Nightlife
China’s nightlife capital, Shanghai has a frenetic nightlife scene, with a proliferation of venues. There is also a strong ex-pat strain in the nightlife scene, which makes it very welcoming to outsiders. Bars and clubs seem to be everywhere, although they are concentrated particularly along Hengshan Lu, Dongping Lu, Xintiandi and Maoming Nan Lu (with offshoots in Fuxing Park and the grounds of the Ruijin Guest House, 118 Ruijin Er Lu), Nanjing Xi Lu (for a quieter, more mature ambience) and Julu Lu (for sleaze). A new ‘bar street’ is due to open at Tongren Lu/Nanjing Lu by the end of November 2004. As ever, the major hotels (Grand Hyatt, Hilton, JW Marriott, Four Seasons and Westin, in particular) have fine high-class bars. Bar prices can be surprisingly hefty, though many bars offer happy hours and one-price-all-you-can-drink deals in response to increased competition. There is no fear of passing a Sunday or Monday without action.
Details of the best venues are carried in 8 Days (website: www.8days.sh), That’s Shanghai (website: www.thatsshanghai.com) and City Weekend (website: www.cityweekend.com.cn) city listings magazines.
Bars: Face, Building 4, Ruijin Guest House Gardens, 118 Ruijin Er Lu, is one of the loveliest buildings and bars in Shanghai – a dark-panelled 1930s mansion filled with pan-Asian artifacts and a cosmopolitan herd of drinkers. O’Malley’s, 42 Taojiang Lu, is a staple of the ex-pat/sports bars, with a solidly Irish beer garden. KABB, Lane 181, Taicang Lu, is a great terraced vantage point for watching the chic street crowd in Xintiandi. Sasha’s, 9 Dongping Lu, by Hengshan Lu, is a swanky bar/restaurant in a restored villa formely owned by the infamous Soong family, while Windows Too, 1699 Nanjing Xi Lu (by Jing An Temple metro station) is the most sociable and vibrant of the RMB10-per-drink dive bars.
Casinos: Casinos are officially illegal everywhere in China except Macau.
Clubs: Rojam, Fourth Floor, Hong Kong Plaza, 283 Huaihai Dong Lu, attracts the cream of international DJs that visit Shanghai, and is a full-on clubbers’ resort on its regular nights. California Club/Park 97, 2 Gaolan Lu, Fuxing Park, is part of the Shanghai Lan Kwai Fong strip imported from Hong Kong and sells itself on cosmopolitan sophistication. Next-door, Guandii offers specialist trance and drum-and-bass nights and is popular with the moneyed local set. Recently opened, Mint, 2/F, 333 Tongren Lu, by Beijing Xi Lu, is proving to be the hottest new spot for partying expats in need of somewhere different to drink and dance.
Live Music: Live bands are regular features of the Shanghai bar and club scene, often appearing at both Malones and O’Malley’s (see above). CJWx, Xintiandi, has excellent soul singers performing most evenings. The Cotton Club, 1428 Huaihai Zhong Lu (near Fuxing Lu), offers nightly top-notch nightly jazz and blues.
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Nightlife