Shanghai is undoubtedly China’s shopping capital, where the act of shopping itself carries enormous cultural and social significance. Located on China’s east coast, Shanghai can be considered one of the essential destinations on any shopaholic’s world tour – and can certainly be a very different experience from shopping in other parts of the world.

Although a modern city in many ways, Shanghai is still a place where old traditions dominate many parts of life, and this extends to retail activities. If you’re visiting Shanghai, be aware that tipping is not a part of the culture, even in restaurants or taxis – and may instead be met with offence in some cases. However, the old tradition of haggling for bargains is alive and well, and can sometimes lead to great discounts in markets – especially when buying gold jewellery.

It’s not just gold that acts as a status symbol in Shanghai though, with pearls also being associated with the city – even giving it the nickname ”the Pearl of the Orient.” There are lots of places selling wholesale freshwater and seawater pearls throughout the city, whether you’re fascinated by pearls and crystals in their natural state or you’d prefer the talented vendors to create customised jewellery for you.

Another area in which haggling can be useful is when buying antiques, which are plentiful in Shanghai, particularly in locations such as Yuyuan Shopping City and Dong Tai Road Antique Market. If you’re looking for something distinctly Chinese to take home as a souvenir of your trip, this could be just the thing. Some people are concerned about forgeries and pirated goods when buying from Chinese markets, but in many cases the low prices simply represent domestic costs – which can be much lower than abroad, due to a lack of import charges.

It can also pay to do your research before heading to Shanghai, particularly as some of the best shopping areas can be a little tricky to find. With the names of some department stores sounding very similar in pronunciation for English ears too, it may be worth learning a little Mandarin before you set off.

The ShangHai is prominent and unique as you can judge from its daily activities and the great scenic spots that are available to visitors. Lots of visitors who have traveled to Shanghai before are also amazed at the quality and value for money on offer in hotels in Shanghai as well as the food in the restaurants and tickets to get into tourist attractions. The following are some places of interests that worth visiting in Shanghai.

The First National Congress of the Communist Party site

This is definitely a great place that most people are unwilling to miss if they want to know more about China’s recent history and culture. The Party site has opened to the public for more than 50 years and has received a huge galaxy of tourists. From the essence the building sounds more like a museum. As a matter of fact, visitors can also find a wax model mock-up of a Party meeting presided by Chairman Mao, which demonstrates a remarkable roll of Chinese history.

Yu Yuan Gardens

There are a great number of classic simply elegant Chinese gardens in Shanghai as decorative urban landscape. Situated in the southwest of Shanghai near the well known waterfront walk of the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens are the best choice to get relaxed and refreshed after a short walk along the river. With an enriching history of approximately 4 centuries dated back to the Ming Dynasty, it is amazing that Yu Yuan Gardens maintain the same brilliant look as before.