Things To Do

Sometimes, even in a place as awesome as Shanghai, the real world just doesn’t cut it. Thank goodness for virtual reality, then. Getting away from the crowded streets is as easy as slipping on a fancy headset at a virtual reality arcade. Granted, getting your own VR setup at...

It was bound to happen at some point, wasn’t it? A message from your mum appears on your phone screen: ‘Hey, we’re coming to visit next month! Wait. Do we need a visa? [smiley face] [smiley face] [Chinese flag]’. Whether they’re coming from the other side...

Hidden under the glitz and glam of modern China, Shanghai’s streets are full of stories that have unfolded across the centuries. Here’s where to get a taste of the past in the present. Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 By the early 16th century, a fledgling port town, Shanghai...

There are many places to explore in East Changning – but there’s only one perfect way to spend a day in the buzzing neighbourhood. From people watching in Zhongshan Park, to getting your culture fix at the propaganda museum, to slurping a bowl of Shanghai’s best Sichuan-style noodles,...

Ah, the ever-contested Tianzifang: some love it, others deem it a tourist trap. A fusion of Shanghai’s traditional lanehouses and a growing web of trendy cafés, boutiques, creative spaces and souvenir stores, there’s no doubt that this bustling area of Old Xuhui can be intimidating. Although...

With tons of good eats and plenty of shops, a day on Yuyuan Lu is a must for Shanghai visitors and veterans alike. From high-end shopping to Art Deco masterpieces, and plenty of spots to stop and eat in between, here are a few of the...

The sleek renovation of an old construction materials market into the Shankang Li food and drink hub has put the spotlight back on this Jingan neighbourhood already buzzing with cafés, restaurants and bars. While the new complex is continuing to fill up with venues, it’s already...

Boxed in around Xintiandi, People Square and the area around Nanjing Xi Lu, this street has always been home to a real mix of day and night venues, but it sometimes slips through the cracks, overlooked for its busier neighbours. While it can be walked in...