Every city has tradeoffs. Shanghai is cheap and crazy but rain often hangs around like an unwanted party guest. Some love the rain, but to others, rain means depression, laziness, and hermit-like behavior. But no need for that - this list will get you through the wet days. Here's ten ways to cope with the xia yu...
1) Cook At Home
Stop. Don't touch that phone. Don't call the KFC colonel, or the la mian uncle. Cook a meal and home and your soul will thank you. Here's some step-by-step recipes that show you how to make Michelin Seven-Star cuisine with ingredients from the wet market: Japanese Meat and Potatoes Spaghetti with Basil Pesto Mulled Wine All of SmartShanghai's Cook It articles are right here.
2) Listen To Some Music
Rain goes nice with fine music, especially something trippy, melancholy, or sexy. For all three, check out Eye Wonder, the 2011 album by Shanghai's AM444. On their debut, Jay.Soul and ChaCha create a dreamy and sometimes dark atmosphere that matches the mist and clouds outside. Have a listen over on their Bandcamp and see them live next weekend with -M-. We also recommend Interpol's Turn On The Bright Lights LP or Balem Acab. Joy Division or The Cure works well too. Of course, there's always Rainy's Quiet Storm. For romantic music, check out this playlist by a gang of Shanghai DJs. Lots of sexy MP3s by artists like Silk, H-Town, and Romanthony inside.
3) Movie Time
We had to pick one movie to recommend for you, dear reader. It's not the new Robocop. No no, we chose My Neighbor Totoro. If this doesn't warm your heart you might have a personality disorder. Hayao Miyazaki's 1988 animated film tells the story of two girls who move to Japan's countryside while their mother is in the hospital. While wandering around in nature, they meet some forest lords called Totoros and the adventure begins. Don't you wish you had a cat bus to take you to The Bund? If you're looking for something more adult, check this one called Meet The Feebles by the director of Lord Of The Rings.
4) TV Party Tonight
If you're underemployed, or not employed at all, take this opportunity to binge-watch a compelling television program until the rain passes over. Here's five good ones: Wonder Showzen – Insane and hilarious "kids show" that lasted two seasons on MTV. Lots of puppets. Watch the first episode here and try to torrent the rest. The Wire – People rave about Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, but this is the one. Somehow this tackles every social and political issue in America in one show. Written by an ex- police reporter from Baltimore. Seinfeld – Americans all know it, but if you didn't grow up in Freedomguo, check one of the best comedies ever. Also peep the related series Curb Your Enthusiasm if you enjoy awkwardness. Cowboy Bebop – Classic late 90s anime series about space-traveling bounty hunters, with a dope jazz soundtrack and cinematic fight scenes. Doraemon – If you speak some Chinese but wanna learn more, try watching a cartoon in Chinese. You know that blue cat with no ears? That's Doraemon and he's got a magic pocket. Go for the Taiwanese dub. Remember, a lot of movies and TV shows are available for free on PPTV and you don't need a VPN.
5) Rainy Hardware
If you must leave your home or office, do so in a harmoniously warm and dry manner. Your feet will get wet, so you should invest some kuai in a USB feet warmer to dry your socks. Would also help to layer on some ironic sweaters to keep the rain out and shield against the vicious ganmao. For these and more high and low-tech items to help beat the rain and cold, check our article right here. Those 10rmb umbrellas for sale outside the subway station will break in like ten minutes - here's some better choices on Taobao. Or if you have 600rmb to blow, grab this Totoro umbrella. Complete your special outfit with a raincoat and some really fashion rain boots here and here.
6) Pour Up a Drank
Or you could just...drink at home. You don't even need to go to Family Mart because a few companies will deliver booze right to your door. Here's two options: CheersIn – They have a new deal each week. Right now they're offering a 12-pack of Estrella Galacia for 90rmb. Maybe throw a Brewdog Hardcore IPA in there too for 39rmb. M1NT Cellars – These guys also change their deals often so check their website. Get a 24-pack of Qingdao Draft for 110rmb or a bottle of Maker's Mark for 350rmb.
7) Clean Your House
Your fangzi may contain mountains of electrical wires, coins stashed in water bottles, McDonald's wrappers, event flyers, half-started notes and to-do lists, cigarette boxes, DVD cases, old vegetables that Ayi doesn't dare throw away, expired condiments, fapiaos, take-out menus, coats and jackets, 65% unpacked suitcases, 97% empty toothpaste tubes, and possibly a neti pot that you don't dare use now. But no socks. We're not all lucky enough to have an Ayi. Some even lost theirs cause shit got too awkward after a sexual encounter, as described in this story called Oh God I Screwed My Ayi.
8) Read Some Quality Articles
We've been online for ten years and have tons of prime quasi-journalism, from true stories of apartment fires to conquering moutains of lobsters, plus convenience store ice cream taste-tests and surreal restaurant reviews for the dining heads. Here's some of our favorites: Ice Cream Overdose 2011 Worst Event Flyers All The Boston Lobsters Munchies Delivery Revisited
9) Go On A Date
Remember that girl or boy whose WeChat you got on the metro last week? Hit them up and see what they're doing tonight. Take them to the arcade or better yet cook dinner at home. If your contacts need an update, check out our new dating article that compares four popular platforms for hooking up in Shanghai.
10) Take A Bath
Options abound for bathhouses in Shanghai, ranging from pleasuredomes for businessmen to spas for tai tais. We'll leave the sketchy bits to you, but we do cover some more family friendly bathhouses in this article here. That's our ten. Got more? Leave 'em in the comments. Stay dry, stay sane Shanghai.
