Your guide to Shanghai’s hotspots

Nightlife is an important part of Shanghai culture. As China's business center, with the most expatriates and foreigners, Shanghai's bar scene is quite different from Beijing's bar-star vibe. The nightlife is more sophisticated and multi-cultural. The beautiful Bund, dazzling department stores on Nanjinglu, Huaihailu and Xujiahui streets and intimate bars along old and new bar strips make for a unique night out. Here are some of Shanghai's hotspots for shopping, dining and partying according to China Daily.

The beautiful Bund

After a long day in front of their computers, many young professionals go to rest their eyes on the Bund's beautiful scenery. The 1,500-metre Bund runs from Waibaidu Bridge in the north at the mouth of Suzhou River south to Jingling Road formerly known as the Far East Wall Street. When the sun sets, colorful lamps contrast with the glitzy Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower on the opposite bank of the Pujing River.

Although the Bund's buildings were designed by different architects over different periods, they go together well. Some of the most well known spots are the British-style Dongfeng Restaurant, in the old Shanghai Club building; the Greek style No.12 Bund Igloo in a former HSBC building, and the Customs Building, a sister building to the old HSBC bank.

Shopping

Piles of office paperwork may wear them out, but that doesn't stop trendy young women's pursuit of fashion. Fashion mavens make good use of their time after work scurrying between the shopping malls. In Shanghai, there are three major shopping districts for night-shoppers

*Nanjinglu bustling shopping street

The first business street in Shanghai, the well-known Shiliyangchang developed in the early 20th century selling imported goods, Nanjinglu has long been China's best and busiest shopping street running from the Bund in the east to Jingan Temple in the west. The pedestrian section connecting the Bund to the People's Square is where Shanghai locals like to go shopping.

Don't miss the four 19th century department stores - Shanghai No.1 Department Store, formerly Daxin; Huanlian Shopping Mall, formerly Yongan; Shanghai Fashion Company, formerly Xianshi, and the No.1 Food Store, formerly Xinxin.

As well as these large department stores, there are small specialist shops like Laofengxiang Gold shop, Laojiefu Silk shop, Wuliangcai Glasses shop, and Guociqi national porcelain shop as well as plenty of restaurants.

Prices of many products are negotiable despite their price tags and tired shoppers can ride the mini-sightseeing car circling the pedestrian street for RMB 2.

*Sophisticated Huaihai Street

Huaihailu is as famous as Nanjinglu for its shopping. Nanjinglu may be the symbol of Shanghai shopping but Huaihailu is more tasteful, stylish and fashionable.

Even window shopping and strolling along Huaihailu is a pleasure. All the stores are stylishly decorated and shoppers are greeted by well-mannered, fashionably dressed young staff. Huaihailu has 400 stores, and the most prosperous part is the 2.2-kilometre street between Shaanxilu and Xizanglu where the Pacific Department Store, Huaihai shop and Shanghai Times Plaza are located. Famous stores include Parkson, Printemps, Yongxin Mansion and Huating Isetan, selling top-class brands at sky-high prices. There are also some specialty shops, such as Women's Stuff Shop, Gujin Bra Shop, and Quanguo Tutechan selling products from all over China.

*Rising Xujiahui

Xujiahui's charm lies in its mix of stores. Dongfang Shangsha (Oriental Mansion), Pacific Department Store, and Huijin Department Store offer top-class brands, Liumai mainly sells averagely priced brands, and Huilian Mansion sells cheaper products with weekend specials.

There are also plenty of trendy restaurants for hungry shoppers at Xujiahui. On the ground floor of Ganghui Square, there is a European style outdoor cafe strip selling fashionable food. Opposite is the Hongji Leisure Plaza selling everything from mutton shashlik (a kind of kebab) to Brazilian barbecues, homemade dishes and delicacies of every kind. The cafe street on Tianyaoqiaolu specializes in household dishes.

Xujiahui also features a Catholic church, an astronomical observatory and Shanghai's earliest library.

Nightlife

Just like in other cities, bars are a big part of Shanghai's nightlife. But Shanghai's bar scene has its own characteristics: a lot of foreigners of all races get together to listen to famous resident bands. Here are some of Shanghai's hot bar strips.

*Hengshan street: a classic bar strip

Next to the boisterous and colorful Huaihailu and Xujiahui, Hengshanlu is Shanghai's classic quieter bar strip. Situated next to the embassy area, Hengshanlu is a hybrid of exotic extravagance and local down market joints. Lush phoenix trees lining the street and Western-style buildings give the feeling of being in a foreign country.

Sasha's is a typically extravagant bar on Hengshanlu located in a building that used to be the mansion of former Kuomingtang president Jiang Kaishi. After redecoration, it became a symbol of aristocracy. Sasha's has three floors, featuring a quiet cafe bar, a French restaurant, and a nightclub. The menu is only in English and the waiters don't speak Chinese. Other popular bars are the Mexican Zapata's which has weekly dance parties; Hongfan, a popular club among young professionals and university students; the simply decorated jazz bar; Hot Chocolate, and Canglongge or hiding dragon house - the only Chinese bar.

*Maoming Nanlu: Shanghai's "Sanlitun"

Much like Beijing's famous Sanlitun bar strip, Maoming Nanlu is unpretentious and simply offers patrons a good time. Judystoo bar has been around a long time and still attracts a lot of bar-hoppers. The shining star on this street is Babyface, filled with Shanghai's beautiful people. Babyface is a lounge bar similar to trendy New York bars.

*Xintiandi: night market and best outdoor bar area

Reconstructed from the old Shikumen (a gate with a column stone door frame and wooden doors) area, Xintiandi exudes the flavor of old Shanghai.Famous nightspots on Xintiandi include Shanghai Dongmei Canyin Yule Zhongxin (Dongmei Food and Entertainment Center), a meeting place for stars and their fans; Colored Glaze Restaurant owned by Taiwanese film star Yang Huishan with a colorful crystal palace dining room; a French restaurant featuring Parisian cabaret and an underground cellar dining room; a Japanese music restaurant playing hot rock music every night; and a South American flavor Brazilian barbeque restaurant. There are also many fashionable stores closely following the international trends in the area. But watch your wallet because Xintiandi is famous for its high prices.

Bars and Clubs

Just like in other cities, bars are a big part of Shanghai's nightlife. But Shanghai's bar scene has its own characteristics: a lot of foreigners of all races get together to listen to famous resident bands. Here are some of Shanghai's hot bar strips.

*Jululu: a chilled out bar strip

If you want to completely unwind in a friendly atmosphere, try Jululu Street. Famous bars include Manhattan bar, the last to close at night, the Japanese style For You Bar, and Goodfellas Bar.

*Duolunlu: reminiscence in a cultural atmosphere

Duolunlu Street is a comparatively quiet bar strip. Pebble tracks and old buildings are reminiscent of Shanghai's past splendors. Famous bars include the film-themed coffee bar Old Film Cafe; the 1920 Cafe which has porcelain ware displays, and Nuosang JiaKang, a Tibetan style teahouse.

*Fuxing Park: iron triangle

There are three nightspots in Fuxing Park. Park 97 is a favorite among Shanghai's experienced nightlife animals. Guandi is frequented by Hong kong stars. Partclub, a nationwide karaoke chain, is just a five-minute-walk away, and is a fun place to unwind after shopping.