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Arguably the best way to see a city, and really get a feel for its atmosphere, is by walking its streets. Newman Tours’ French Concession Tour is a perfect way to explore one of Shanghai’s most aesthetically pleasing areas, without having to tackle the rather daunting task of navigating the winding streets on your own. Commencing at South Shanxi Metro Station, tour guide and founder Daniel Newman entertains and educates his guests with anecdotes of the old district’s vibrant and rich history. From the Opium Wars and eccentric mobsters to tales of influential women in Shanghai, this two-hour excursion packs a concise history lesson into a relatively short time, ensuring you get your money’s worth!

For a relatively young company, Newman Tours have certainly done their homework. Its tour guides are not only highly knowledgeable about the city and its past, but have the charisma to bring the incredible stories of the area to life. The Concession Tour begins under the imposing front of the Cathay Theatre with a blitz on the Chinese film industry and its tales of dramatic heroines. From there it continues on to focus on the ‘wealthy at leisure’ in the Cercle Sportif Français, as well as a number of Shanghai’s most interesting and luxurious hotels. Historical events including the signing of the US-China communiqué and the birth of the Chinese feminist movement are made all the more impressive by the architectural grandeur of the buildings in which they took place. The walk doesn’t stop there as you continue on to explore Shanghai’s involvement in the opium trade and Taiping Rebellion, as well as delve into Shanghai’s darker past and the origins of the French Concession itself. With simultaneously amusing and informative commentary, the tour makes for a perfect morning or afternoon in which to immerse one’s self in the city’s past.

The variety of sightseeing opportunities that Newman Tours offer are designed to provide tourists and locals alike with a fresh perspective on the city in a unique way. As an added touch, the international tour guides are accompanied by a local to make sure the true buzz of the city is well-represented. In addition to the tour itself, revellers have the option of a Shanghainese lunch and calligraphy lesson on the French Concession Tour or an interactive Buddhist dinner on the Ghost Tour. You can even tailor your own tour in or around Shanghai to suit your interests or schedule.

Please visit www.newmantours.com for more information.

Cotton Ding, owner of the city's favourite watering holes Cotton's, is getting back to her roots with plans to open a yet-to-be-named Hunan restaurant at the booming Yongfu Lu, Fuxing Lu intersection. Expect homestyle food served up in a location with the laidback atmosphere of her eponymous bars.

The exact location and opening date are still under wraps, but spice lovers can expect to tantalize their tastebuds with the eye-watering, sweat-inducing cuisine come mid-August. Don't expect Cotton to tame her hometown Hunan flavours for the wimpy expat palate; she doesn't pull any punches when it comes to spice -- just ask anyone who has sampled the fiery fried rice at her restaurants.

After a four-month absence, Windows Scoreboard recently reopened a block east of its old location on Huaihai Lu. Perched on the 11th floor of the old Isetan Building, the new venue is nearly twice as big as its former locale, boasting seating for 250 and standing room for another 150. The bar offers both smoking and non-smoking sections, an enclosed terrace, and awfully good views of the French Concession and People’s Square area.

Other than location and size, little else of Scorby’s tried-and-tested formula has changed. Free pool, foosball, and darts are still available, as well as 10 big screen TVs playing sports. Beers start at RMB 15 for Tiger, Qingdao, and Coors Light, and run up to RMB 35-40 for premium imports; standard cocktails are all RMB 15 and shots RMB 10, bottles RMB 300 – 400. Additionally, the kitchen still prepares quick, cheap food in the RMB 10 – 25 price range.

For those on a budget or simply looking for a cheap place to start the night, Scoreboard’s return to the bar scene is a very welcome event. The World Cup should be a very busy time for the venue. According to general manager Matt Robinson, more TVs will be added and nightly bottle-giveaways should bring in droves of supporters. Also, a free trip to Hainan for two will be raffled off at the conclusion of the tournament.

11/F, 527 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Chengdu Lu. Tel: 5382 7757. 

In the effortlessly cool setting of Urban Bar, home of the ‘Xperience’ Bartending School, fashion label, Bubble Mood, introduced their latest collection covering three conceptual lines: ‘blow it’, ‘hunt it’ and ‘bike it’.

The soft florals and femininity of the ‘blow it’ collection makes great day-to-night wear with jumpsuits, dresses and skirts that can be dressed down with flats and a cardigan or up with heels and a jacket.

The ‘hunt it’ range focuses on a safari theme, a hot look for this summer, with khaki tones and tougher designs than the ‘blow it’ range. By using soft silks and satins instead of the traditional materials associated with this trend, the designers have created a romantic feel to these pieces, making them easy to wear and giving them a feminine edge. The same is to be said of the ‘bike it’ collection, which takes biker jackets and leather shorts and softens them up, using unexpected colours and details to make them irresistibly versatile.

These collections are ideal for those who aren’t quite ready to throw ourselves into fully-fledged leathers and the safari prints of the runway but are looking for a way to make the trends their own. Right down to their jewellery line, which boasts entirely handmade one-of-a-kind pieces to ensure uniqueness, the Bubble Mood brand caters to aspiring fashionistas looking for a fresh outlook on summer fashion.

Bubble Mood will be hosting their 5th concept sale this weekend (15 & 16 May) at Enoteca 2 (58 Taicang Lu, near Jinan Lu). For a chance to revitalise your summer wardrobe or just have a look at the collection, the sale will run from noon on both days.