May 29, 2006
One night in Shanghai ... what would you do?
Or the better question is: What would you suggest a visitor to Shanghai do if they only had one night to spend in the city? (And, no, your first stop can't be a travel agency so they can extend their stay.)
We ask because the June 5, 2006 edition of TIME Europe has a feature called -- you guessed it -- "One Night in ... Shanghai." Three "people in the know" told the magazine their suggestions. Here they are:
YU LEI, former managing editor, Shanghai Tatler
1. Chun
2. MimosaHAN FENG, Shanghai and New York City–based fashion designer
1. Face Bar
2. Restaurant 1931
3. House of Blues and Jazz
4. Dragonfly SpaHANNAH BEECH, Shanghai bureau chief, TIME
1. YongFoo Elite
2. Jishi (Jesse)
3. Cloud 9
OK, so it's a silly question. Almost impossible to answer, especially when you don't know the people for whom you are making the suggestions. But how can a venue on The Bund not appear on anyone's list? Or is The Bund now verboten and they forgot to notify Shanghaiist? Anyway, off the top of our head, dinner at Chun is a good idea -- if people are only in Shanghai for one night, they should eat some Shanghainese food. Maybe a quick post-dinner stroll is in order to help with digestion ... how about window-shopping on Xinle Lu? Then it's off to The Bund -- drinks at either M on The Bund or New Heights. After checking out the view, we would check the local music listings and pick something that suits our mood. Jazz is usually a pretty safe bet in Shanghai. JZ? At this point in the night you may be getting tired ... or you may be getting hungry again. Try either Dragonfly (massage, we're partial to the oil variety) or Bao Luo (more Shanghainese food) ... or, better yet, both -- you can sleep after you leave Shanghai. (Hey, it's not our fault you only scheduled one day here. Idiot. Don't you know "Shanghai is the new Prague"? Seriously, we just heard that yesterday.)
So, what would you suggest to someone with only one night in Shanghai?
Photo by harlemdakota.
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I swear it was an original quote, even though it's been said before.
Shanghaiist sure is clichéd - would have thought a local expert could suggest an evening beyond the pages of Lonely Planet. How about some tea in a good tea house like Tangyun (199 Hengshan Lu), then dinner at a real local joint like "Wo Jia" an old school hole in the wall (of someone's house) off Huashan Lu across from the Hilton, hidden down the lane next to Date Bar. Best potato salad in town, just ask them, their meatball (shi zi tou) kicks my ass, and try the fresh bullfrog. After dinner, share a bottle of wine and people-watch outdoors at one of the Xintiandi joints like Luna (ok, that's a little LP), then go throw dice with the locals at SoHo, or if you, and budget, are up for it: KTV somewhere classic like Paradise. If you don't get take-out, massage is a nice idea, but Dragonfly will have too many Australian ladies waiting in line even late at night. Better to drop into a spa like Dongfang Luoma where you can pass out and sleep after. If you did sneak some late night eats, I'd avoid Bao Luo, it's just too bright and noisy for that time of day. The ubiquitous Bi Feng Tang is good for people (freak) watching, esp #1 on Changle Lu @ Maoming, or better - the Hong Kong place to its left.
So you think Xintiandi is more important for someone to see than The Bund and the Pudong skyline at night? If I was a visitor, I'd feel cheated if I didn't see those sites. Some places are popular for a good reason.
If you have only one night in Shanghai, you wouldn't want the local experience. I would think you'd want to see all the iconic sites that you read about (like the Bund and Xintiandi), no matter if locals (foreign locals) avoid it like the plague. And Bi Feng Tang?? I wish I could boycott that place, I really really hate the food there. I would go to Yong He Da Wang over that place.
Am I the only person in Shanghai who thinks the food in BaoLuo is digusting?
I am with you. It's disgusting. Greasy, sloppy, sweet and shitty.
M on the Bund or New Heights are old hangouts. Best place on the Bund is walk from North to South and walk downstairs into the I LOVE SHANGHAI Lounge for a good quality drink. Never been short poured there like I've been in any other Bund bar. No view except through their portholes, but who cares, I just walked the Bund, now give me a drink!