Curated, Opinionated Shanghai Living

News, updates, everything we've got...
- It Begins: Disney, Pearl Tower, Temples, Theaters, Nightclubs and More are Starting to Close for the Virus
  
  A number of venues around Shanghai are beginning to close indefinitely due to the ongoing fear over the nationwide spread of coronavirus. Among the closures: Disney and Disney Town, which announced on its website it will close from today until the local authorities give them "confirmation" to re-open; in Beijing, the Forbidden City, according to The New York Times; and in Shanghai, nightclubs JZ in Found158, TAXX, Space Plus, Elevator, ASL and the newly opened Beehive; Jade Buddha Temple, the Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Museum, pretty much all of the opera and dramatic arts centers, the Shanghai Zoo, Fuxing Park and Yu Gardens. Expect these measures to trickle down to shopping malls, street-side businesses and other places people gather in the coming days. If you purchased a ticket to any of the venues on SmartTicket, please rest assured we will begin processing refunds as soon as we are back in the office on February 3.
- It's Not You, It's Us: We're Closing The SmartShanghai Dating Section
  
  It's so hard to tell where it goes wrong with these things. It started out so well. When we launched SmSh Dating back in 2007, the early days of the Internet, we were so young, so full of life. There was so much to learn about each others' profiles, so many dates to arrange, so many suggestive text messages to send. But... oh gosh, it's hard to even say it. Gosh. Phew. This is so hard. Okay, we're just going to say it straight out. We think it's time to see other dating sections. Read on
- This New Mall is What Happens When Old People Try to Be Young and Cool
  
  A massive new mall has opened right in the center of Huaihai Lu, and man, what a story. The 27,000 square meter first phase of Theatre X has tentatively launched, dubbed itself a “Youth Energy Center” and is "privately working on a two-story teamLab nightclub. Spread over six floors, it’s what happens when old people property developers try to be young and relevant. There’s a DJ academy, a gigantic streetwear store from a youth celebrity, a ski shop with three full-size simulators (ok, this is actually pretty cool), a dingy basement used as a fashion “theater”, and wanghong brands galore. It’s all icing, very little cake. Click the jump for more! Read on
- Go See The Farewell If You, Or People You Care About, Are Huayi
  
  It’s been rainy and cold. The Chinese New Year mass exodus has already begun. So what better way to spend January in Shanghai than to watch a movie. The Farewell is an indie comedy-drama film about a Chinese-American family returning to Changchun to visit their terminally ill matriarch for the last time. Known in China as 别告诉她 ("Don't Tell Her"), the movie opened in cinemas on January 10. It goes out of theaters this week. You should go see it! Read on
  
  2
- Lantern Festival Returns To Guyi Garden After Six Years Away
  
  The lanterns will light up again for yuanxiao jie (元宵节), the Lantern Festival, after six years away. The annual show in Jiading’s Guyi Garden, which marks the end of the Chinese Lunar New Year, started in 2007 but was cancelled in 2014 after drawing 100,000 people in six days. This year, there will be a display of 18 installations brought in from Sichuan in Zigong, the “Lantern Town of the Southern Kingdom” (and, incidentally, the source of the dishes at Sichuan restaurant favorites Ben Lai and Ben Zhen). Guyi Garden, meanwhile, is home to the restaurant that “invented” the dumplings in the late 1800s. It’s a ways out of town — about 20km from downtown — but should be a proper spectacle. The event runs from February 3-9 (the actual Lantern Festival is on February 8). Tickets cost 12rmb and can purchased via official WeChat account "猗家服务" (yijia fuwu).
- Original Location of Montreal Deli Tock's Closed, Fengsheng Li Remains
  
  Apparently Tock's on Henan Lu, the first place in Shanghai to specialize in smoked brisket, closed down sometime over New Year's. No clear reason given, something about government-owned buildings and all the associated risks of sudden eviction. It didn't manage to avoid controversy in six or so years of operation, but that's still too bad. I knew this Canadian dude in Ningbo who would come up to the city just for that Tock's. I haven't the heart to tell him. If you're still looking for smoked meat reuben sandwiches and poutine, though, the Tock's in Fengsheng Li is still open, closer to downtown, and with more accommodating foot traffic.
- Neo-Tiki Bar Birds Of Paradise Closes In Four Days, Go Drink It Dry
  
  Oh man. Shock closing just shy of CNY. Austin Hu just announced on his WeChat Moments that Birds of Paradise, the neo-tiki bar he opened with bartender Yao Lu, will have its last day of operation on January 21. Yikes. Ouch. Oof. The bright, tropical, neon-drenched island for exuberant froufrou drinks and Polynesian-inspired comfort cuisine was the first of its kind in Shanghai, and it's a real shitter they're having to close barely six months into their run. No reason given, though one can speculate. We liked it a lot, but apparently Shanghai wasn't in the mood for Scorpion Bowls. They're cooking off the rest of the stock, pouring out the bottles and moving on to the next thing. Last chance to get a decent Zombie this Tuesday. Austin's WeChat post after the jump. Read on
- Dada Xingfu Lu Closes For Good On Saturday; Here’s 10 MORE Behind-The-Scenes Stories From The Owner
  
  Dada is closing its Shanghai club this Saturday for good and no one could be happier about that than Michael Ohlsson. The owner, perpetually beset by nightlife randomness and slaughtered by hangovers, needs some rest. Kidding! Just kidding Michael! We’re sad! So ahead of the closing party, Ohlsson pulled out ten MORE behind-the-scenes stories about all the crazy shit that happens when you run a club for 11 years in Shanghai. (He’s done this for us before. These are new stories.) Hit the jump for those! Read on
  
  3
- Hey! Check Out SmSh’s New WeChat Mini Program!
  
  We’ve been working hard over here and launched the all-new SmartShanghai WeChat Mini Program this week. Did you know? For the moment, it’s got the patented, trademarked SmSh Directory which lists more than 15,000 venues across Shanghai, from Bar Rouge to the Typewriter Museum. No need to ever leave WeChat again to get an address, phone number or opening hours. Even better, you can share venues directly in WeChat with friends! Read on
- Jeju Izakaya Dudes Open An Achingly Cute Pork Restaurant, Already Mobbed
  
  The handsome guys who run the Belloco restaurant group (Jeju Izakaya, Professor Lee) have added a new, achingly cute pork restaurant to their portfolio, and, holy shit is it busy! It’s been less than a month, but Botong Sikdang (普通食堂, or “common canteen” in Chinese) is already drawing big crowds for its small restaurant, resulting in two-hour waits for its signature “lengsanrou”, or sliced black-hair pork belly cooked on a griddle at the table. (This is not open-fire Korean BBQ.) We joined the crowds near People’s Square last night to see how it is. Read on
- Paris-Meets-Tokyo Fashion House Maison Kitsune Opens in Shanghai, Expensive and Hip
  
  That’s crazy. Crazy like a fox! We got a Maison Kitsuné store. The French-meets-Japanese brand is best recognized by its logo — a cute, clever looking fox — and for projects such as music mixes released under its own music label Kitsuné. The Shanghai flagship is a two-story building in Xintiandi has just opened, carrying a full range of their in-season ready-to-wear collections, along with a coffee shop, Café Kitsuné. We went to see what the fuss is all about. Read on
- We Drank Ourselves In Guinness At The Guinness Gatehouse
  
  Guinness quietly opened a flagship across from Wheelock Square and forgot to tell anyone. We stumbled across it on the way home from the boozer. It's called the Guinness Gatehouse, and it has, by our count, about thirty taps pouring pints of Irish champagne for the lowest price in Shanghai. Plus, they'll print your face on it for free. Here's a joke for you: a brewery worker fell into a vat of Guinness and died. When his wife heard the news, she burst into tears and demanded to know if it had been a quick death. "Did my poor husband suffer?" she asked. "No," replied the foreman. "He got out three times to piss before he went under the last time." Read on
- Design War! Tokyo’s “niko and” Opens Flagship Across From Muji Flagship
  
  Japanese lifestyle and retail brand niko and just opened a flagship store right opposite the Muji megastore. Nicely-designed-but-kind-of-bland war! Last Saturday, the line to get in had not yet died down, but I went anyway. Read on
  
  1
- Metro Line 2 To Shut Down An Important Section During Chinese New Year
  
  An important part of Metro Line 2 will be out of operation during the upcoming holiday, starting from January 23. The section between East Xujing Station and Songhong Road Station (not included) on Shanghai's busiest metro line will be closed for reconstruction for 11 days, until February 2. Read on
- Craig David Brings TS5 Back To Shanghai, Hopefully For Real This Time
  
  It happened! He promised to be back and he has kept his promise! Probably! Unless something goes horribly wrong again. All right. Let's run it back one more time: "Grammy-nominated British R&B, garage and pop royalty Craig David! Bo' Selecta Craig David (by the way he hates that), that Craig David, is bringing his TS5 tour to Shanghai." It's happening on February 17 at Bandai Namco Hall, which is definitely an upgrade from Jing'an New Sports Center they booked last time. Shame I blew through all the obvious lyric references last year, too. Ahem, uh, I guess "all of this time, that you been waiting / seems like now you got what you want." Kinda Girl For Me. Trust me. Tickets to Craig David TS5 in Shanghai available on SmartTicket.
MORE NEWS

Articles

ALL ARTICLES

WHAT’S ON

Today

29
Thu

30
Fri

31
Sat

1
Sun

2

Swan Lake Russian State Ballet

After a successful tour last year, The Russian State Ballet is back for their China tour with a full, mesmerizing touring ballet production. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ic...

Arts | Shanghai Culture Square
Swan Lake Russian State Ballet

After a successful tour last year, The Russian State Ballet is back for their China tour with a full, mesmerizing touring ballet production. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ic...

Arts | Shanghai Culture Square
Monsters of Rock

The Pearl presents a salute to Arena Rock. RAWKASAURUS REX are teaming up with The Red Stars for one night of big, big music from Journey, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Queen and Chea...

Nightlife | The Pearl

ALL EVENTS

GALLERIES

- January 17, 2020
  
  Carta & Co.
  
  @ Bar Rouge
- January 18, 2020
  
  Friday Ladies Night
  
  @ UP Shanghai
- January 10, 2020
  
  Xingfu Lu's Final Love Bang
  
  @ Dada
- January 4, 2020
  
  3Bangz&B3Rich
  
  @ 83BANDS Club
- December 31, 2019
  
  Disco Heaven NYE
  
  @ Park Hyatt Shanghai
- October 23, 2019
  
  Shanghai United Family Hospital
  
  @ Shanghai United Family Hospital (Hongqiao)
- October 23, 2019
  
  Shanghai United Family Hospital- Babies & Children
  
  @ Shanghai United Family Hospital (Hongqiao)
- May 30, 2019
  
  SCIS Events
  
  @ Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) Hongqiao Campus
- May 30, 2019
  
  SCIS Campus
  
  @ Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) Hongqiao Campus
- May 28, 2019
  
  BISS
  
  @ British International School Shanghai (Puxi)

SMARTREVIEWS

28 Jan 2020

From Dark Until Dark They Never Stop Making Wontons

Heatwolves on Qianlixiang Wontons (Madang Lu)

Atmosphere: A friend and I always argue over which is the better Xiantiandi wonton, Qian Li Xiang Huntun or Er Guang Huntun. They say Qian Li Xiang have better xiao huntun and the shop has that inspiring morning vibe of bosses eating wontons in a cloud of steam (wontons are the boss breakfast ... Read more
27 Jan 2020

Shanghai's best, homeliest, mid-range pastas

suzyd_ on Al Borgo

Atmosphere: We arrived pretty late on a Saturday, and it was immediately clear that there are a number of people in Shanghai who see this as a place worth travelling for. It was buzzing - expats, locals, and Big Names In Shanghai. When we casually mentioned that we'd recently visited Union Tra... Read more
26 Jan 2020

A Reason To Go To PVG Earlier

susiebbpig on Tang Gong (Pudong Airport S2)

Atmosphere: The restaurant and this entire new wing in Pudong Airport (near gate G###) was newly constructed and renovated. Squeaky clean glass tunnel on the way out of the train platform and sparkling marble floor did not give me the impression of a classy and sophisticated airport. It felt m... Read more