good place to buy souvenirs because the vendors here are less pushy than those at Yuyuan Bazaar.
You can find a wide range of things including PLA army supplies; Jinshan-style folk paintings and Hu Yongkai watercolour prints. If you can appreciate ancient Chinese art, you will like the old illustrated books, calligraphy manuals and calligraphy scrolls that are found here. There are also souvenirs like Yixing teapots, old poster advertisements, bank notes, Chinese brushes, giant rocks and Tibetan jewellery. Do remember to bargain because marked prices are generally triple what the object is really worth, even in the department stores.
Yuyuan Fashion Street
At the south end of Yuyuan Bazaar is Yuyuan Fashion Street. It is 60 meters long and includes over 20 stores for art accessories, snacks, silk and fashion.
Old Town Gods Temple Antique Market
The Old Town Gods Temple Antique Market which is situated at Fang bang zhong lu Road is one of the main Taoist temples of Shanghai Zhengyi School of Taoism. This temple adjoins to Yuyuan Garden and is not just a famous tourist attraction. The bazaar here is also a good place for shopping. There are more than 100 shops selling small commodities as well as a shopping center.
The basement of the Huabao Building in the centre of the bazaar houses a collection of established antique shops. These antique shops specialize in antique watches, carved wood and pottery.
On the upper floors of the building, Chinese dresses, silk, bags and scarves can be found. These stalls accept all major credit cards. The sales staff can be a bit pushy and as usual, do remember to bargain.
Dragon Gate Department Mall
This newly opened Dragon Gate Mall brings a more upmarket and modern 'East-meets-West' flavour to the Old Town.
How to get there
Take Metro Line No.1 and get off at Huangpi Road S. metro station to reach Huaihai Middle Road. Exit at exit 2, walk straight and cross two traffic lights. At Wang Jiao Restaurant, make a right and take bus 932 to Yuyuan Bazaar.
Shopping along Qipu Road
Qipu Lu is probably the closest,one can get to a wholesale clothes market in Shanghai instead of going to the factories themselves. The closest station is Nanjing Road E. on Metro line No.2. You can take a taxi (only 11rmb) or walk from there if you have time, just to experience all the wheeling and dealing happening on the footpath along the way.
Qipu Llu is famous for its clothes, shoes, accessories, bags, swim wears and jewelry which are all affordable. There are three shopping malls, on each corner of an intersection of Qipu lu, each with about 4-5 stories of shops, all filled with trendy and fashionable made-in-China clothing.
If you are looking for footwear, do check out Xing Wang Fu Shi Shi change Market at No.168 Qipu Road. You know you are in the right shopping mall because the entire floor of the basement sells shoes. Do go early however as it closes at 5.30pm. Also, after you go through one mall, you will find that the other malls sell similar goods.
The building is structured as follows:
Basement: Shoes and replicas of branded wallets and bags
1st level: Very messy level full of clothes, accessories and cosmetics. On this level you can bargain to slash up to 70% off the original price.
2nd level: Clothes are a little more presentable on this level and a little more unique. As a result, one's bargaining power decreases a little though you can still slash 50% off the original price. This level also retails a lot more local designer wear. You can tell by the neater and more elaborate shop decorations; some even with black chandeliers and floor rugs.
The 3rd & 4th level: On this level you can find the best replicas of Japanese brands and other brands. The quality of the clothes here on the 3rd and 4th levels is usually better than those on the lower levels. Bargaining power however decreases to the least on this level. Slash 30% off the original price.
This is a hardly known fact- A lot of little shops you see along the streets of Shanghai obtain most of their products from Qipu Road. What they do is trim the loose threads off nicely and then attach their own labels. If you know how to bargain, this wholesale market is a treasure trove and one of the cheapest places to buy clothes, accessories and shoes.
Beside one of the shopping malls is a small crowded lane at the ground floor catering mostly to ladies, with shops selling all sorts of accessories and clothes. You can even do a manicure and hair extensions. Opposite this lane is a food street.
Tips
Show maximum disinterest in the product you are asking for. If you look very keen, they know that you want it and will not hesitate to raise the price.
Bargaining is a must, and you should be prepared to bargain hard. The fact is whatever price you give at the start will still be rejected as too low, so start low (e.g. how much you think it is really worth). Remember, the higher your starting price, the more you have to pay eventually!
As a rule of thumb, one should start bargaining at 1/4 of the price quoted and try to walk away if they are picky with the prices. If your quoted price is not too far off the mark, they usually will beckon you back. If they ignore you, it means the price quoted is too low (loss-making). If you really like the piece, walk back and add 10/20RMB to your original price. But fret not, the shops carry more or less the same items so if you are diligent enough you can find it in another shop.
Honor the price if you do win the bargain.
How to get there
Qipu Road is by Henan Road and not far off from the Bund. You can take Metro Line No.2 to Nanjing Road E. metro station then travel by foot from exit 3 of Nanjing Road E. station (approx. 15 mins) or take a taxi for a minimum of 11RMB from the station.
Shopping at the Shanghai Outlets
If you prefer to shop in the quieter out- of -town places instead of the crowds in city centre, you should spend a day shopping while enjoying the ecological scenery of The Shanghai OUTLETS.
It's divided into 3 big areas labelled A, B, C. The following are downloadedmaps to each area:
Located in the Zhaoxiang town of Qingpu suburb, 26km from Shanghai People's Square, Shanghai Outlets has 240 discount stores featuring many major fashion brands. The most popular stores are the sportswear brands Nike and Adidas.
The design of Shanghai Outlets is that of a plaza rather than a store. The vast area is divided into 3 districts A, B and C: Branded goods, Sports and Casual, Food and Entertainment.
Top brand international luxury goods are located in District A. Burberry, Bally and Trussardi are among the new arrivals at The Shanghai OUTLETS, joining a legion of brands such as Roberto Cavalli, Armani, Zegna, Givenchy, Canali, Swarovski and Hugo Boss. In fact, you can find pretty much all the big names found on Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road.
In District B, you will find less expensive but equally popular brands such as Quiksilver, Nautica, Samsonite, Ashworth, CK Underwear, Lacoste, Sisley, United Colors of Benetton, Le Coq Sportif, Esprit, Nine West, Miss Sixty and many others. There is something for babies and children at Bao da xiang departmental store which is also located at district B. This three- storey department store carries mostly local brands but designer kids clothing Oshkosh and Hello Kitty can also be found. Apart from Bao da xiang, The United Colors of Benetton outlet store also carries a good range of children's clothes.
District C is where the fast food joints, caf¨¦s and restaurants are at. It also houses Kookai, Olivia Lauren, and Marisa outlet stores on level 1, Von Dutch, Timberland, Fila, Lamborghini on level 2 and many other local clothing brands.
Shanghai Outlets is a good place to buy genuine products, with wider choices of world-wide famous brands and much lower prices than in downtown Shanghai.
Shopping is also very enjoyable because the area is so vast, shoppers do not congregate and crowd the place like normal shopping malls. Another major plus is the larger changing rooms that some downtown stores lack. Moreover, you seldom have to queue.
However, not all customers are impressed. While the setting and atmosphere at Shanghai Outlets is very similar to the U.S., prices are not. In fact, you might be a tad disappointed by the prices and the variety if you have shopped at other factory outlets around the world.
While some rejoice at the discounts, others lament that most of the clothes are off-season clothes. "Their downtown stores have the same discounts regularly, sometimes the price is even lower," says one customer at the Nike outlet store. Some of the off-season clothes are discounted by 50-70 percent.
There are two other outlet stores such as FoxTown in Xujiahui area and The Nike factory outlet store situated at Thumb Plaza at Fangdian Rd.- Pudong, close to Century Park.
Location: 2888 Huqingping Highway,
Songzhong Road, Zhaoxiang Town, Qingpu District
Business Hours: 10:00am ¨C 21:00pm daily
Tel: +86 (0) 21 5975 6060
