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Shanghai is chock-a-block with places to spend money. The markup on luxury goods is extremely high in China, and even clothes at American chains are pricier here than in the States. Malls usually don't open until 10 am; boutiques open at 11 am. The upside is that chain stores tend to stay open later, with many closing at 10 pm. Independent shops close by 7:30 pm. Markets generally start earlier, at around 7:30 or 8 am, and close around 6 pm. Most stores are open seven days a week.
Yu Garden, a major tourist haunt in the Old City area of Shanghai, can be overwhelming, but if you’re looking for tchotchkes, hard bargaining brings rewards. Here is where you’ll find imitation jade, tiny Buddha statues, costume jewelry, scarves, and the like. Also check out these streets that specialize in specific traditional products: Fenyang Lu, in the French Concession, and Jinling Lu, west of the Bund, for musical instruments; Fuzhou Lu, between People’s Square and the Bund, in City Center, for books and art supplies, including calligraphy supplies; Changle Lu and Maoming Lu in the Former French Concession for qipao (Chinese-style dresses).
For a traditional massage, you’ll find hundreds of blind massage parlors, inexpensive no-frills salons whose blind masseurs are closely attuned to the body's soft and sore spots. At the other end of the spectrum lie the hotel spas, luxurious retreats where pampering is at a premium.
The eponymous colored ceramics here are designed and hand-painted by the owner and are made in Jingdezhen, once home to China's imperial kilns. Some larger pieces are made with wood salvaged from demolition sites around Shanghai.
You could while away an hour or two in this massive bookstore, which has a huge selection of English-language books for children and adults. The downside here is that there's so much, it's not always organized well, and few of the clerks speak English. Still, wander the floors, and you'll find new and back issues of magazines ranging from Vogue to NationalGeographic, and shelf upon shelf of novels and nonfiction books. Prices are higher than what you'd pay in the States but not terribly so.
Sold here are beautifully embroidered handmade shoes and slippers for men and women, with quirky designs such as cabbages. You’ll also find funky round handled bags, gorgeous children’s shoes and more intricate accessories and trinkets.
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