By early evening the Bund fills with people photographing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River, while the streets of the French Concession begin to fill with diners and drinkers. Later, the bars and clubs take over, and the city keeps going well into the night.
Shanghai's nightlife runs from affordable bars to nightclubs with urban energy, and there are plenty of bars in all areas. The biggest concentration is in the French Concession, with upmarket bars and nightclubs in Xintiandi, and gay bars concentrated in the French Concession and the Xinhua Road Residential District in neighbouring Changning district. It suits visitors who want choice: a quiet drink, live music, or a long night out.
Where to go out in Shanghai
1. French Concession
The French Concession has the biggest concentration of bars in the city, and it is also where gay bars are concentrated. It suits a night of moving between venues rather than staying in one place.
Huaihai Road runs through the French Concession; a walk along it can be combined with side streets and nearby bar and restaurant areas.
2. Xintiandi
Xintiandi has many upmarket bars and nightclubs, many with live music. It suits a more polished night out, with music as part of the evening.
It sits within the French Concession, so it can be worked into a wider night in the area.
3. Hengshan Road
Hengshan Road has a whole district of bars and restaurants. It suits ending a walk or a shopping day in comfort, with food and drinks close together.
One route to it: from Huaihai Road in the French Concession, start at South Huangpi Road metro station on Line 1 and head west; at the cross street just past the Changshu Road station, turn left to reach the Hengshan Road area.
4. Xinhua Road Residential District, Changning district
This area, neighbouring the French Concession, is one of the places where gay bars are concentrated. It suits a night out in a residential district rather than a central commercial strip.
5. Tea houses
Tea houses are an alternative to bars, and some traditional tea houses can still be found, especially in the Old City. This suits a quieter evening, or a break from drinking.
Be careful not to order very 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.
6. River boats
Many companies operate river tours, and a boat trip is a way to see the skyline and river banks at night. It suits an early-evening outing before or instead of a late night.
Look for one of the cheaper tours; some companies offer sightseeing tours lasting several hours. A cheaper but less scenic alternative is one of the many ferries that cross the river.
7. Shanghai Pub Crawl
This service arranges transport to various popular venues, covering bars, lounges, dives and clubs. It suits non-Mandarin speakers or those in town for just a few days who want to skip the guesswork.
The cost is ¥150. Contact details given in the source are +86 181-0214-1515 and shanghai_pubcrawl@qq.com.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not set out a fixed timetable for eating and going out. What they do show is that an evening can start with a walk along a commercial street or a river boat trip, move on to dinner, and continue in bars and clubs; the French Concession, Xintiandi and Hengshan Road all combine restaurants with bars, so food and drinking can run together. For current events, including shows, exhibitions and sporting events, the municipal government runs the Shanghai Cultural Information website.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Formula One Grand Prix, at the International Circuit in Jiading district — April.
- Shanghai International Film Festival — ten days in June, with showings of Chinese and international films 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?
The French Concession has the biggest concentration of bars, and Xintiandi within it has many upmarket bars and nightclubs, many with live music.
Where are gay bars concentrated?
In the French Concession and the Xinhua Road Residential District in neighbouring Changning district.
What does a drink cost?
Prices vary as in any major metropolis. A basic coffee or beer costs ¥10–40, while in a high-end hotel bar one basic beer may cost as much as ¥80. A large bottle (640 ml) of local beer such as Tsingtao, Snow, Pearl River or REEB costs anywhere from ¥2–6.
What if I don't speak Mandarin or only have a few days?
Shanghai Pub Crawl arranges transport to various popular venues for ¥150, which the source describes as taking the guesswork out of finding spots that bustle with expatriates and locals.
Plan your evening around one area rather than crossing the city, and check current listings before you go.