Shanghai is a fast-paced city, and every so often you need to step back, take stock, and relax. You deserve to be pampered. And what better way to do this than at one of Shanghai’s spas? Take a look at the list of spas below to find the one that suits you ... Read More>>
One great thing about living in China, and Shanghai in particular, is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables available pretty much year round. Walk a few blocks in any direction and you're bound to run into a fruit stall (or five). A little less ... Read More>>
The former French Concession is full of pretty, tree-lined streets lined with boutiques, bars, and cafes, but Xinle Lu has to be one of the most picturesque. Running east from the crossroads of Fumin Lu and Dongu Lu down to Shaanxi Lu, Xinle was known as ... Read More>>
What better way to spend these last cold, dreary days of winter than practicing your pirouettes at one of Shanghai's many ice skating rinks? Of course, for most of us who engage in such activities, there is less pirouetting, and more slipping and sliding. ... Read More>>
Visitors to Shanghai may be surprised to learn that the city also has a vibrant little Korean district. Located in the Gubei area, it features many stores that offer products made in South Korea and you can also get what is likely the best Korean food in ... Read More>>
The area of north Jing’an District around Wanhangdu Lu and Changshou Lu is having something of a renaissance lately. There’s a new Swiss restaurant on Kangding Lu next door to a bakery and an imported food shop, and Imago Plaza is soon to open just after ... Read More>>
Located right in the heart of the former French Concession, leafy Yongfu Lu is one of those archetypal Shanghai streets. It’s got the plane trees that curve over the road, the Art Deco villas, the narrow lanes, and in recent years it has developed into a ... Read More>>
With this freakish weather (Having to wear a coat in April? Seriously?), you never know when a rainy day is going to come and obliterate a perfectly pleasant sunny afternoon. The more prepared you are to stave off a boring rainy day, the better. So here are ... Read More>>
Finding a decent gym in Shanghai isn’t the easiest of tasks. They all claim to be the best on their own websites, and people want different things from their gym experience, so it’s hard to know which one will suit you. Prices vary too, so how do you know ... Read More>>
It’s hardly breaking news that decent bread can be hard to find in Shanghai. Local chain bakeries churn out sickly-sweet loaves, and even imported goods aisles in big supermarkets offer little but rock-hard baguettes. The good news is that there are ... Read More>>
Kangding Lu runs from Wanhangdu Lu in the west, cutting a swathe across the north of Jing’an District until it reaches Suzhou Creek and turns into Nan Suzhou Lu. While taken up with residential and office buildings for much of its length, Kangding Lu is ... Read More>>
Whether it’s the sweet delights from Macau or the simple, yet elegant pastries from France, Shanghai offers an abundant number of sweets and treats. Satisfy your sweet tooth with this list of the best eight dessert places in Shanghai. Read More>>
If you’re a bit of a bookworm, the chances are that you’ll be looking for places to buy English or other foreign (i.e. not Chinese) literature in Shanghai. Well, you’re in luck. As well as a slew of high street bookshops, our city has a treasure trove of ... Read More>>
Whenever a movie is set in the town or city in which you live, there’s bound to be controversy among the residents. Did they accurately portray the population? Did they make the city look too clean/dirty/crazy/boring? While it’s impossible to capture on ... Read More>>
Having someone else do your washing, cleaning, tidying and even cooking for you is one of Shanghai’s great pleasures. Many an expat struggles to imagine what life would be like without their beloved ayi there to pick up after them. For new arrivals to the ... Read More>>
Tattoos are synonymous with rebellion and big city living, and Shanghai is certainly one big city, suggesting tattoo parlors aplenty. And shouldn’t China’s glitziest city boast a plethora of impressive tattoo parlors? However, not all parlors are created ... Read More>>
Shanghai may well be an urban jungle, but locating actual foliage, blossoms and greenery to spruce up your apartment can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, houseplants can have numerous health benefits as well. ... Read More>>
Adopting a pet in Shanghai is a big decision. Aside from all the rules and regulations you have to adhere to in order to appease government regulations, taking on the responsibility of full time pet-ownership requires commitment, time and most importantly, ... Read More>>
A guide for shopping and eating on Wukang Lu. Read More>>
The Shanghai scene changes so fast that the cute little Italian place you go to on a Friday could be serving sushi by Saturday. Check out the latest dining, drinking and dancing hotspots, with our regular round-up of new bars, restaurants and clubs. Read More>>
Late in the evening, after a busy day at work, you hit the gym. You find your same old treadmill and begin the routine; your Ipod is set to the same play list, drowning out the monotonous pounding of your trainers as you increase the pace on the ... Read More>>
Exchanging business cards is a fairly common practice amongst businessmen. The idea that everything you need to know about a person can neatly fit onto a small piece of cardstock that fits in your wallet is not just for practical purposes, however. The ... Read More>>
The spring season which seems to last, oh, all of about two weeks here in Shanghai is upon us, so now is the time to jump on that age old tradition we all know and love from childhood – going on a picnic! Admittedly it can be difficult to find a patch of ... Read More>>
When you think of desserts, the first things that spring to mind would probably be things like cakes, ice-creams, pies, chocolates and generally things that are associated with Western cooking. But what comes to mind when you think about Chinese desserts?... Read More>>