Shanghai Nightlife

If you like those small little clubs Maoming Lu is the place to be. In places like the Buddha Bar or Judys Too they play good House music (sometimes good old classice of House) and the crowd gets wild. Great atmosphere!

If you like to enjoy your drinks along with the best view over the city of Shanghai, try CLOUD 9 of the JinMao Tower. The way up is a little bit confusing because compared to the view platform you have to change the lift at least twice. Sometimes you have to wait for a seat and prices are not the cheapest - but the view is worth it!

A little bit of everything. This is where the local expats hang out and chill out. The road has a bit of everything - eating, drinking, merriment. "Xin Tian Di" is for tourists. The prices in Tong Ren Lu is more local. Why pay the extra just because you are a tourist?

Park97 - nice interriors, good layout, great atmosphere, good mix of foraigners and locals, live stage, restaurents...

Cotton club - live jazz and blues.

Peace Hotel old Jazz band - least interesting, most expensive. Very classic Jazz musics.

Dress Code: Not particular required but if you go for Park 97, better not to be too casual.
Cotton is relaxing, can wear whatever you like.

The place is actually Middle Eastern restaurant with live belly dance every night starting after 8 pm. The performance will not satisfy anyone who knows or who have seen the real stuff but is good enough for your first encounter with belly dance. You can enjoy great Middle Eastern interior and food. I would not recommend coctails (expensive and not tasty).

Dress Code: No Jeans probably.

The Bund is a must see and is located in Nanjing Road. One side of the river has modern architecture and the other side has Neo-classical. You can stay at Peace Hotel to have easy access to this location. The only problem here is that there are too many people and vendors so good luck on finding a nice quiet spot.

Xian Tian Di is supposed to be "the" place for experiencing shanghais nightlife. I think NOT. The area has some nice restaurants and bars, but if you really want to have a good evening clubing and dancing then Park 97 or the places at Hen Shan Lo are better options.

As a common understanding, Shanghai has the most colorful night life in China. But if you have ever participated, you may feel it is probably the most colorful one in the world!

The following are the main sections where the nightlife concentrates.

Xin Tian Di
It is a great success of combing the ancient architecture with the modern life. Xin Tian Di displays a comparatively traditional Shanghai architecture called Shi Ku Men. But walking into all those newly built-up, you find everything modern, western and trendy. There is a great conclusion for two kinds of people whom like to be here: The one likes to look at or the one likes to be looked at. So VTer, which type of person you are? ;-)

Fu Xin Park
It took me and my friend almost one hour to find Park 97(ranked as the best bar in China now) as it is located in the most inner side of the park. But be awared of the price. They charge us 50RMB for the entrance and a Gin Tonic for 54RMB. Another bar next to Park 97 is Guan Di as many Chinese celebrities go there often. The best Karaoke house Cashbox(Qian Gui) is also located inside of the park. So this park has it all! But it is no longer a park as all vechicles drive in by jetting out the poison and polluting the whole park during the night.

Mao Ming Road
I have not been to this area. But it looks like a local style to enjoy the nightlife.

Hen Shan Road
It's my favorite place to get involved with nightlife. It was the hottest place before Xin Tian Di. It seems lossing its attraction right now. But still my favorite place since it shows a more natural and real Shanghai taste. Taking an afternoon walk on Hen Shan Road is the most joyful thing, with all the noise scattering away from you, with all shades covering upon your head, with little people passing by you. Probably it's the best Shanghai life.

Dress Code: Whatever you like.