On our 2nd day in Shanghai we headed to the fabric market. There are many fabric markets around the city, but after consulting with some long serving expats, we chose the Dongmen Road Fabric market. The market itself, is indoors and over 3 floors, contains around 300 individual stores covering tailoring of suits to making you bespoke carpets and rugs. The fabric market is on the Puxi side of the river and is very accessible either by the metro, taxi or Ferry.
As with every aspect of commercial chinese life bartering is a fundamental part of the process. However, there is a balance here, as you cant be too cheeky in the fabric markets, as you will compromise the quality of your product. We ended up paying 995 yuan (£95) for a suit and 2 tailored shirts. This was viewed by Chinese locals we met as the righ price to pay. We came away with two tailored coats for 325 yuan each (£30). They take your measurements, in great detailand then after (usually in our case) 1 week, the finished article is ready for collection. You can customise every element from the fabric and lining to the buttons and sleevelenghts.In terms of choosing a good tailor,there are a couple of things to look out for. Make sure the shop has samples that you can touch rather than the books. You can also tell the quality of the tailor buy the size and decor of the stall. The more extravegant looking the stall, generally the higher quality the merchandise.
After the fabric market we heading to Fuxing Park. Fuxing park is a good way to see how the locals spend their weekend. There were a lot of men playing cards in large groups and families out with their children. It is well worth taking the time to walk round it. After the park we walked through the streets of the French concession. This was an area where the Chinese and French compromised, the French were allowed to settle in the 18 and 19th centuries, but in joint rulership with the Chinese. There were also areas of the city which were conceded to the British. Compared to the Pudong side of the river the French concession was very low rise (most buildings only 2 stories high) and there are many interesting local shops and cafes. This is also a good place to stay as a tourist, as it retains its distinct character.
We then headed back onto the Pudong side of the river. There are 3 ways to do this; 1. Ferry across the river, 2. taxi 3. Metro. the Ferry and Metro cost 2 yuan (£0.20) a taxi willcost you about 15-20 yuan (£1.50-£2). Travelling around the city is suprisingly easy and cheap. All in one cards, similar to Londons Oyster card, are available.
We made a return visit to the Superbrand mall which has every major branded shop from ever corner of the globe. At the weekend it is quite a stressful experience walking around the mall and trying to find food, restaurants here usually have queues to get in on a Saturday night. However in the week it was very easy to get around and enjoy the air-conditioned surroundings.
After the mall headed to the Shanghai History Museum which is under The Pearl tower in the heart of the Pudong, Shanghai. This building is a famous landmark on the Shanghai skyline. To go up the Pearl tower cost 180 yuan (£18) and just entry to the Shanghai History Museum is 35 yuan (£3.50). The museum is highly enjoyable, informative and interactive. Every exhibit is clearly explained in good clear English.
