Shanghai by Night

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Shanghai by Night
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Like most other Chinese cities, Shanghais pubs
and clubs are also restricted to bar streets and
nightlife districts. These lifestyle centers
have proven to be a successful model, the very
first of them being Shanghais trendiest upscale
pedestrian mall Xintiandi. A car-free
shopping, eating and entertainment zone,
Xintiandi is a very interesting area. It has
narrow alleys with restored traditional stone
gate houses, a shopping mall with a multiplex
and some other houses that have been converted
into bookstores, cafes and restaurants. Seating
in most of the eateries spills onto the sidewalk
on weekends as well as on weekdays. Xintiandi
actually comes into its own after dark when
Shanghais hip and well heeled pour in and out of
its trendy establishments.
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Shanghai can truly be appreciated from a little
bit off the hectic ground level. It is quite an
experience to catch a drink overlooking the city
from a terrace bar under the Shanghai night sky.
Other than the citys best bars in their lobbies,
big hotels often have terrace lounges on their
top floors. Expect to pay approximately the same
prices for drinks as you would in other big
establishments.
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Nightclubs are booming in Shanghai. With a new
joint opening every week on an average, barflies
can now choose from glamorous lounges to seedy
watering holes, and everything in between. Live
music is the order of the day, or should we say
the night! Rock, jazz, pop its all there way
past the official closing time of 2AM. With
foreign and local DJs being hired at the drop of
a hat, the young set raves on till the early
hours.
If you're looking to experience stereotype
Shanghai nightlife - the lights, the glitz, the
fashion, the vanity go straight to the Bund for
a night at the clubs. The Bund is where youll
find all what youve heard about Shanghais
high-end nightlife, with upscale venues and
members only clubs. Ex-pats rub shoulders with
Shanghais elite at the hippest joints, partying
through the night - Chinese style. Looking to
escape these crowds? Head for one of the terrace
bars on the Bund. Youll find good music,
cocktails and dramatic night views of Shanghai.
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A very popular nighttime entertainment option is
the Huangpu River cruise. Hosting a traditional
tourist program, every evening cruises leave from
the Bund and go on upstream. The cruise offers
spectacular views of the Bund and the city on the
whole. Dinner cruises serve quite a palatable
menu.
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Culture buffs can now find performances of
acrobatics, musicals, opera, dance, theater, and
classical and contemporary music. New
state-of-the-art theaters and auditoriums have
attracted the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano
Pavarotti, Diana Krall, the Kirov Ballet, and
touring companies of Les Miserables and Cats
among others. Large-scale pop and rock concerts
are happening with increasing frequency artists
like the Rolling Stones, Christina Aguilera, and
Celine Dion have all performed here in the last
few years. So theres always a chance of
catching a world-class show or concert during
your stay in Shanghai just be sure to check
with the Shanghai nightlife guide. If you happen
to be in the city in the month of June, the
Shanghai Film Festival is not to be
missed. There is no shortage of party places in
Shanghai, and with a burgeoning culture scene,
visitors evenings are taken care of too! Just be
sure to pack in a lot of stamina when you visit
this energetic city!