Memory of Shanghai VI: Nightlife in Shanghai

As a major financial center in the world, the nightlife in Shanghai is both notable and notorious. Besides walking on the Nanjing Road, there are many wonderful enjoyments at Shanghai's night. We will talk about the nightlife in Shanghai in this chapter.

                                                          Chapter Six

           Paris of the East—Nightlife in Shanghai

The nightlife in Shanghai is both notable and notorious. The "Paris of the East" is the bustling capitalist center of China's booming economy and the nightlife of the city offers every level of enjoyment from the sophisticated to the seamy. Shanghai is the most exciting city in China, and the nightlife in Shanghai shines as brightly as its skyline. 

Shanghai has been a city vigorous in colorful night life since 1930’s. At that time night life was upper-class people's privilege. Only the rich merchants and officials can go to night clubs to enjoy night life. Lots of rickshaws were waiting outside the clubs. Once performances in the clubs ended the owners of the rickshaws began to rush to their goals - the rich people who just ended their night activities. 

However, today almost every young adult can enjoy night life with their friends or lovers in bars, parks or cinemas and so on.--Because in the day, most Shanghainese lead a somewhat dull and conventional way of life, they rush to all kinds of innovative parties in the night. In a word, night life has become an indispensable part to people who live in Shanghai. Generally speaking, night life in Shanghai is rich, gentle and elegant.

The ways to enjoying nightlife in Shanghai are variable. Follow my steps of introduction to showing you wonderful enjoyments at Shanghai’s night.

1. Walking along the Bund: leisure & great sight-seeing

The Bund

Finish off the night with a walk along Shanghai's world-famous Bund area. Thousands of people come down to the river area to marvel at the European style architecture and contrast it with the spectacular views of the ultra-modern Pudong area across the river, which rises like a glowing neon science fiction cityscape. --Looking across the Huangpu River to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jinmao Tower is a magical sight and a night-time Huangpu River cruise presents a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the night life on the Bund.

2. Taste Shanghai Snacks: delicious & mouth-watering

Shanghai snacks

No matter what type of cuisine you're in the mood for, there's undoubtedly a restaurant that caters your taste in Shanghai. Being the largest city in China, Shanghai obviously has much to offer in terms of Chinese cuisine. Anything from Cantonese cooking to Sichuan cuisine to local Shanghainese delicacies can be found just around the corner of any street in Shanghai. They are also incredibly cheap eats.

3. Shopping at Nanjing Road & Xintiandi: modern & one-stop 

Xiantiandi

Start a great night in Shanghai by visiting the fantastic Nanjing Shopping Street. The energy of the bustling pedestrian-only street wakes up the senses. There are over 600 shops with great deals all around. The charm and glamour of Nanjing Road at night will be your ideal place to experience metropolitan and world-class fashion.

Another ideal shopping area is the Xintiandi. In Xitiandi you will find it is a commercial center as well as an attractive spot. When you walk into Xintiandi, you will get the taste both of Shanghai in the 1920 and the sonic modern lifestyle of urbanites of the 21st century. In here, you can not only appreciate Shanghai architecture, the nightlife of Shanghai citizens also lies in its lanes.

4. High Passions in Shanghai Night bars

Babyface

Bars play an important role in night life in Shanghai. Looking to dance the night away? Shanghai has you covered. Enjoy bar hopping in Shanghai. The city has hundreds of bars, pubs, discos and nightclubs. 

Check out Babyface on Huai Hai Rd. or Park 97 and Guandi in the middle of Fu Xing Park. These are all considered top notch nightclubs in Shanghai. The music is better than you will find anywhere else in Shanghai; everything is played from old school hip-hop to contemporary remixes to local favorites.

If you're looking for a place that's a feast for the eyes, check out Bar Rouge on the bund. This is hands down the most up-scale bar in Shanghai. Located on the 7th floor of Bund 18, it has one of the most spectacular views of the Huang Pu River.

5. Old entertainment ways of Shanghai Shine in new forms

The leisure and recreational activities in Shanghai feature rich content and new forms. There are not only traditional activities with the Town God's Temple as the center such as the Town God Fair and Lantern Fair, but also recreational activities with the combination of Chinese and Western styles such as Flower Drum Opera, circus show and horse racing.

Circus Show

There are not only modern Karaoke, dance halls, bars and so on, but also elegant bowling, tennis, golf, fitness and entertainment centers and so on. There are not only ceramic bars, painting bars, weaving bars, toy bars and other highly participatory featured bars, but also all kinds of art galleries. As for operas, dance, music, acrobatics and films, they are the most important leisure and recreational activities for Shanghai people and tourists.

All these varied ways of entertainment can be find and enjoy at Shanghai’s night. Choose your own ways and no doubt you can spend wonderful nightlife in Shanghai. 

--Have you ever thought to experience the Shanghai nightlife when you plan to Shanghai? Have you ever known where to see the real nightlife in Shanghai? Have you ever got touch with the old and modern Shanghai at the same time? Just plan for a night wander in Shanghai as above recommended now!