Shopping in Shanghai is a very enjoyable experience. Big brands are setting up branches and small unique shops mushroom at many corners of the city. With a little patience, sharp observation, ability to endure long walks and bargaining skills, you can buy to your heart's content in the commercial capital of China.

Big shopping malls are convenient to find quality products and supermarkets offer a wide range of products at reasonable prices. Renowned areas offer Shanghai-style souvenirs at unbelievably low prices. To test or improve your bargain skills, there is no better place than Shanghai. Some booth owners even speak good English, Korean and Japanese.

Street Shopping
Shanghai has become a shopping paradise for visitors mainly because of its reputed streets, including Nanjing Road, the country's No.1 Commercial Street, Huaihai Road, a street of world-famous brands and latest fashions to attract customers from all over the world, and Xujiahui, a shopping center gathering clothes, shoes, food, cosmetics, digital products and entertainment centers together within a circle.

Nanjing Road E
The main stretch of shops on Nanjing Road starts at the Bund and ends at the Jing'an Temple. It is divided into two parts: Nanjing Road E and Nanjing Road W. The east section is the busiest shopping area in Shanghai, if not the busiest in China. On both sides of the road, there are many department stores with long histories, providing you with a wide choice of goods from food to clothes. But if you don't have enough time, take a tourist bus which enables you to grasp the whole sight of the bustling pedestrian road in a short time. It cost: 2 yuan (25 US cents).

Shanghai Silk Commercial Building
Address: No.588, Nanjing Road E. near Fujian Road M.
Traffic: Metro Line No.2 (Nanjing Road E. Station)

Shanghai Souvenirs Shopping Center
Address: No.558, Nanjing Road E. near Fujian Road M.
Tel: 6322-6226

This center is divided into several sectors: The Ceramic Exhibition Center, Pearls City, New World Tour Souvenirs and South Africa Diamond.
You can find many souvenirs here but beware of fakes and prices.
Traffic: Metro Line No.2 (Nanjing Road E. Station) 

Huaihai Road
One of the busest commercial area where lots of big department stores locate.

Link to stores on big commercial streets, click here.

Xujiahui
Xujiahui is located in the southwestern part of Shanghai and is 600-years-old. People enjoy shopping in Xujiahui business center because it’s convenient. A cluster of large shopping malls gather in a circular shape making it easy to get around. You can find almost everything here, from clothes to computer gadgets, catering for all budgets. It also offers quality dining, dancing, movies and gaming services. You can take Metro Line No.1 to get there at the Xujiahui Station.

Pacific Digital Plaza
Address: No.1119, Zhaojiabang Road near Caoxi Road N.
Tel: 54905900

This is the most popular place for locals to buy their digital gadgets. You can find computers, digital cameras, DVDs and more: almost every digital product can be found.

Be warned: the market is made up of different stalls and some may offer better deals than others and please watch out for fake imported goods. Traffic: Metro Line No.1 (Xujiahui Station)

Shaaxi Road
If you’re looking for shoes, shoes and more shoes, Shaanxi Road’s your place. There’re numerous shops offering a wide range of shoes at reasonable prices. Most shops are located along the two-lane road between Nanjing Road W. and Huaihai Road M. A 20-minute walk can cover the whole section, but if you really, really adore shoes and bargaining it can take half a day!

Besides shoes, you can find clothes, bags, accessories and jewelry suitable for all different age groups that won’t break the bank.

The shops between Nanjing Road W. and Yan’an Road M. target women in their 30’s looking for formal suits and party dresses. The clothes may not be haute couture, but they’re certainly elegant and sophisticated. You can also find a wide range of shoes, from dazzling stilettos to practical hiking boots. There’s also a huge selection of a lady’s other favorite - bags. From backpacks and suitcases to handbags you’re guaranteed to find one you can’t resist!

Shaanxi Road S begins from Yan’an Road M. and caters for a younger clientele. The clothes are fashionable, some even avant-garde. If you’re shopping for a new party outfit, this is your place. Its elegant gowns, sexy dresses and cute skirts will make you the belle of the ball! And, good news for the more voluptuous – some shops here sell clothes, and shoes in bigger sizes!

Most goods along the street range from 100 yuan (US$12.50) to 1,000 yuan (US$125). A few of them have discounts or special prices and you should also bargain with the staff for further reductions. Please bring some cash as a lot of the stores don’t accept credit cards.

The opening hours are typically from 10am to 10pm. You can take Metro Subway Line 1 to get there at Shaanxi Road S Station.

Tips:

1. Plaza 66 and CITIC Square are located at the north end of this section while it ends at Parkson Department Store at the south end.

2. If you’re hungry, there are several restaurants along the way and they’re inexpensive.

3. Smaller roads connecting with Shaanxi Road, such as Jinxian Road, Changle Road and Xinle Road, also have some shops worth a browse.

4. You can find many street vendors gathering at the corner of Changle Road and Shaanxi Road. Unless you are looking for a sub-quality product, don’t buy from them.

Transport: Metro Line No.1 (get off at Shaanxi Road S. Station)

Qifu Road, or Cheap Road, is known as the most popular place in Shanghai for clothes because of low prices and endless choices.

Three buildings form a triangle. Two of them are connected by an elevated walkway. The clothes on the first two floors look beautiful but they are not made of good-quality fabric, and most of them are similar in style.

The higher floors sell good-quality clothes at comparatively higher prices. These shop owners prefer to sell clothes to wholesalers, who can get clothes at much lower prices.

On both weekdays and weekends, this road is always crowded with shoppers. If you want to shop around the three buildings in one day, save your energy. One building is quite enough to exhaust you.

Transport: Print “带我去七浦路” out to show to your taxi driver

Paying attention to different expressions for discounts. The Chinese sign "7折" means 30 percent off, while "8折" means 20 percent off.

Paying attention to strange women who offer free skin-care service at the gate of shopping malls, because it proved the service will charge you money at last.

Some shopping assistants may follow you in some big stores. You can tell them you are just having a look and ask them to leave you alone.

Foreign Book Stores
Chaterhouse
Chaterhouse has three locations in Shanghai and the widest selection and range of books.

• Shop B1-K, Shanghai Times Square, 93 Huai Zhong Road. Tel: 021 6391 8237
• Shop 68, 6F, Super Brand Mall, 168 Lujiazui Xi Lu, Pudong. Tel: 021 5049 0668
• Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing West Road

City Supermarket
City Supermarket has a small selection of magazines and books, mostly related to China.

• B1, Paris Spring Department Store, 939 Huai Hai Zhong Road near haanxi Nan Road. Tel: 021 6474 1290
• 3211 Hong Mei Road, near Hong Qiao Road. Tel: 021 6446 1110
• B1 Shanghai Times Square, 99 Huai Hai Zhong Road near Xizang Zhong Road. Tel: 021 6391 0192

CNPIEC Bookstores
This chain has a limited selection of books and magazines.

• C4, Green Sports & Leisure Center, 800 Lantian Road Tel: 021 5030 6879
• Hilton Hotel, 250 Huashan Road. Tel: 021 6248 0000, ext 8504
• 5F, Grand Gateway, 1 Hongqiao Road. Tel: 021 6448 0977 Unit 522, Citic Square, 1168 Nanjing Xi Road. Tel: 021 5292 5214

Garden Books
Garden Books has a wide range of books on China interest as well as fiction and children’s books. There is a nice café on the ground floor serving gelato, coffee and other snacks.
Details: 325 Changle Road, near Shaanxi Nan Road. Tel: 021 5404 8729.

Shanghai Foreign Language Book Store
This multi-story store in the heart of the stationary district is the best place to find materials for studying Chinese as well as China-interest. There’s a limited selection of foreign-language fiction and children’s books on the upper floors.
Details: 390 Fuzhou Road, near Fujian Zhong Road. Tel: 021 6322 3200.