World City Guide

Shopping

Shanghai’s shopping scene befits its economic status and the city boasts easily the best shopping in China. Brand awareness and access to much-coveted western labels accelerated following China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001. New rules further opening up China’s retail sector will be implemented just before Christmas 2004, and should encourage the few western retailers not already established here, such as Gap and Body Shop, to open shop.

Armani, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Tiffany & Co, Ferrari, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Bulgari have all recently opened new signature stores, and high-end retail outlets such as Plaza 66 on Nanjing Lu, Three on the Bund and Bund 18 complement Huaihai Zhong Lu’s status as Shanghai’s Fifth Avenue. Parkson and Printemps, on Shaanxi Lu, typify the international-style department stores in the former French Concession area. Super-cool boutique clothes outlets, opened by Chinese and international designers, can be found at Xintiandi, Xinle Lu, Taikang Lu and Changle Lu. Further out of town, hypermarkets and mega-malls are sprouting on typically Chinese scale, with Ikea, B&Q and Carrefour operating huge premises. Ikea is at Harvest Building, 585 Long Hua Lu, Xuhui, while Carrefour operates six outlets, including 555 Biyun Lu, Pudong, and a mammoth store in Gubei favoured by expats. TESCO recently announced a 50% stake in the local Hymall supermarket brand.

For tacky tourist memorabilia, nowhere can better the Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar. Open daily, from dawn until dusk, the Xiangyang Fashion and Gift Market, on Huaihai Zhong Lu, offers a plethora of fake brand goods and curios and swarms with touts hawking pirated DVDs and watches. It’s a surefire tourism magent. The most uniquely regional ware from Shanghai is the local blue cloth, patterned in blue and white and similar to batik cloth. The Chinese Printed Blue Nankeen Exhibition Hall, at No 24, Lane 637, Changle Lu, is open daily, 0900-1630, and is the highest quality producer of this. Countless lesser versions are available from all around Yuyuan Bazaar, Maoming Nan Lu, Nanjing Dong Lu and other popular souvenir areas. Silks from Suzhou are also a fine gift – Suzhou itself is obviously the best place to buy these, although Jinguan Silk and Woollen Store, 373 Nanjing Dong Lu, also has some good silks. Good-quality antiques are available among the huge numbers of cheap stalls in Yuyuan Bazaar, while the government Shanghai Antique and Curio Store, 218 Guangdong Lu, sets a higher standard.

Visitors should note that antiques over 100 years old are marked with a red wax seal and an export licence must be issued in order to take them out of the country.

Usual shopping hours in Shanghai are 1000-2200. VAT is charged at 17%, which cannot be reclaimed upon departure.