Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with FacebookTop Shanghai Shi hotels
Helpfulness
Tea pots can be found whereever there are tea shops and, in China, there are more tea shops than Starbucks in the USA. Selections of Purple Sand Pottery vary with shop location, the best shops I found being in the Old Town section of Shanghai. There are at least 4 "fully-loaded" shops on Shanghai Old Road.
Pottery specific shops have a large selection in the downstairs shop area. If you can find something you like, you can pick up a nice little tea pot for under $20. Haggling is expected so don't be deterred by labeled prices (which are still quite low).
OTOH, Purple Sand pottery is very collectible with obvious differences in craftsmanship. If you're willing to spend a little more, ask if they have others to chose from (or make a disappointed face). They'll take you upstairs to a room full of nicer tea pots at higher prices. And if you can't find what you'll looking for there, they usually have a small back room where they keep only their very best tea pots. The very best tea pots can run quickly into $100s (though they are very nice). Sidenote: the Wen Miao (Confucius) Temple has a tea pot collection on display with pieces numbering in the 100s. Some fine Yixing teapots are on display.
You MUST test the tea pots to insure you're getting one of quality. It's easy. Fill the pot with water and, with the lid on, verify that it pours from the spout smoothly and steadily. Then, cover the little hole in the lid. The water pour should completely stop. That's pretty much it.
The tea pots are small; they'll hold around 1C/240mL of water. There are bigger ones but the selection goes down and the costs for a quality example go up. The small tea pots are for individual use; if you read my Chinese Tea tip, you'll learn that infusion time is short enough that you can serve 3 or 4 people from one tea pot.
Never wash these tea pots with soap. The sand material is porous and is expected to absorb the taste of tea with over time. Use soap on it and you'll have the taste of soap absorb rather than tea.
Finally, making Chinese tea is rather messy. There's a lot of water involved with most of it discarded. In order to handle the discarded water without hovering over some plumbing, the Chinese have tea trays with catchment basins. You simply pour the water over the pottery and let it be caught by the tray. In a few locations, you can find purple sand tea trays. They're really cheap and high utility. But they are heavy and you have to get them back home. While the tea pots take up about the same luggage space as 3 pairs of socks, my tea tray took up 1/5th of my carry on 2-suiter.
What to buy: The goal is to find a delightful and functional purple sand teapot. If you're satisfied by what these shop first roll-out, good on ja.
What to pay: 100 RMB (if you're a tough negotiator and settle for a mass produced version) to 100s or 1000s of RMB (depending on your taste). Like a lot of fine things in life, paying the higher prices is, to my eye, chasing very small improvements at great cost. Nobody back home is likely to notice the difference.
Written May 26, 2010
Helpfulness
Traditionally, vegetables and soybean products were preserved during season so that people could still enjoy them in winter when no crops are harvested. Today, these preserved foodstuffs are still popular with Chinese for breakfast, especially in conjunction with porridge. A little bit of something could go with a whole lot of plain porridge, so it's particularly good for those wanting to save money!
What to buy: This shop is especially known for their fermented beancurd preserve. It might not sound very appetising (in fact, I'm not a fan of it myself) but it's highly popular among locals, so you might want to try a teeny-weeny little bit to see if it suits your taste. If not, you could at least say "been there, done that"!
Otherwise, you might find the preserved dates or other preserved vegetables easier to stomach.
Updated Jan 20, 2010
Address: 287 Bei Dajie
Phone: 86-21-59241386
Helpfulness
There're so many Granny's Dumplings in Zhujiajiao, you'll be spoilt for choice. This traditional snack has become a tourist commodity -- everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and saying that theirs is the oldest, tastiest, most traditional, most famous... whatever!
Anywhere you look, there'll be the namesake "granny" sitting prominently in the storefront, making her dumplings while chit-chatting away with the staff and any other people who happen to be in the vicinity. Almost every store will have the obligatory photos plastered all over the place, proudly announcing that they were interviewed by some TV programme or magazine, etc. Or perhaps they just did some nifty Photoshopping... ;)
This particular one that I've picked out is the tastiest one going by what locals say. Don't get sidetracked by all the fancy packaging on the various stores, just remember the address and street number.
Dumplings in many parts of China are triangular-shaped but the ones here are somewhat cylindrical and pillow-shaped. Each dumpling is bound by 4 separate pieces of straw (some say to increase the fragrance) rather than the usual string, before being steamed to tasty perfection.
Another local specialty sold here is the zha1 rou4 -- literally "bound-up pork". This is pork which has both lean and fatty parts, which's simply bound up in the same leaves as the dumplings (but without the glutinous rice) and then cooked in the local sauce. Priced at only 1 RMB per piece, this is an inexpensive little snack.
What to buy: There're various kinds of filling for the dumplings: pork, pork with chestnut, pork with salted egg yolk, red bean paste, plain etc. Price ranges from 1 RMB for the plain and non-meat fillings, to 2.5 RMB for pork, 3.5 RMB for pork with chestnut, and 4 RMB for pork with salted egg yolk. The best is said to be the pork with salted egg yolk, so that's the one to buy if you're only hungry enough for one.
Don't forget to get the zha1 rou4 as well!
The food can be vacuum-packed for free, so no worries about bringing them back home.
What to pay: A dumpling and a piece of zha1 rou4 should cost between 2 to 5 RMB.
Written Jan 19, 2010
Address: 263 Bei Dajie
Phone: 86-21-59240974
Helpfulness
Yes, there a Harley Davidson dealer in Shanghai!
Put something exciting between your legs!
You can buy a bike, which would be rather expensive to ship home, or you can buy Harley stuff, like hats, shirts, butt packs, etc. Plus its just a cool place to go and take some photos. And I always like checking out the bikes and think I'm in some cool biker movie with great looking biker babes.
Ladies, trust me, every guy wants a "Shanghai Harley Davidson" t-shirt. And here's where you can get one.
What to buy: T-shirts...hats...jackets.....Harley Davidson Bike.
Grab a big old hog and become a chick magnet!
What to pay: Lots, this stuff is expensive for what you are buying.
Updated Dec 20, 2008
Address: No. 1954 Gudai Road, Minhang District, Shanghai
Phone: +86-21-54792956 or 54792939
Website: http://www.harley-davidsonshanghai.cn
There are innumerable shops and the keepers try to fleece. In doing so they pull u and do not let u go out unless u have bought something from them. The things are OK, they are copies of designers and some are not. U have to sort out things before u HEAVILY BARGAIN with them and then check the sizes (really) after putting on. Tip to negotiate - start from 1/5th of the price asked by the shopkeeper and make a deal at maximum of 1/3rd the demanded price.
What to buy: Buy shirts, T shirts, jeans, jackets, suits, coats, ties, shoes, socks, sweaters every thing!!!!
What to pay: For jeans 80RMB, Shirts 40RMB, T-Shirts 30-40RMB, Shoes 80-120RMB, socks 5 RMB, ties 10-15RMB, suits 300-500RMB depending on quality, sweaters 50-75RMB, coats 100-120 RMB and the list goes on..........
Written Oct 24, 2008
Address: AP/Xinyang Market,Science & Tech Museum (Line 2)
Helpfulness
Since it was the end of winter, Sichuan Bei (near Duolon St) was teeming with items at 50-70% discount.
We were able to buy coats (see my green coat and mom's purple coat) for only 80 Yuan (used to be 200 Yuan) each. These coats sure kept us warm during our Shanghai tour especially on a cold night (6C is definitely cold for me as that's the coldest it can get in Baguio, Philippines).
Dad bought his coat for 100Y (used to be 220 Yuan) at Louise's Berry.
Updated Mar 5, 2007
Helpfulness
There I was a tropical girl touring Yuyuan Bazaar on a cool afternoon with just a long-sleeved blouse. Thus, my first stop when I reached the bazaar was to buy myself a knitted scarf (RMB 10) and off to my next purchases of a pair of digicam batteries (RMB 10) and postcards (8 pcs RMB 10)
Go to the farther end of the main hall of Yuyuan Bazaar and make a left, there you'd find this little store selling scarves and ties.
You can warm yourself up in the nearest Starbucks inside the main hall of the bazaar.
What to buy: Ties - 10 RMB
Scarf - 10 RMB
Updated Feb 24, 2007
Helpfulness
Since the Xiang Yang Market closed in June 2006, half of the vendors in Xiang Yang moved their business into Ya Tai Sheng Hui Market. It's just located in the Shanghai Technology Museum Metro Station of No. 2 Line.
It's underground, at the metro station Exit 7&8. therefore, it's very convenient to get there.
Above the ground is the big square, Ya Tai Sheng Hui Square. In the square, you can not find any sign for business, even can not find a booth to buy some ice-creame or drink. Standing in the square, how can you imagine there is a so large market just under your feet.
Hundreds of stalls, various products, mainly clothing related products. The shopping environment seems better than the old Xiang Yang Market, Xiang Yang is an open market, YaTaiShengHui is indoor market, air conditioned. Because it's newly opened, the market is not so crowded as the Xiang Yang. But I am sure it'll be crowded soon as time goes.
What to buy: Clothings, toyes, shoes, gifts.... practise your bargain skill here:)
Updated Aug 21, 2006
Address: at Shanghai Technology Museum Metro Station
In southwest Shanghai, the Xujiahui Commercial City covers an area of 1.2 square kilometers. This shopping district is distinctly recognised by the huge glass globe. Major departmental stores in this area include Pacific Department Store, Huijin Department Store, Sixth Department Store, Zhongxing Department Store and Xinluda Department Store.
What to buy: The main item to buy in these departmental stores is clothing items.
What to pay: The prices are reasonable by Western standards.
Written Feb 21, 2006
Helpfulness
Surrounding the famous Yuyuan Gardens of Shanghai are bazaars selling food, clothings, souvenirs etc. This is perhaps one of the most crowded places in Shanghai and definitely is a must see when you are there. Also, the architecture of the buildings here are rather nice and blend in well with the surrounding Old Shanghai area.
Written Dec 10, 2004
Sponsored Links
Peace Hotel Shanghai Shanghai
12 Reviews and 150 Opinions The Hotel is truely a mixture of ancient and modern decore built in a Gothic Style, it once was...
InterContinental Pudong Pudong
2 Reviews and 191 Opinions Maybe my standards are too high. This is my first time to mainland China, but I found the InterCon...
The Langham Yangtze Boutique Shanghai
4 Reviews and 133 Opinions I decided upon the Yangtze Hotel for a couple of very important reasons. It was priced in the exact...
Reviews and photos of Shanghai Shi attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Shanghai Shi sightseeing.
Surrounding the famous Yuyuan Gardens of Shanghai are bazaars selling food, clothings, souvenirs etc. This is perhaps one of the most crowded places in Shanghai...
804 members live in Shanghai Shi
Q: Hi, I would like to know which is nicest or more convenient area to stay in Shanghai (I mean night life, transport, etc.), Thanks
A: I do not think it matters that much, taxi fares are so cheap and there is a tunnel under the river. We were there for 5 nights May 2011 and our hotel was close to the...
Read 6 Replies
Sponsored Links
