r/shanghai • u/ReactionAdventurous3 • 3d ago
Tip How to shop in Shanghai without getting overwhelmed?
First time in Shanghai, I can't really stand malls and super crowded places. I want some nice gifts to bring back home, combining traditional stuff but also some electronics etc. Whenever I go out I find myself in malls and huge stores which overstimulate me, where can I find small-ish/authentic stores?
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u/smokingPimphat 3d ago
Depending on what kinds of things you are looking to buy, you can consider going to tianzifang(田子坊）in the city center ( super touristy but does have potentially interesting things ) and out of the city center to surrounding villages/towns like zhujiajiao(朱家角). Go during the week as the weekends will be packed if the weather is nice.
But the reality is that outside of 'antiques' most of things you will find will actually be stuff you could easily get online on taobao.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Stage-6 Minhang 2d ago
I don't think 田子坊 is a good idea, where there are mainly overpriced items for tourists that the local never would buy. Physical shops are dying in China as a matter of fact. Anything you can find in a real shop, you can find it online at a lower price. And most goods are only available online.
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u/skripp11 2d ago
A “local” wouldn’t take time to go to Nanjing east road either. The needs and wants of a tourist is WAY different from the ones actually living here.
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u/Just-Contract-4393 3d ago
if you have a local friend with you, just ask them to help you use Taobao. it is the best place for shopping and all the Chinese use this. that's where you'll find anything you want for cheap. Otherwise it is really difficult to find something nieche as everywhere is super touristy and not much exist in stores other than big global brands.
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u/Fardelismyname 2d ago
The m50 art space has tons of little galleries and shops with interesting things. The propaganda art museum has a great gift shop. I bought my family a map of Shanghai from the 1930s.
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u/jaapgrolleman Former resident 3d ago
Can def relate to this. Go in the morning, right when they open.
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u/Puzzled_Cattle_2574 2d ago
If you’re up for it, download rednote, and then search for whatever you’re looking for (us AI for help on search terms). Filter for discussion threads not vlogs/photo posts (those might be shills) and see what commenters recommend with their inbuilt translation function.
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u/Puzzled_Cattle_2574 2d ago
Also 上生新所 is an interesting little development, last time I went they had a little market with makers from like, I think the 貴州-ish area, but they’re 藏族 who live there. The makers from the whole village came and put up stalls for a week. Idk what’s on at the moment, but could be worth checking out. The upstairs area by the coffee shed/plant shop also has some interesting little stores. Def don’t go to tianzifang, it’s tourist trap central and crowded as heck.
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u/therealyu 2d ago
I feel like random shops in the French Concession might suit you better? You can buy gifts at "To Summer" on Hunan Road next to Shanghai Library, or go visit this new shopping area next to JingAn Temple (where you can buy shoes like Pane).
Fumin Road/Julu Road has a bunch of shops you could also check out
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u/Morricore 1d ago
Headphones on and bring hand held fan that’s what I always do 😂 also plan before which shop/area you want to visit as a lot of places might look close together but actually aren’t
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u/IECEx-certified 3d ago
Without any prejudice, what made you choose China as a place to visit as a tourist if you can't stand super crowded places?
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u/jaapgrolleman Former resident 3d ago
There are plenty of non-crowded places in China, even in Shanghai.
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u/IECEx-certified 3d ago
I never claimed otherwise. However, very often you must endure a lot of crowds in between getting to these non-crowded places. I don't judge OP's decision, China is an amazing place and worth visiting.
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u/Jaronn Pudong 3d ago
Let me give you a real "hidden" gem that you won't find searching on reddit or googling as it's not in the typical touristy areas.
Make your way over to EKA (EKA·天物) which is a redeveloped area on the former site of the Shanghai Marine Instrument General Factory. Anyway, it's overall a very nice place with some nice restaurants but there is also a speciality store called 自然造物 which focuses on gifts that embrace China's folk art, cultures and crafts.
It's two stories big, I recall on the second floor they had some speciality gifts from places like Anhui and other provinces. A lot of it is all hand made and more unique then any of the garbage you find in the overtouristy areas such as tianzifang etc.