Shanghai Shopping
Overview
When outsiders and foreigners come to Shanghai, they would invariably like to buy some of those commodities with special Shanghai flavor to be brought back home as souvenirs, keepsakes or gifts for their relatives and friends. As a "shoppers' paradise" for the world's tourists, Shanghai should be able to proffer the world's exquisite goods.
Nanjing Road has seen new features with its old face in regression in these few years. On one hand, long-established stores and old famed restaurants have "recovered their youthful vigour", and their business now continues to thrive as ever before. While on the other hand, utterly new shopping centres have sprung up like mushrooms such as Mosta, Manhattan Square, Wings Dressmarket and Sincere Company, providing a vast space for the buyers to pick up what they would like to have. On Nanjing Road one can find not only distinctly characterised "Homes of Famous-brand Goods", but also elegant eating houses tastefully laid out. There the mellow fragrance of hot coffee now and then is being wafted to you by the breeze; and fairly often lingers in the air the reveberation of merriment of video game players.
It is Huaihai Road that has been fulfilling this requirement for elegant articles on the highest plane. Esprit, Nick, Jeans West, Dison and some other exclusive stores or counters selling brands of goods of international fame are of "Five-Star" grade as has been used to grade luxury hotels, one of which you will find just on the same road----Jinjiang Hotel.
The Old Temple of City God wherein lies Yuyuan the Happy Garden, and the Old Shanghai County Seat City proper retain their classical or antique features in a way. As the first-stage renovation of the used-to-be "kingdom of small commodities", there you will find a complete range of varieties of tourists' souvenirs possessing the unique features of the local Shanghainese taste.
Lastly, Xujia Hui(used to be a border assembly area years ago) has now been built into a new commerce and shopping assembly area. There have gone up Oriental Shopping Centre, Pacific Department Store plus its square, Daqian Centre of Delicious Foods, Jianguo Hotel, Huating Sheralton Hotel and the like. If you go there, to be sure, you will feel the out-of-the-common breath of spirit of this metropolis in the Orient--its name is SHANGHAI!
Specialities
Filigrees
Shanghainese are good at business and are growing wealthier by the day. Jewelry stores filled with gold, platinum, and silver can be found all over the city. The most favored metals are gold and platinum. Also, when giving wedding gifts or birthday presents, Shanghainese might give gold statues that may cost as much as USD 1,000.
Jade and Ivory Carvings
Shanghai jade and ivory carvings are relatively famous throughout China. While ivory collecting may not be of particular interest to some for its ecological harm, jade is quite another matter. Jade, a beautiful stone, comes in an array of colours and can be carved in many styles. In Shanghai, popular styles include figurines, birds, beasts, and decorated bottles. In fact, jade bottles are very Chinese and might make an excellant addition to your home's decor.
LocalRiver Crabs
If you are looking for a real Shanghai experience, then ask a local about Dazhaxie or local river crabs. Shanghainese go absolutely insane over these delicacies every autumn. The Chinese have a saying that female crabs are to be eaten in September and male crabs in October. This saying has to do with the amount of yellow (the eggs of the female) and paste (white matter in the male) in the crabs. The crabs of ChongmingIsland in the Yangtze River and YangchengLake in JiangsuProvince are relatively famous in the Shanghai area. The larger crabs are boiled in large pots and smaller crabs are cooked in a coating of flour or in a red sauce.
Silk
Shanghai is one of China's most important regions for silk production and export. Of course, then, the city is a great place to pick up some deals while in China. The variety of silk fabrics available is astounding. Silk of various grades, satin, damask silk, silk gauze, brocade, crape, velvet, spun silk, and sheer silk are all available. Printed and embroidered silk are also very popular and plentiful. As Chinese silk is famous throughout the world for its elegance and beauty, silk itself is an excellent reason to come to Shanghai. But always bargain when silk shopping. Shopkeepers will never give a 'Chinese' price if you have a 'foreign' face.
Weaving and Embroidery
In Shanghai, one can find excellent weaving and embroidery in many different styles. Shanghai rugs are finely detailed creations with traditional motifs and designs, and are mainly made by hand with wool. Rugs and carpets of silk are also made in Shanghai.
Silk tapestries made in Shanghai are characterized by their smooth feel and traditional Chinese scenes and subjects such as mountains and lakes.
Department Stores and Malls Index
HongqiaoFriendshipShopping Center
Address: 6 Zunyi Road
Telephone: 8621-62700000
Isetan
Address: 1038 Nanjing Road West
Telephone: 8621-63751111
Printemps
Address: 939-947 Huaihai Road (M)
Telephone: 8621-64310118
Shanghd No.1 Department Store
Address: 830 Nanjing Road (E)
Telephone: 8621-63223344
Orient Shopping Centre
Address: 8 Caoxi Road North
Telephone: 8621-64071947
Yaohan Department Store
Address: 501 Zhangyang Road, Pudong
Telephone: 8621-58301111
Shanghai Friendship Store
Address: 40 Beijing Road (E)
Telephone: 8621-63294600
Foreign Language Bookstores
Address: 390 Fuzhou Road (branches in hotels and Friendship stores)
Telephone: 8621-63223200
Bird and Flower Market
Address: Huangpi Road between Nanjing Road and Weihai Road
Huating Market
Address: Huating Road between Changle Road and Huaihai Road (M)
Zhonghua Xin Lu Market
Address: 100 Hengfeng Road
