Shopping in Shanghai
Discover 33 markets, shops, and shopping spots in Shanghai, China. From local markets to specialty stores — curated from real traveler tips.
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Bu Ye Cheng Communications Market
This is the one of the best-known open-style markets for mobile phones in Shanghai. 1F/2F for new phones (two-way radios too), 3F for second hand including various collectibles. Any reputable vendor that sets up shop here will allow you to try before you buy — if they don't then leave. Best way to get a good or unusual phone at low cost. The selection is a mixed bag; you'll find Chinese off-brands mixed with reliable big-name brands as well as cutting-edge Japanese phones. If you live in North or South America be careful about buying the off-brand phones as most do not support the necessary frequencies for use there. Also, in the secondhand section of the market some of the phones are of dubious origin; CDMA phones may have their ESNs blacklisted in their home countries, but for GSM/3G phones the only issue is an ethical one.
10AM-6PM -
Shiliupu Fabric Market
A warren of tailor shops offering custom made clothes, from tuxedoes to dress shirts to fake designer jackets and ''qipao'', the traditional Chinese dress with a slit up the thigh. The prices are cheap but expect a lot tinkering afterward as your tailor will not be able to remake something as you like unless you tell her exactly what you want. The tailoring itself is average. Bargain hard and be familiar with the prices it would cost at a major retailer. Be ware that this is the place to buy cheap ''tailor-made'' clothing, it will not necessarily be cheap compared to mass-produced, chain store wares - even after bargaining, just getting a mass-produced shirt from an H&M will be about the same price, but the H&M shirt will likely be much better quality.
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Silk qipao shops
A row of shops along Chang Le Lu, between Mao Ming Lu and Shan Xi Nan Lu specializes in silk Qi Paos (traditional Shanghai-style silk dresses), which can be made to measure. The shops are especially popular with Japanese visitors staying at the nearby Okura Garden Hotel. An alternative destination for qipao in Shanghai is along North Shaanxi Road, near the junction with West Nanjing Road, where the most famous qipao workshops of Shanghai are located, including Long Feng. There are also some other qipao stores on Maoming Road, near Huaihai Road.
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New Xiang Yang Market
Also known as AP Plaza, it is located at the Shanghai Science and Technology station on line 2. When you get out of the Metro just look around and you will see different entry points. It is a pretty big underground market and has many areas such as Area A, Area B, etc. They have the usual stuff including fakes of all brands of clothing, watches and handbags. See also Shanghai#Clothing.
Metro Line 2 Science and Tech Stn 9AM-9PM -
Dipingxian Communications Device Market
If you want a new or used phone and don't like what the big-name shops have to offer this is the place to go. From cheap knock-offs to cutting-edge phones, this place has it all. There are also a multitude of parts suppliers and repair shops, as well as a few shops that will help program CDMA phones for use with a local number. Second-hand vendors on 5F.
天目西路99号 10:00-18:00 1F-4F, variable hours for 5F -
Cloud Nine shopping center
9 flours above ground (hence the name) and 2 below heading into metro line 2. Floors 1 to 5 are mainly clothing and fashion accessory Asian and western brands. Floors 6, 7 and 8 have an extensive selection of good restaurants. In the basement is a Carrefour supermarket, a small pharmacy and plenty of fast food restaurants. Worth a look.
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IFC Mall
A very new mall full of luxury brands and high end restaurants, with a CitySuper supermarket in the basement offering a wide variety of expensive western and Japanese food products. If you have been to the IFC mall in Hong Kong then this is almost exactly the same, with the very same shops as well.
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Decathlon (Huamu Store)
French outdoor equipment retailer. Offers cheap, high quality outdoor clothing, backpacks, sports equipment, gym equipment and bicycles in Western sizes. Metro: Lines 2 & 7 Longyang Lu station. Another less convenient location at Jinqiao (no metro).
393 Yinxiao Road Su-Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-10PM -
Brilliance Zhonghuan Mall
Massive shopping mall with multiple restaurants and shops for clothing (including maternity clothing) as well as an Apple Store. This is also home to the only bowling alley within a 2 km radius and the only Baskin-Robbins and Uniqlo in the district.
intersection of Meichuan and Zhenguang Roads Su-Th 10:00-21:30, F Sa 10:00-22:00 -
Jingan Kerry Center
Very new shopping mall with lots of restaurants, clothes shops and an electronics store. Good cinema. In the basement is an Ole' supermarket (a top range China chain) which sells lots of good Western quality food at very high prices.
1563 West Nanjing Road -
Brilliance West Mall
There are many clothing shops and restaurants as well as a home furnishings store, Hola, below the mall. There are a Watsons pharmacy and a Decathlon sports equipment store on the western side facing Jianhe Lu.
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Diva Life Nail & Beauty Lounge
A 2,700 ft² house, mixed with Chinese and European style, is located on Ruijin Er Rd. Established in 1933, this three story complex was once the home of the Jewish wine merchant H.L. Menken.
Ruijin Er Lu -
Fuyou Antique Market
One of several multi-storey markets near Yuyuan metro station, at the northern end of the Old City - shop here for souvenirs, craft both modern and antique, as well as clothes and toys.
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Life Hub @ Daning
A large complex of cloth shops, restaurants, cafés and offices in the middle of Zhabei. A large (domestic) supermarket can also be found here, as well as the Sheraton Four Points hotel.
1928 Gong He Xin Rd Website -
Macalline
Has a huge furniture and bathroom fixtures' mall. It is amazingly well-stocked, and the newer half can even be considered an attraction in itself for the truly bored.
intersection of Meichuan and Zhenbei Roads -
eno
Two storey shop featuring t-shirts, sweatshirts, bags and shoes designed in conjunction with China's hottest up and coming artists. Also has a cafe with Illy coffee.
139-23 Changle Rd Website -
Jiu Guang Shopping Mall
Launched in partnership with the Japanese Sogo chain, this mall has a distinctly Japanese feel to it. Food court in basement as well as 'Fresh Mart' supermarket.
1618 Nanjing Xi Lu, 南京西路1618号8楼, 近华山路 Website -
Garden Books
Good selection of Chinese travel guides, as well as aromatic coffee and flavorful ice cream. Their monthly bric-a-brac sales are a popular local social event.
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Shanghai Light Textile Market
Not to be missed. Despite its name, it also sells various knick-knacks, photo frames, paintings, shoes, and all kinds of dresses, among other things.
Cao'an Road -
Suzhou Cobblers
Beautiful hand-embroidered, Chinese-style silk shoes, slippers, handbags and accessories. A rare combination of historic and modern Shanghai styles.
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Madame Mao's Dowry
Cultural Revolution nostalgia. Prices are stiff enough that buying here is recommended only if cheaper places do not have what you want.
Fu Min Lu -
Super Brand Mall
A very large mall full of stores and restaurants, including UNIQLO, Toys 'R' Us, and Dintaifung (鼎太丰). The top floor has an IMAX cinema.
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Spin Ceramics
Designer ceramics by Chinese artists but with a Japanese flavor, in a stylish minimalist space.
360 Kangding Rd -
3 on the Bund
Houses the nation's flagship Armani store as well as several critically-acclaimed restaurants.
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Torana House
Has Tibetan and Chinese carpets and Tibetan furniture in a contemporary gallery.
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William the BeeKeeper
Vintage inspired clothing and hand-made accessories from local designers.
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Dongtai Road Antique Market
The largest and cheapest antique market, provided you bargain ''hard''.
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China Mobile
Get a mobile phone SIM or topup at this busy store on Nanjing Road
West Nanjing Road -
Tesco Supermarket
Very large supermarket mostly selling domestic Chinese products.
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Reel Shanghai
Brand new upmarket mall with busy food court in the basement
Shop 2A, 1601 Nanjing Xi Lu Website -
Ferguson Lane
A '30s building filled with restaurants and boutique shops.
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Wal-Mart (Chinese: 沃尔玛)
Good place to stock up on supplies if you are in the area.
No. 125 Songhu Road (Chinese: 淞沪路125号)
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Data may have changed — verify opening hours before visiting.
Shopping Guide for Shanghai: Markets, Stores & Souvenirs
Shopping in Shanghai is one of the best ways to experience the city's local culture beyond the usual tourist trail. Whether you're browsing open-air markets for fresh produce and local delicacies, hunting for antiques in backstreet shops, or searching for artisan crafts and design goods to take home, Shanghai's shopping scene has something for every kind of traveler and every budget.
This guide covers 33 shopping spots in Shanghai sourced from Wikivoyage — the traveler-written travel guide — ensuring you're getting recommendations from real visitors who've been there. Unlike algorithmically ranked lists, these are the shops, markets, and stores that travelers actually tell each other about.
Types of Shopping in Shanghai
Shanghai's shopping landscape includes several distinct categories. Markets are the heart of local commerce — weekly or daily gatherings where you'll find fresh food, second-hand clothing, handmade goods, and antiques at prices far below tourist shops. Specialty stores in Shanghai often have decades of history and deep expertise — bookshops, wine merchants, tea rooms, craft suppliers, and independent fashion boutiques. Souvenir and gift shops vary widely in quality: the best ones in Shanghai sell locally made products, while others sell identical mass-produced goods found in every city. This guide steers you toward the former.
Shopping Tips for Travelers in Shanghai
- Visit markets early. The best stalls at Shanghai's markets fill up fast. Arrive in the first hour of opening for the widest selection and freshest goods, especially for food markets.
- Carry local currency. Many independent shops and market vendors in Shanghai prefer cash. Have small denomination local currency on hand to avoid problems at card-only or cash-only stalls.
- Check opening days carefully. Many specialist shops in Shanghai close on Sundays and some close on Mondays or Wednesday afternoons. Always verify hours before making a special trip.
- Ask about provenance. When buying what appears to be locally made or artisan goods in Shanghai, don't hesitate to ask where items are made. Genuine local products make far better souvenirs than imported look-alikes.
- Budget for customs limits. If you're traveling internationally, keep in mind duty-free allowances for your home country, especially for food products, alcohol, and tobacco bought in Shanghai.
- Bargaining culture varies. In some markets in Shanghai light bargaining is expected; in most established shops, the price is fixed. Follow local cues — if other shoppers are negotiating, it's acceptable; if prices are clearly marked, they typically aren't.
Best Souvenirs to Buy in Shanghai
The most meaningful souvenirs from Shanghai are the ones that can't be bought elsewhere — locally produced food and drink, handmade objects by local artisans, books published in the city or about the region, and items that reflect the city's distinct cultural identity. Avoid mass-produced miniatures and branded merchandise that you'll find in identical form in every tourist shop. Instead, focus on the specialty stores and markets listed in this guide where authentic local products are the norm.
Shopping Neighborhoods in Shanghai
Like most cities, Shanghai's best independent shopping is concentrated in specific neighborhoods rather than spread evenly across the city. Historic city centers and old towns tend to have the highest density of specialty shops, antique dealers, and design boutiques. Residential neighborhoods often host the best local food markets and everyday shopping that tourists rarely discover. This guide's listings span the city so you can plan your shopping around whichever neighborhoods you're already visiting.
Meet Fellow Travelers While Exploring Shanghai
Solo travel and group shopping are not mutually exclusive. Many Nomax users find travel companions for market days, afternoon shopping strolls, or finding someone who knows the city well enough to point you to the best local stores. Download Nomax to connect with other travelers currently in Shanghai — whether you want a market guide, a fellow bargain hunter, or simply someone to share the discovery of a great find.
Frequently Asked Questions: Shopping in Shanghai
Where to shop in Shanghai?
Shanghai has 33 curated shopping spots including markets, specialty stores, and local boutiques. This guide covers the best places to shop, from open-air markets with local produce and handmade goods to bookshops, antique dealers, and souvenir stores. Use the Nomax app to connect with fellow travelers who can share their favourite shopping finds in Shanghai.
What souvenirs to buy in Shanghai?
The best souvenirs from Shanghai are those that reflect the city's culture and craftsmanship — local food specialties, artisan products, books about the city or region, handmade ceramics or textiles, and locally produced beverages. Markets are the best place to find authentic souvenirs at fair prices. Other travelers on Nomax often share tips on where to find genuinely local products versus tourist-trap shops.
Are there any markets in Shanghai?
Yes, Shanghai has several markets listed in this guide including weekly food markets, antique fairs, and craft markets. Markets are excellent for experiencing local daily life and finding unique items you won't find in chain stores. Opening days and hours vary — check individual listings for current schedules before visiting.
What are the best specialty shops in Shanghai?
Shanghai has a range of specialty shops covering books, design, fashion, food and drink, antiques, and local crafts. Many of the shops in this guide are independent stores with deep expertise in their niche — a far better experience than mall shopping. The listings here are sourced from traveler community knowledge, so they tend to be the kinds of places locals actually recommend.
How do I find shopping companions in Shanghai?
Download Nomax to instantly connect with other travelers in Shanghai. Whether you want a local recommendation, a shopping companion for a market day, or someone who knows where to find the best local products, Nomax lets you chat with and meet fellow travelers in the city. It's free and available on iOS and Android.
Is it safe to shop in Shanghai as a solo traveler?
Shopping in Shanghai is generally safe for solo travelers. At markets, keep an eye on your belongings and use a secure bag. For valuable purchases, ask for receipts and check the return policy. When browsing late-evening markets, stick to well-lit areas. Connect with other travelers on Nomax for up-to-date safety tips from people currently in Shanghai.
Explore Shanghai with fellow travelers
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