By evening, the commercial streets of Puxi are still busy: office workers heading home, shoppers drifting west along Nanjing Road toward People's Park, and the first customers settling into cafés and bars. Later, the centre of gravity shifts to the bar and restaurant districts, where the city's nightlife runs on well into the night.
Puxi is the historic centre of Shanghai, on the west bank of the Huangpu River, and it takes in districts including Huangpu, Jing'an, Xuhui, Changning, Hongkou, Putuo and Yangpu. Nightlife here is broad rather than uniform: affordable bars and nightclubs sit alongside upmarket venues, and the largest concentration of bars is in the French Concession. It suits visitors who want choice within a compact area, whether that means a quiet drink, live music, or a long evening of bar-hopping.
Where to go out in Puxi
1. The French Concession
This is the main bar district of the city, and the area with the biggest concentration of bars. It also has a whole district of bars and restaurants along Hengshan Road, reached by turning off Huaihai Road just past the Changshu Road metro station. Expect a mix of places rather than a single strip.
It suits an evening built around wandering between venues. Gay bars are concentrated in the French Concession and in the Xinhua Road Residential District in neighbouring Changning district.
2. Xintiandi
Xintiandi has many upmarket bars and nightclubs, and many of them feature live music. It is the most polished end of the city's nightlife, and prices reflect that.
It suits a night when you want music and a more formal setting rather than a casual bar crawl.
3. Huaihai Road
Huaihai Road runs through the French Concession, starting at South Huangpi Road metro station on Line 1 and heading west. It is a commercial street that works as the spine of an evening: walk it, then turn off toward the bar and restaurant district around Hengshan Road.
It suits a night that starts with shopping or window shopping and ends with dinner and drinks.
4. Nanjing Road
Nanjing Road starts at the Bund, near Nanjing Road East metro station on Lines 2 and 10, and heads west toward People's Park, Jing'an Temple and beyond. It is a major commercial street, and a walk along it takes an hour or two, longer if you explore the side streets.
It suits an early-evening start, with the option of continuing west toward Jing'an as the night goes on.
5. The Bund
The Bund is one of the cultural landmarks of Puxi and a natural starting point for an evening on the river side of the city. River tours operate from the waterfront, and some companies run sightseeing trips lasting several hours that cover a good stretch of the river and Suzhou Creek.
It suits a first night in the city or an evening that pairs a walk with a boat trip. A cheaper, less scenic alternative is one of the ferries that cross the river for a couple of yuan.
6. Tea houses
Tea houses are a traditional option, and some can still be found, especially in the Old City. They suit a slower, earlier part of the evening, or a night when you would rather not drink.
Two practical cautions apply. Be careful not to order extremely expensive teas or too much food, and be wary of friendly-seeming strangers who want to take you to a tea house or bar, as this may be a scam.
7. Bars and clubs across the districts
Beyond the main districts, bars are spread across all areas of the city, and the scene includes affordable bars as well as nightclubs. Western-style cafés and bars are commonplace, alongside Hong Kong-style tea cafés and bubble tea bars.
This suits anyone staying outside the French Concession who would rather drink locally. Prices vary as they would in any major metropolis: a basic coffee or beer costs around ¥10–40, while a basic beer in a high-end hotel bar can cost as much as ¥80. A large bottle of local beer is far cheaper.
8. Organised pub crawls
Shanghai Pub Crawl arranges transport to various popular venues, which takes the guesswork out of finding places for visitors who do not speak Mandarin or are in town for only a few days. It is listed at ¥150.
It suits a short trip or a first night when you would rather not plan the route yourself.
How a night out unfolds
The sources describe the evening mainly through the rhythm of the streets: commercial streets such as Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road take an hour or two to walk, and the bar districts fill later, with the French Concession holding the largest concentration of bars and Xintiandi's upmarket bars and clubs offering live music. Shanghai's nightlife is described as running from affordable bars to clubs that stay energetic into the night, so a late finish is normal. The sources do not give specific dinner times or closing hours.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Formula One Grand Prix motor racing — April, at the International Circuit in Jiading district.
- Shanghai International Film Festival — ten days in June, with around 400 Chinese and international films shown in cinemas across many districts.
- National Day and the National Day Golden Week holiday — early October.
- Double Ninth Festival — October.
- Christmas Day — December.
- New Year's Day — January.
- Spring Festival Eve and Chinese New Year — February.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the biggest concentration of bars in Puxi?
The French Concession has the largest concentration of bars. Xintiandi, within it, has many upmarket bars and nightclubs, many with live music, and there is a further cluster of bars and restaurants along Hengshan Road.
How much should I expect to pay for a drink?
Prices vary widely. A basic coffee or beer generally costs ¥10–40, while a basic beer in a high-end hotel bar can cost as much as ¥80. A large 640 ml bottle of local beer such as Tsingtao, Snow, Pearl River or REEB costs anywhere from ¥2–6.
What is the traditional drink to try?
Shaoxing rice wine is the traditional alcoholic drink of choice for Shanghainese, and it can still be found in most restaurants.
How do I find out what is on while I am there?
The municipal government runs the Shanghai Cultural Information website, which has listings of current events including museum and gallery exhibitions, acrobatics, touring musicians, plays and sporting events. Expat magazines such as That's Shanghai, City Weekend and Time Out list and review events, bars, clubs and restaurants, and are available at hotels and expat eateries.
Decide which district fits the evening you want, check what is on, and plan your route before you set out.