What to do For 2012 Chinese New Year in Shanghai
So you waited too late to book your tickets out of town? There’s still plenty going on in Shanghai this week, so resist the urge to join the world’s largest human migration and get ready for a great staycation!
Saturday, 21 January
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law are back in the incredible sequel about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr Watson. This is definitely worth seeing!
Peace Cinema. 290 Xizang Zhong Lu. Tel: 6361 2898. Web: www.shdgm.com
Spring Festival Dinner at Yue 1525
Head to Yue 1525 for a Cantonese holiday dining experience. The restaurant is offering three different set menus to celebrate Chunjie starting at RMB 3,288 for 10 people. Gather your other left behind friends to try roasted goose with plum sauce, deep-fried crispy chicken, bird’s nest with pumpkin soup. A bottle of house wine, six bottles of beer and two jugs of juice are included.
Yue 1525. 1525 Dingxi Lu. Tel: 6225 8665
Kungfu Komedy @ Masse
Masse hosts Kungfu Komedy, a group of Shanghai-based stand-up comedians who will try to bring the finest, most interesting line-ups on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Enter the year of the dragon with a round of raucous laughter.
Masse. 9.30pm. RMB 50. 219 Jinxian Lu. Tel: 5212 5971
Free Flow Baijiu @ Bikes & Friends
Bikes & Friends is open during CNY, and they've got a deal that will make your liver cringe. On 21-22 January, in addition to their regular menu, they're offering free flow baijiu. Ganbei?
Bikes and Friends Cafe. 141 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Yongfu Lu.Tel: 138 1654 4697
Chinese New Year’s Eve: Sunday, 22 January
Fireworks On the Huangpu
Let the inventors of fireworks show you how it’s done. The Chinese government may have tightened their security measures over the sale of fireworks, but the official show is still on! Forget about those amateur shows going on outside your balcony and head to the Bund as the fireworks light up the Lujiazui skyline. Dress warmly! The show starts at 10pm.
The Bund. Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
Dinner & Gifts at Table No 1
Open throughout CNY, Jason Atherton’s Table No 1 is in the holiday spirit. They’re handing out gifts to all guests for every RMB 500 spent in January. The giveaways range from complimentary drinks, dishes, bottles of alcohol and even a meal for two!
Table No 1. 1-3 Maojiayuan Lu. Tel: 6080 2918. Web: www.tableno-1.com
English Premiere League @ The Camel
Can Tottenham Hotspur become a threat for Manchester City in the race for the title? Five points are all that separates the two teams. Man U, ranked second, is facing Arsenal, so this Sunday will be a crucial day for teams on the top.
9:30pm for Man City vs Tottenham. 11:55pm for Arsenal and Man U. The Camel. 1 Yueyang Lu. Tel: 6437 9446
Chinese New Year @ Bar Rouge
Dress up in red to celebrate the year of the dragon. The entrance is free until midnight if you know the password. Pssst, it’s “dragon”.
RMB 100. Bar Rouge. 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu. Tel: 6339 1199. Web: www.bar-rouge-shanghai.com
Chinese New Year: Monday, 23 January
NFL Playoff Action @ Bubba’s
Enjoy BBQ and beer while watching the Baltimore Ravens play the New England Patriots, followed by the NY Giants against the SF 49ers. Bubba’s Hongqiao and Expo Village will be open for the holidays, the new Riverside location at the Cool Docks reopens on 28 January.
12pm. Bubba’s Hongqiao. 2262 Hongqiao Lu, near Jianhe Lu. Tel: 6242 2612. Bubba’s Expo Village. 101, Expo Village, 1101 Xueyue Lu. Tel: 2206 0338
ERA @ Shanghai Circus World
Here’s one for the whole family. ERA’s acrobatics show features gravity-defying feats of strength that will drop everyone’s jaws.
Shanghai Circus World. 2266 Gonghe Xin Lu. Tel: 2266 Gonghe Xin Lu. Web: www.era-shanghai.com
Left Behind Party @ The Chalet
As Michael Jackson says, you are not alone. The Chalet is hosting a party for all those who weren’t beamed to a beach during the Chinese version of the ‘Rapture’. So take out your ear plugs and come meet some of your fellow staycationers.
8pm. The Chalet. 385 Yongjia Lu. Tel: 3401 0958
Tuesday, 24 January
Swan Lake @ Shanghai Grand Theatre
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake remains an ageless classic. Performed by renowned Moscow ballet, it is one of the things not to be missed during Spring Festival.
7.15pm. RMB 180-880. Shanghai Grand Theater. 300 Renmin Da Dao. Tel: 6327 3094
Dinner @ Mr & Mrs Bund
You’ve had Paul Pairet’s restaurant on your to-try list since it ranked in the top 10 of Asia’s restaurants in this year’s Miele Guide. Why not sample the haute French cuisine over the holidays, when half the other restaurants in town are closed?
Mr & Mrs Bund. 18 Zhongshan Dong Lu. Tel: 6323 9898
Happy Hour @ The Apartment
Every day during CNY, The Apartment is offering happy hour from 2-8pm, so come get some buy one get one free drinks with the beautiful people.
47 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu. 6437 9478
Wednesday, 25 January
Ladies Night @ Sugar
It’s Wednesday, and that means Sugar opens its doors for the ladies night. Even during Chinese New Year. Expect shirtless bartenders, amazing music and bubbles, as per usual.
Sugar. 35 Shanxi Nan Lu, near Changle Lu. Tel: 6215 8777
A casual Mediterranean dinner at Mistral with your friends or family sounds like a great plan for Hump Day. Be sure to make a reservation. Mistral is open over the holidays, but booking a table is a must.
Mistral. 133 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Yongfu Lu. Tel: 6433 4261
World Famous Argentinean Tango Dancer
Mora Godoy is one of the most respected Argentinean tango dancers and chorographers in the world. In her shows, she converges ballet with tango passion, so you don’t want to miss this one.
7.15pm. RMB 80 – 680. Shanghai Oriental Art Center. 425 Dingxiang Lu. Tel: 6854 1234. Web: en.shoac.com.cn
Thursday, 26 January
Zhang Qing Solo Exhibition
Contemporary Chinese art is on the rise. Increased interest of investors in recent years is the obvious evidence. “CCTV” – Zhang Qing’s solo exhibition is a unique opportunity to see it firsthand. Artworks to be exhibited include video installations as well as conceptual installations.
ShanghArt Gallery. 50 Moganshan Lu. Tel: 6276 3275. Closed from 22 – 25 January.
Aussie Day BBQ
Come throw some shrimp on the barbie at Kakadu! In celebration of Australia Day, they’re hosting all-you-can eat BBQ for RMB 150, including one free beer. When you’ve finished your first mug, they’ve got specials on libations from OZ: beers (RMB 25), wines (RMB 30) and Bundaberg Rums (RMB 35).
Kakakdu. Bridge 8 Complex, Shop 1104A, 8 Jianguo Zhong Lu. Tel: 5468 0118
Sasha’s Ozzies are inviting their countrymen to come enjoy 50 per cent off Australian beers all day, as well as meat pies, pasties and sausage rolls from the pie warmer. Expect 2 Up games and Ozzie tunes all day. RMB 100 gets you a burger with beetroot, Australian pizza or steak, chips and salad, plus one beer.
Sasha’s. 11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu. Tel: 6474 6628
The Shed is also hosting a BBQ for the holiday. RMB 250 gets you all you can handle eats and drinks.
The Shed. 528 Kangding Lu, near Xikang Lu. Tel: 6288 1189
Drunken Dragon Pub Crawl Shanghai
Get drunk with the dragons as they ring in their birth year. RMB 150 gets you all you can drink for an hour before you board the party bus to three more institutions of ill repute.
9:30pm. RMB 150. Drunken Dragon Pub Crawl. O’Malley’s. Web: www.pubcrawlshanghai.com
Zhao Jing’s Cello Concert
Zhao Jing graduated from Karajan Academy in Berlin and today is considered to be one of the most promising international cellists. Classical music lovers can enjoy her virtuoso playing this night in Shanghai.
7.30pm. Shanghai Concert Hall. 523 Yan'an Rd. Tel: 6386 2836. Web: www.shanghaiconcerthall.org
Friday, 27 January
It’s your last chance to check out Zhang Huan’s exhibition “Q-Confucius” at Rockbund Art Museum. Don’t forget to take a look at Q-Confucius No 7 installation; it’s outside the museum building, right on Union Church Square.
Rockbund Art Museum. 20 Huqiu Lu. Tel: 3310 9985. Web: www.rockbundartmuseum.org
Drinks @ Rico Rico
Freezing in Shanghai? Ask for double rum or enjoy a Mojito at this Latin themed restaurant and bar. By reservation only.
Rico Rico. 601 Waima Lu, near the Cool Docks. Tel: 3330 0977
Saturday, 28 January
Clearance Sale from Dutch Items Shanghai
Log on to DIS’ newly-launched website over the holidays and score some great deals. From 21 – 29 January, they’re offering deals of up 70% off last season’s collection.
Dutch Items Shanghai. Web: www.disshanghai.com
Apsara
Pamper yourself over the holidays with Apsara’s Ginger Extravaganza. The treatment will warm you up with the healing root, and during January the skin food therapy session is on special: RMB 499 for two ‘courses’ (discounted from RMB 680).
Apsara. 457 Shanxi Bei Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu. Tel: 6258 5580
Compiled by Nick Korjov.
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