Xin Tian Di, Shanghai

Like other metropolises in the world, Shanghai is also full of bars and cafes with different styles and romantic feelings. In this piece, we will show you the best places to enjoy peaceful time, have a date or while the hours away.

First, the highest bar in the world - Jiu Chong Tian (Cloud 9; Tel: 021-50491234). It occupies the whole 87th floor of the Jin Mao Tower (Address: No. 88, Century Avenue; Pudong Area) and just under the observation deck on the 88th floor. The bar is circled by French windows which offer the best angel to admire the sunset and the gorgeous night view of the Bund. To get to Jiu Chong Tian, you need to take 3 different elevators and connect them at 54th floor and 85th floor. For guests who do not live in Grand Hyatt (the hotel is from 53rd floor to 87th floor), the bar sets a CNY120.00 (+15% service) minimum charge on Saturday and CNY88.00 on other days.

Further more, there are many other taprooms with different ambiences in Jin Mao Tower, like the Piano Bar 18 on 53rd floor and Zhong Ting Bar on 56th floor. Subway No. 2 can take you straight to the tower.

Han Yuan Reading Room (Tel: 021-64732526; Address: No. 27 Shaoxing Road, Luwan District), a serene corner suits perfectly for those who love reading or would like to spend some peaceful moment with friends. The middle sized store is filled with the owner's collections from all over the world, books (both Chinese and English versions), piano, gramophone, dresser, old trunks, etc. A pot of red tea or coffee, a good book and a seat by the window, are all you need for a leisured afternoon.

The Vienna Cafe (021-64452131) nearby is also very popular due to its delicate afternoon tea and delicious hand-made Austrian cake. Public buses No. 128/146/301 all have stops here.

Fuxing Park is located on No. 2A Gaolan Road, Luwan District, center of the French Concession. You can take subway No. 1, tourist bus No. 1 or public bus No. 42/ 146/ 167/ 320/ 920/ 945/ 986 to Huaihai Road and then walk to the south of the Sinan Road or Yandang Road. This park was the first open park and the only French style park in Shanghai. For over a century, Fuxing Park is always one of the most attractive green fileds in Shanghai.

A night bar

There are several well-known restaurants and bars in the park. California Club (Tel: 021-53832328), also known as the Park 97, is one of the most popular places among youth. After midnight, the heat is burning up. Two storeys, open seats, foreign bands, two dancing floors of different styles, fashionable decorations, all these make it a good place to meet friends of just having fun.

A typical Italian restaurant named Baci is next to Park 97. Having a dinner surrounded by full-bodied Italian atmosphere and then go to the pub for a joyful night sounds like a great idea.

Another bar worth visit in the park is Guandi (021-33080726), a first bar which perfectly combines the open club with exquisite private rooms. Pop music stars and movies stars like to come because one of the owners, Wu Dawei, is a one of them, too. It has the most comprehensive choices of champagne, wine, Cuban cigar and whisky in Shanghai, well the expense is certainly high. And once you are a member, you will have your own key card to enter instead of ringing the doorbell. Please do notice that Thursday is the Lady's night.

Besides, there are two famous bar streets in Shanghai. One is Maoming Road and another one is Hengshan Road.

If you prefer exciting and riproarious, you may want to visit Maoming Street which is also in the French Concession. The north part of it laid the Garden Hotel, Jingjiang Disheng Mall and Jinjiang Hotel; the middle part is mainly about restaurants and custom-built fashion stores; and the south part is the bar area.

Judy's Too, Blue & Jazz, M-Factory, Windows, Blue Frog, Cheg Simone, Amber, 1931 Pub, etc, no matter what style you like, what music you enjoy or how much you want to spend, you will find a perfect place for you in this street. Subway No. 1 and public buses No. 2/ 17/ 24/ 146/ 320/ 831/ 920/ 926 are available.

An open coffee shop in Shanghai

On the contrary, if you prefer correspondingly quieter entertainment or enjoy coffee and cocktail, Hengshan Road in Xuhui District should be on the top of your list. With the tall chinars along the street and the western style buildings, Hengshan Road is always permeated by the smell of leisured and neat. Mural Bar & Restaurant, West Side, Benny's Bar and Keven Cafe Restaurant are all attracted to young friends and lovers. To get there, you can take subway No. 1 or public buses No. 2/ 49/ 96/ 126/ 320/ 548/ 824/ 830/ 911.

There are a lot more fun places in Shanghai and everyone can find his/her favorite. When you do, please do not hesitate to share.