Shopping · Shanghai · China
Shopping in Shanghai
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Difference engine, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shanghai shopping runs from luxury malls on West Nanjing Road to fabric markets where tailors make suits in days, plus design boutiques in the French Concession and souvenir bazaars around Yu Garden. Best souvenirs: Tailored clothing, Tea and Silk.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Tailored clothing
Where to shop
Nanjing Road West
Luxury and international brands in malls around Jing'an Temple and Plaza 66.
Nanjing Road East
Department stores, Chinese brands and old-name food shops on the pedestrian street.
Former French Concession
Independent designers, vintage shops and concept stores around Anfu Road and Changle Road.
Yuyuan Bazaar
Traditional-style streets around Yu Garden selling tea, fans, chopsticks and silk souvenirs.
Markets
South Bund Fabric Market
Floors of tailor stalls that make suits, shirts and qipao from your choice of fabric in a few days.
Tianzifang
Small craft, design and souvenir shops in the lanes off Taikang Road.
What to buy
Tailored clothing
A made-to-measure shirt or qipao from the fabric market; allow several days and a fitting.
Tea
Longjing green tea from nearby Hangzhou and other regional teas sold by weight with tasting.
Silk
Scarves and fabrics from Jiangsu and Zhejiang; buy from established shops rather than street vendors.
Shanghai-brand nostalgia goods
Retro-packaged local products such as White Rabbit sweets and old Shanghai cosmetics brands.
Chopsticks and ceramics
Lacquered chopstick sets and teaware from shops around Yu Garden.
Streets and markets worth a wander
.jpg){kind=link}
Street · The Bund and People's Square
Nanjing Road
Nanjing Road East is a pedestrian shopping street of about 1.2 km running from the Bund to People's Square, lined with department stores, food halls and neon signs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Xintiandi and Tianzifang
Tianzifang
Off Taikang Road, Tianzifang is a warren of narrow lanes where former workshops and homes now hold craft shops, tea stalls, small galleries and cafés.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Crab shell pastry. Old bakeries and snack shops in the Old City and around Huanghe Road. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Bund and People's Square | $$$$ | Riverfront heritage buildings, Nanjing Road East and the main museums in Huangpu District |
| Former French Concession | $$$ | Plane-tree streets, lane houses, cafés and boutiques in Xuhui and Huangpu |
| Jing'an | $$$$ | Golden temple roofs, West Nanjing Road malls and serviced apartments |
| Lujiazui (Pudong) | $$$$ | Skyscrapers, observation decks and riverside promenades on the east bank |
| Xintiandi and Tianzifang | $$$$ | Restored shikumen lane houses turned into restaurants, bars and craft shops |
| Old City (Yuyuan) | $$ | Yu Garden, temple-style shopping streets and old lanes around Laoximen |
| North Bund and Hongkou | $$ | Older residential streets, Duolun Road and the former Jewish refugee quarter |
| Hongqiao | $$ | Transport hub for Hongqiao Airport and the high-speed rail station |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CNY. Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or most hotels. International hotels and some upmarket restaurants add a service charge of about 10–15% to the bill.
- Local dumpling and noodle shops serve filling meals for a fraction of mall restaurant prices.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you arrive so you are not limited to cash-only options.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in December; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- February: Lantern Festival — lantern displays at Yu Garden (15th day of the lunar new year, February or early March)
- April: Qingming Festival holiday (early April)
- June: Shanghai International Film Festival (usually June)
- June: Dragon Boat Festival — zongzi rice dumplings and races (late May or June)
- September: Shanghai Tourism Festival (usually mid-September to early October)
- September: Mid-Autumn Festival — mooncakes and moon viewing (September or early October)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, couples and shopping
The Bund and People's Square
Riverfront heritage buildings, Nanjing Road East and the main museums in Huangpu District
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Shanghai?
Tailored clothing, Tea, Silk and Shanghai-brand nostalgia goods.
+Where is the best shopping in Shanghai?
Nanjing Road West: Luxury and international brands in malls around Jing'an Temple and Plaza 66.
+What are the best markets in Shanghai?
South Bund Fabric Market and Tianzifang.