Shanghai’s Best Kept Secrets

Bohemian Escape – Y.Ys (Yin Yang)

Although Y.Ys is one of the city’s oldest bars and featured in Wei Hui’s Shanghai Baby, it remains a lesser-known venue. The basement club has long since closed, but the small upstairs seating area festooned with old communist relics still remains. It’s the perfect venue for an afternoon cup of tea, a pre-dinner aperitif from their list of Belgian beers or a stiff nightcap at the break of dawn. A sign over the door declares ‘keyi tan’, and the inimitable atmosphere of Y.Ys will surely get you talking.

125 Nanchang Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu. Tel: 6466 4098

Bargain Asahi – Lotus Land

I bet you’re thinking, “Lotus Land on a list of hidden gems? C’mon!” I know, I know, but Lotus Land has opened a new restaurant (same name, different cuisine – they moved from India to Japan) and they’re serving draft Asahi for RMB 10. Per pint glass. All the time. Just a stone’s throw from the Bund, this little underground restaurant is the perfect place to get your buzz going before heading off to highrolling bars and peeling some pink ones off your bankroll.

Basement of Times Square. 99 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Pu’an Lu

Shopping

Tea for a Pittance – Tianshan Tea Market

Offering four floors of tea leaves, tea wares, antiques and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Tianshan Tea Market is the centre of Shanghai’s tea culture. Friendly vendors offering free samples are the best part of this wholesale market – definitely take a sip of everything before you buy it. Whether you’re hunting for the rare Anji white tea or just looking for a tea set that won’t break the bank, Tianshan Tea Market will help you stock up on all your tea and TCM needs at a great low price.

520 Zhongshan Xi Lu, near Yuping Lu Recommended by Shopping Tours Shanghai. Web: www.shoppingtoursshanghai.com