There comes a time in every girl’s life where a bottle of nail polish is just not enough! Where an indulgence in a manicure and pedicure is a treat that quickly becomes a regular beauty fix. There are so many beauty services that girls call on from a ... Read More>>
Whether you’re a tourist to Shanghai or a resident there’s no escaping the lure of Shanghai’s museums. If you’re the sort of person who thinks museums are just for geeks/bores/pensioners, think again, and give Shanghai’s a chance. Here is a selection of... Read More>>
Having to go to the hospital is always a scary experience. That said, going to the hospital in a foreign country where your native language is not spoken can be downright terrifying. Luckily, Shanghai is more than well-equipped when it comes to ... Read More>>
Whether you are living in or simply visiting Shanghai, it is quite difficult not to experience the Bund. Want to eat at the most famous restaurants? Visit the Bund. Want to have a cocktail at the trendiest bars? Go to the Bund. Want to experience the most ... Read More>>
Whether you’re a Mexican expat yearning for a slice of home, or just a fan of burritos and a dash of tequila, you’re in luck. After years of under-representation, there’s no longer any shortage of Mexican restaurants, cantinas, and bars in Shanghai. ... Read More>>
Counterfeited products are readily available throughout China; from DVDs and CDs, to electrical products, jewellery, bags and clothing. Some of them are so good that even the most envious stares won’t be able to tell the difference between an original and ... Read More>>
The humble hamburger. Much vaunted; much maligned. If you’re an expat in Shanghai, the onslaught of Chinese food can sometimes get a bit much. Of course, we’re always up for a decent dish of noodles, but there comes a time when you crave a slab of minced ... Read More>>
When moving to a foreign country (or continent, as the case may be), it’s important to fully integrate yourself into that new culture in order to gain the most from your experiences. That said, sometimes you’ve just got to call home! Staying in touch with ... Read More>>
Perhaps the extended run of good weather Shanghai has enjoyed recently has tempted people away from their blueprints and out into the sun, but there’s not been too many bar openings of late. So instead we’re looking at five restaurants and cafes that ... Read More>>
With all the hustle and bustle that surrounds you in Shanghai, sometimes you just want to get away. Luckily, there is a street that offers a sense of small-town (well, at least smaller town) charm. Dagu Lu 大沽路, which runs between Chengdu Lu and Shimen ... Read More>>
Shanghai is a shopper’s paradise. Her streets are branded with labels in both boisterous plazas and glossy boutiques, but the blaring billboards and bright lights overshadow striking examples of real craftsmanship. The fabric market is popular destination ... Read More>>
One of the best ways of connecting with an unfamiliar city is reading what other people have to say about it. Of course, if you’re living in Shanghai but can’t read Mandarin you’d think that might be a problem. Fortunately, there are plenty of ... Read More>>
Xintiandi is one of Shanghai’s must-see sites. The renovated shikumen (stone-door) lanes offer a glimpse of Shanghai gone-by, and are teeming with boutique stores, upmarket restaurants and cool little cafés. Find out which are worth your time, with our ... Read More>>
Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city where chic western lifestyles compliment its timeless oriental heritage. On any given street, high-rise apartment buildings sit alongside authentic concession-era villas and old lane houses, and gleaming SUVs grace the same ... Read More>>
Indian restaurants are a bit like Irish bars: you’ll find one in pretty much every city you go to, from Sydney to San Salvador. Subcontinental cuisine is well known around the world thanks to its memorable flavours and dishes – samosas, creamy masalas, hot... 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>>
In the wake of the national holidays millions of Chinese boarded the train networks and returned home to visit loved ones. Why trains, you ask? Read More>>
If there is one thing we Shanghai residents know, it’s shopping. Luckily, there are enough choices for every sort of mood. Feel like flexing your bargaining skills in a hustle and bustle atmosphere? Try the Fake Market. Prefer to pamper yourself in a more ... Read More>>
Shanghai is, without a doubt, a 24 hour city. There’s always something going on, be it a night market, a dawn t’ai chi session, an all night booze-up or a live jazz evening. And it’s not just the weekends when the fun happens. It’s possible to keep busy ... Read More>>
Life in Shanghai can get lonely sometimes. Coming home to an empty apartment is pretty depressing, which is why a lot of expats decide to get a pet. Of course, the advantages of having a pet are obvious, but owning an animal as in China isn’t as easy as ... Read More>>
Shanghai is a very French city. Back in colonial times, the streets of Xuhui and Luwan sounded more like boulevards in Paris (Avenue Petain, Rue Lafayette, Avenue Joffre – now Hengshan Lu, Fuxing Zhong Lu, and Huaihai Zhong Lu) and the Gallic influence is ... Read More>>
A big part of what makes China both daunting and interesting for expats is the language barrier. Mandarin has a reputation for being difficult to master, and not knowing any can make you feel out of touch with the local community. There are limits to what ... Read More>>
It’s hard to keep up with Shanghai’s ever-changing landscape. With new restaurants, shops, metro lines, and office buildings sprouting up all over the place, the city continues to grow at a breathtaking rate. In order to accommodate all the visitors and ... Read More>>