Night life in Shanghai is gentle and colorful because life here is much more than life itself. It is elegant. The scenery at night has to be seen and the Bund is a must. The ornate classical and modern buildings take on a new and exciting look as they are lit up by an abundance of colored lights. Looking across the Huangpu River to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower is a magical sight. A night-time Huangpu River cruise presents a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the night life on the Bund. 30 or so boats carry tourists;These include deluxe boats, ancient dragon boats of Ming and Qing styles, boats of Shikumen style of old Shanghai, Pirate Boat, etc. The boat fare is CNY 68. Whatever kind of boat you take, the view to be seen here at night will be sure to live on in your memory for years to come.
Leaving the scenery aside, walking westward along Nanjing East Road, you will quickly reach the famous Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, the gaily illuminated shops are an exciting backdrop to the cheerful crowds that come here after dark to enjoy the carefree atmosphere, where it is possible to pick up a bargain or enjoy a tasty morsel to eat.
Subway Line 1 links Shanghai's three main shopping areas: Nanjing Road, Huanhai Road and Xujiahui. Something that is most convenient for those who like their shopping expeditions! Most of the shops will close at 10 pm but that is when the tea houses and bars really come into their own and the night is still young!
Tea Houses open 24 hours a day. Apart from enjoying a lone taste of tea, you can invite several friends and play cards or just chat. Once you are here, you can experience all this for yourself. Fashionable entertainments are favorites with young people. When night falls, Shanghai bathes in the light of various entertainment venues. Nightclubs, Karaoke, discos, bars and coffee houses are all popular night time meeting places.
Shanghai Xin Tian Di has many visitors. If you are visiting Shanghai for the first time, it is much safer to go Xin Tian Di for the night life. Xin Tian Di, the most fashionable area cultivated in the distinctive Shikumen Buildings, the architectural styles of both west and east from the 1920s and 1930s Shanghai around South Huangpi Road and Xingye Road, has become the popular place to go. Every building has a modern interior and has become an international gallery, fashion shop, themed restaurant, coffee house or bar. Bars are where young white collars discuss their work or talk about life; even hard questions on the desk get solved here! Open-air bars are popular here also. Xin Tian Di offers the most choice and favorable appreciation. The arrival of more and more boutiques, designer shops and luxury goods stores continually adds to the enjoyment of Xin Tian Di.
ARK Live House is a music restaurant and music bar
Address: No. 15, north block of Xin Tian Di, No. 181, Taicang Road, Shanghai
Ven Ice is a coffee bar, located at Unit 1, No. 22, north block of Xin Tian Di, No. 181, Taicang Road, Shanghai
Shanghai's first bars were opened in Hengshan Road, and they remain more popular than those elsewhere. Close to Xujiahui Commercial Circle, Hengshan Road is situated in a convenient situation. Here there are bars in great numbers, side by side and in which you can take tea or coffee. A wide variety of bars ranging from the brash to more intimate and quiet abound to suit your every mood. Thus, Hengshan Road at night can be one of the most bustling places in Shanghai.
Maoming South Road: An upwardly mobile bar street.
This is where the foreign guests like to stay. The old but noted bars like Judystoo are still popular with visitors. Newly-opened Babyface's business is booming. The Colors and Face clubs inside the Ruijin Hotel in the street add their own touch of splendor to this road.
Babyface is a lounge bar and often full of people as it is where young people like to congregate.
Address: No. 180, Maoming South Road
Fuxing Park, located at No.2, Haolan Road, Shanghai, is the only well-preserved French park in China, so people also call it "France Garden". Altogether there are three clubs here. They are Park97, Guandi and Cash Box.
Among them, Park97 is where veterans spend their nights through. Three popular food and entertainment grounds, Baci Restaurant of Italian cuisine, Tokio Joe Restaurant with its Japanese cuisine and the California Club from Hong Kong Lan Kwai Fong make up Park97. Compared with that in Xin Tian Di, nightlife here is not that showy but exudes an everlasting glamour. With elegance, exoticism, top-rank wine and music, Park97 has its special charm. Guandi, the most noted club here, is the first superior club opened in China after Taibei's. Cash Box (Qian Gui) as Shanghai's oldest, most renowned KTV has the largest scale. The branch in Fuxing Park is the best of all in Shanghai.
One more highlight of nightlife in shanghai is the Portman Acrobatic Show, which will surely bring you a memorable experience.
Travelers' Voices on Shanghai Nightlife
1.
Nov. 18,2009 09:28 Reply
Mrs.linlu (Canada) said:
Can anyone tell me name of area where there is large buddha statue with two thumbs up or down. This area has irish pub; Indian food, and lots of other restaurants, shops.
Nov. 19,2009 02:59
Mr.JAMESWONG(China) replied:
I guess you mean the Mural Bar in Yongjia Road, near Hengshan Rd. There is buddha statue as you decribed there. You mean Hengshan Road. This is a well know area with many bars and stores.
2.
Nov. 3,2009 06:32 Reply
Mr.Rohan(India) said:
Hey guys,
Am in Shanghai from 14th Nov 2009 till 3rd Dec 2009, which are the good bars to go to? any suggestions? If anybody is local out there, do let me know, and we can party together. :)
Nov. 3,2009 22:56
Mr.Shan replied:
You may see my suggestions to Ms. Vilma below. More for your choice: Richy and Guandii (at Fuxing Park), MUSE (1266, Nanning West Road).
Nov. 13,2009 12:09
Mr.alan(british) replied:
you can try bulldog pub, located at Wulumuqi nan Rd.(near dongping Rd.)
3.
Oct. 27,2009 14:17 Reply
Ms.VILMA(Italy) said:
forgot to write that I would be in Shanghai days 7 and 8th of november , saturday nite planning to go out, sunday play a normal tourist, after a looooooooooong hard working week!!
any advice??? tks!!
Nov. 3,2009 22:51
Mr.Leo replied:
Would you like to relax at a bar at night? The Baby Face in Huaihai Middle Road and the Barbarossa at the People's Park are good suggestions. Altervatively, you could watch the Portman Acrobatic Show: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/shanghai/entertainment/portman-acrobatic-show.htm
4.
Jul. 30,2009 05:30 Reply
Mr.Omar(italia) said:
Hey good evening everyone
I am living now in shanghai for 2 years , i just arrived and dont now very wel where to go!
i love house music abd commercial music where everyone dance!
Please some good places??
thanks a lot
Omar
Jul. 31,2009 03:36
Ms.Sarah(Singapore) replied:
Hengshan Road and Maoming Road are famous bar streets. You can go there to find your favorate bars. Julu Road is also a good choice. It has the Goodfellas Bar which is terrific for the music.
Aug. 19,2009 06:38
Mr.Danielo(France) replied:
The best club in shanghai ? Club G of course...
And xintiandi area is so glamour ! No strange girls, good music, and finally the best entertaining place I know : they even offer drinks to their guests !
Cheers
Aug. 24,2009 10:04
Mr.ameer(sa) replied:
Can we make a frinedship Omar? Are you in Shanghai?please E-mail me: ameerccc@gmail.com
Sep. 28,2009 08:06
Mrs.rana (lebanon) replied:
hi am lebanese female
can u give me some good address for bars and nights in shanghaii?
Oct. 27,2009 14:07
Ms.Vilma(Italy) replied:
Ciao Omar,
are u still living in Shanghai? if so pls drop me a line if ok with u, vivo in Italia, ma non Italiana sono da Rep Dom, but travel very often to china for business...vilma_hen@hotmail.com
tks!!
5.
Oct. 9,2009 22:09 Reply
Mr.Peter(Shanghai) said:
Hey everybody, I live in Shanghai as an expat since 6 years and all these comments gives me a big grin. How can anyone recommend WESTERN places to visitors from Western places in such a vibrant city than Shanghai? There are TONS of LOCAL places which foreign visitors are very welcome than rather ZAPATA which is a place where there is constant fighting going on amongst foreigners, Hengshan lu Bars are for those which dont mind being ripped off by Bar ladies and last but not least, TONGREN LU Bars are just covered up prostitute places for foreign visitors. I really cant believe all these recommendations here!!
Xian Tian Di...well, a place to go once but it does'nt reflect anything about Asia (isn't that what tourist's or visitors want to see?)
More than welcome to help those which want to see real shanghai...just drop me a message (kpl61@live.com)
Oct. 20,2009 00:20
Mr.J(Canada) replied:
Hi Peter, I enjoy ballroom dancing. Can you suggest or know of a few places in Shanghai for social ballroom dancing. Thx for your help. J
6.
Oct. 18,2009 00:39 Reply
Mr.Theo(USA) said:
I will be in Shinghai next week for a couple of days. I am looking for someone that speaks English to show me around. My email: tb_tbs@yahoo.com
Thanks!
7.
Oct. 16,2009 07:37 Reply
Mr.Rahul(India) said:
Can I get a good chocklate massage in and around Shanghai.
What would it cost. Is it official, and common.
Regards
Rahul
8.
Oct. 9,2009 15:52 Reply
Ms.ele26 said:
Next week I am travelling in China for two weeks. I ll stay few days in Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing. I would like to watch opera and acrobatics but I was wondering where should I. I know that Beijing opera is famous what about acrobatics? Do you have to propose sth?
Oct. 10,2009 01:32
Mr.Frankie replied:
The Portman Acrobatic Show is famous in Shanghai. You could read the details at http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/shanghai/entertainment/portman-acrobatic-show.htm
9.
Aug. 30,2009 05:07 Reply
Mr.Jay(Canada) said:
Can anyone tell me what the prices our like at Karaoke bars, including drink/standard room cost. Specifically on Nanjing Rd. I will say this I went to one today with 2 girls that I met and I was baffled and astonished at how much it ended up being. So much so that I am slightly worried for money. The total price was 3,960 yuan(about $650 CAD). I know I am an idiot for doing it, though I would still like to know for figuring out purposes.
Sep. 29,2009 10:29
Ms.Jan(China) replied:
I remember we went to Cash Box, a nice Karaoke place, It only cost us 700 rmb (100 USD). You have been to a wrong place. (jangu2005@yahoo.com)
10.
Aug. 29,2009 21:13 Reply
Ms.chu(Indonesia) said:
Can anyone tell me about night cruise on the huangpu river? where to board? we stay at regal east asia.
Aug. 30,2009 02:50
Mr.uta(cn) replied:
Hi, go to the bund. You can take a cruise there.