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This is a huge government-backed music and arts center. It hosts musical and stage performances from classical to rock, plus has dance studios and areas for kids to learn about music. There are also a number of recording studios on site, with the whole package aimed at fostering the musical creative talents of Shanghai. Perhaps more to the point for us lot, it often hosts big parties in one of...

This French language school and community hub hosts semi-regular film nights of classic and contemporary French cinema. For more info and programs, go to www.afshanghai.org.

This Epcot Center-styled arena was completely refurbished in 2005 to prepare for ERA: Intersection in Time, the multi-million dollar acrobat/circus show that runs daily. Fetchingly modern, Shanghai Circus World boasts a revolving stage, computer controlled lighting, mirrored cage and digital water curtain. Tickets for Era: Intersection of Time are available from SmartTicket here.

The two-layer, 1250 sq. meter stage is the first theater-style, multi-function indoor stadium in China. Acting also as a conference center, the venue can hold up to 10,000 attendees for performances and 12,000 people at sporting events.

The Shanghai Conservatory of Music is a music research institute and a public university with the departments: musicology, composition and conducting, voice, piano, orchestral instruments, Chinese instruments, music education and musical drama. It's concert hall regularly hosts concerts.

The Shanghai American School, China's largest international school, is located in Zhudi Town in Minhang District, west of Hongqiao Airport. The nearest subway station is East Xujing on Line 2. From there it's a 15rmb taxi ride. For driving instructions download this file.

The Nut lab is a multicultural arts and events space based in Shanghai, an alternative venue committed to providing a lively space for the consumption of culture. Since 2009 they've been curating a diverse array of interdisciplinary exhibitions. It's a versatile space with specialized tools and equipment to develop unique events and exhibitions. Now they hold regular weekly parties at their new...

The Ke Center serves as the official venue for local theater group Shanghai Repertory Theater (SRT). Several times a year, SRT stage various English-language productions, from Shakespearean classics, to modernist comedies of manners, to absurdist provocation. Click on the "events" tab below to see what they're currently staging.

The historic art deco Theatre was built in 1941 and is one of Shanghai's oldest and most ornate theatres. It has a capacity of 1640 seats. Opera in Chinese is occasionally performed by local and touring groups, and the theatre is worth attending just for the traditional atmosphere.

The former Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center with seating up to 18,000. Best way to get there is by taxi or metro line 13 or line 7/line 8 from Yaohua Lu station.