Market Intro

More malls, less markets. Gentrification. That's the vibe in Shanghai circa 2014. With the Xiangyang Lu/Fuxing Lu market gone (R.I.P.), many of us wonder just where to buy blank CDs, AV cables, personal massage devices, fake cigs, boomboxes, pipes, medicinal liquor, roach traps, and bike locks all in one noisy, dirty, beautiful place. Well there's one market left that might not ever die: The Qiujiang Lu Electronics Market in Hongkou District. Woven into a web of shikumen, it's open from 9am–5pm daily, and always full of characters. To get there, just take Line 3/4 to Baoshan Lu station or Line 10 to Sichuan Bei Lu station. Here's our adventure in the market...

Micro Drone Technology

Rolled up to the market and found a group of uncles testing out the latest in drone technology. Ex-NASA shit.

Hongshao Rou

Where there's uncles, there's usually hongshao rou. Around the corner, several other uncles shouted prices for stolen bicycles while an elderly woman sat on the curb selling adult DVDs. Also a guy selling teeth. You'll have take my word for it. No pictures allowed.

Cute Killing Machines

Just some adorable insect killing machines. 20rmb each. Lots of other roach traps and insect/rat catching gear on the Qiujiang Lu strip too.

BOOMBOX KNOCK

Christian Slater's favorite shop on Qiujiang Lu. A bunch of vintage boom boxes and cassettes on sale here. Honestly you're better off getting one of those new speaker boxes that take USBs though.

LAZERDISC THROWBACK

So you have Daft Punk's first EP on vinyl, signed, but do you have DONG FANG 7 on LaserDisc? No, you do not. Random disco cassette tapes in here too.

The Real CCTV

Attempting to enter the main indoor market now and security seems tight. Feels like we're in the video game Super Smash TV or Manhunt.

Market Overview

So this place specializes in TVs, PCs, audio and visual cables, military gear, blank CDs, clothing, tools to shatter windows and cut seat belts, fake Versace dining sets, imported snacks, disco lights, free weights, medicinal liquor, phones and cameras of questionable origin and worth, personal massage items, KTV equipment, fog machines, drones, teeth, pipes, and tools, amongst other items. I did not, however, see any condoms or pets for sale.

Shanghai Sewer Rat

We did find one giant rat, though.

Devil Dog

And I swear I saw Satan's eyes in that little battery powered dog...

Speakers And Amps

Loads of speakers, amps, turntables, and CD players here. This street-level market has mostly low and mid-range equipment, while the third floor of the mall closest to Sichuan Bei Lu has high-end gear on the third floor.

Special Massage

Personal massage devices come in several versions, including this pleasure model. Shifu here gave us a demo. We didn't want to stick around until he finished.

This Is Not A Pipe

Perhaps you'd like a second-hand Tissot watch and an opium pipe, sir.

Jinmen Baijiu

This is Kinmen baijiu, which comes from Taiwan. It's 58% alcohol and also works great as a cockroach killer—just put it in a spray bottle, also available at the market.

Gecko Liquor

If Baijiu isn't strong enough, they also have some medicinal liquor from Vietnam. Take your pick between gecko or scorpion flavor.

Mother Russia

Shout out to all the comrades up north. This is like the "Asian Shop" in suburban American malls, but Russian.

J. Crew Shanghai Squirrel

I thought this was a security camera keeping tabs on foreigners in the market, but upon closer investigation this is just a normal squirrel speaker. Music makes plants grow faster. Check out the J. Crew label, too.

Audiophile Porn Part 1

Up on the third floor of the dimly-lit building closest to Sichuan Bei Lu, we found a Shanghai uncle selling some vintage audio gear in nice condition. It doesn't come cheap, though. This reel-to-reel is 30,000rmb

Vacuum Tube

Or for sound warmer than a womb, grab a 1950s vacuum tube amplifier for 10,000rmb.

Audiophile Porn Part 3

"Hi-Fi" gear. Older than your Auntie and still sounds better than any speakers you can get at Carrefour. Bargain hard.

Dessert

Time to leave this place, but not before a bit of dessert. Watermelon gelato ice-pop? Why yes, I will. Just 3rmb.

Workout Flex

Working out and eating gelato AT THE SAME DAMN TIME. Just burned like 300 calories. Time for some more hongshao rou.

Oh, and fishing poles—they've got those too. They even sell bait! And we're out.