Shopping in Shanghai

China - The Factory of the World, afterall everything that we see or buy at home is about 80% made in China, I still remember my initial feelings of arriving in Shanghai. Retail heaven here I come !

Then ...... I saw the shops, the shopping centers, the prices. For the quality and price of local brands, it was not worth it at all. In fact, some of the styles were downright horrible. Imagine a big sunflower right smack in the cleavage of a swimsuit. Fabric, alot of it, it feels like wearing a huge tent instead of a fitting cropped top for 40 sin. Or either that wear something so small and fitting that you risk looking like a trannie from Thailand. NOOOOO. It was like paying Charles and Keith prices for something on sale at the wet market. Haiz ..

After some asking around, I found Qipu road - a wholesale distributing retail center in Shanghai. The local middle class totally shun it, deeming it too chaotic for their liking. It has its fans and its detractors. I, for one, love it. Here was the legendary cheap China goods that I was lusting for! Judge for yourself if a day's worth of haggling and squeezing in a crowd is worth it or not.

Earrings, Diamante Hairclips, Hair Pin - 30 rmb
2 cardigans - 120 rmb
1 spag top - 30 rmb
2 tank tops - 40 rmb
1 bracelet - 10 rmb
2 belts - 40 rmb
1 bag - 30 rmb

In fact, I only bought the bag so that I could hold everything in. (Not included was my fake 30 rmb Agnes B Voyage black coin purse). S$70 for the whole lot.


More conventionally, there are other shopping areas such as
Nanjing Road, HuaiHai Road, => They are alright, if you are looking for international brands. I might not be the most fashion forward person around but the better local Chinese brand designs charge competitive international prices too. As imported goods are priced higher in China due to the taxes instead of home, you might want to stroll down these streets to look for international brands not available at home. Just forget about cheap.

Yuyuan = > There is a small-goods market just located opposite Yuyuan. The idea is similiar to Qipu road, the necklaces, scarves, earrings are dirt cheap there. If you can survive in this place. Qipu road is the place for you.

Shanxi Nan Road and the areas around the old Xiangyang Market => full of little shops that you can haggle in. The prices vary, the collection wide and varying. It is my 2nd fav shopping area in Shanghai.

Shanghai Science and Technology Centre = > In Pudong, located at the metro, this is where one can find all the fake bags and tops that one might desire. Haggle well and haggle hard people, they are used to tourists and they are not afraid to argue. The rule of thumb is that nothing, absolutely NOTHING there is worth more than 300 rmb.

Taobao = > The cheapest place to shop in Shanghai. An auction site becomes a way of life, where supply truly meets demand here. Extensive amounts of goods and variety, courier services, pay-pal like payment online in China only. You can link your bank account to the site or pay for your purchases at the post-office. I would really miss this when I leave China.