What to buy in Shanghai? — 15+ must-buy gifts, souvenirs & best things to buy in Shanghai

April 28, 2024

If you are wondering what to buy as a gift for your female friends, mother, sister that is both compact and convenient, save the gift of a paper fan right away. Paper fans here are diverse in color as well as rich in patterns, they are decorated with extremely impressive motifs such as the nature of China, birds, flowers or famous tourist attractions… The fan body is made of bamboo and the head is made from pre-decorated paper or floral fabric, and the fan spokes are made of slender bamboo, so it has very high elasticity. This is considered a great gift for hot summer days, ensuring the recipients will be very happy and excited.

What to buy in Shanghai? Choosing pretty and lovely paper fans that symbolize femininity is also a good choice. Paper fans were widely used by concubines in ancient palaces. Currently, a paper fan is not only an essential accessory, but in hot weather days it is also a savior, soothing the sweltering heat.

If we look closely we can see that they are no longer elaborately decorated, as perfect as they were in the imperial era. Paper fans also have different prices, depending on whether the quality of the material is handmade or mechanical. They can be made of silk and nail polish with typical Chinese natural motifs such as birds, landscapes, mountains, lakes, etc.

Paper fans will be a meaningful gift, especially appreciated in the hot season. The initial price for a fan is around 20 yuan, but can vary depending on the quality of the material.

Handicrafts (# top shanghai gifts)

In China, there are as many as 50-60 ethnic minority groups, all with their own culture and craft. And in Shanghai, you can find handicrafts in many local shops. The handicrafts here are from all over the country, especially impressive with crafts from Tibet, but also Northwest Xinjiang, or Southwest provinces, Guizhou…

In Shanghai, there are many shops selling local handicrafts for tourists to buy as gifts. Here you can buy embroidery, paper cutting, local jewelry, skillfully sewn traditional shawls, ornate silver bracelets, or wood carvings with elaborate and meticulous designs. These are definitely the most wonderful and meaningful gifts for you to give to your friends and relatives.

Shanghai pear syrup candy

Pear syrup candy is a typical Shanghainese traditional snack, one of China’s oldest products and a famous local product in Shanghai. Shanghai pear candy has a long history, when processed, it is boiled with pure white sugar and 14 types of medicinal herbs such as: almonds, loquat, jiegeng, tuckahoe, banxia, donghua… This candy has the effect of reducing asthma, nourishing the body and improving health, delicious.

In Shanghai, you can find nearly 30 varieties of pear candy with different fillings, but the most famous is the pear syrup candy. This sweet gift is also very suitable for you to answer the question “what to buy in Shanghai”.

Confectionery

Buying confectionery is one of the fastest and most convenient options that many tourists choose to bring back after their trip to Shanghai. You can buy pies, moon cakes, dried fruit cakes or delicious crispy peanuts. Guests can easily choose from different types of snacks at shopping centers and supermarkets such as watermelon seeds, sunflower seeds, cheesecake…

Most Shanghainese in particular and China in general love sweets, so the presence of sweetness in many local dishes is indispensable and often no desserts are offered after. meal in China.

Traditional Chinese food includes a lot of cookies, candies and other snacks including dried fruit, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds, etc.

Crunchy coated peanuts are also a typical Chinese dish. Cakes, round cakes are filled with maltose sugar, concentrated malt sugar and they are usually wrapped in a gift box to be sold to visitors.

Moon cakes are also popular and represent round or rectangular cakes filled with lotus seeds. Sweets, cakes and dried fruits are typical gifts from Shanghai that you can easily bring back as gifts for relatives and friends.

Shanghai Chongming Rice Wine

Chongming rice wine is a specialty in Chongming district, Shanghai and also a typical traditional product of China. The wine is brewed from glutinous rice, the finished product has a slightly sweet, slightly sour taste, a mild aroma, a moderate alcohol content, a rich aftertaste, and a milky white color. Brewed glutinous rice must be grown in the land of Chongming with special soil and climate to produce delicious wine products.

This is rice wine, which is different from distilled spirits. Even more than a hundred years ago, this rice wine was famous all over Shanghai and Suzhou. Chongming rice wine is not only Chongming’s specialty but also the only local wine in Shanghai. This winemaking technique is listed on Shanghai’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

Malu Grape

The Malu grape was first planted in 1981 and has a history of more than 30 years. Currently, Malu town has a grape growing area of more than 5000 hectares, the annual output is more than 6000 ton of grapes, which has directly increased the income of the people here. There are about 1200 households growing grapes and with more than 2000 employees. Malu grape production has become a mainstay for people in the town of Malu, Shanghai.

Malu grape brand has passed the certification of Shanghai Quality Certification Centre. This delicious and standard grape variety is also worth choosing to enjoy and buy as a gift for your loved ones.

Thousand Layer Cake (Gaoqiao)

Gaoqiao cake, also known as thousand-layer cake, is one of the famous specialties in Gaoqiao town, Shanghai with a history of more than 100 years. The name of the cake is so named because the puff pastry has many distinct layers, each layer is as thin as a paper, looks like a thousand layers are formed.

The cake making process uses refined white flour, cooked lard, white sugar, red beans and sweet osmathus as ingredients. After mixing the ingredients, the cake is shaped and baked. When enjoying, the cake is fragrant, crispy outside, soft inside, rich in flavor. You can buy some cakes as a gift when you visit Shanghai.

Meat-stuffed/fresh pork (xiān ròu)

This is a special dish in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, it looks similar to a thousand-layer cake. The crust is golden yellow, crispy on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside. The filling is mainly pork, the skin is crispy and the flour is slightly tougher than the thousand-layer cake.

When coming to Shanghai, visitors can buy this cake as a gift at Shen Dacheng and Lao Dafang shops.

Where to shop in Shanghai?

Three on the Bund

Address: Waitan, Huangpu, China, 200002

Three on the Bund is one of the famous shopping places in Shanghai. This is a place specializing in selling branded products of famous brands in the world such as Giorgio Armani, Cartier… Coming here, you will surely be attracted by countless clothes, shoes, bags… of the highest quality brands. Walking around this shopping place and choosing to buy your favorite items is an interesting experience that you should not miss.

The famous Three On The Brunch is Shanghai’s famous high-end shopping district. This place not only focuses on large luxury shopping centers but also sells high-end fashion items from world famous brands such as LV, Gucci, …

In particular, these branded items are also publicly sold in front of the central area, along with the appearance of famous names in the art world who come here to photograph for their collections that make the neighborhood look more flashy.

Nanjing Street

Bustling scene of Nanjing Walking Street. | where to buy souvenirs in shanghai

Nanjing Street, also known as Nanjing Road, is Shanghai’s most famous street, attracting a large number of tourists every day, making it always bustling and crowded.

Stretching across 5.5km are fashion items, toys, traditional souvenirs sold on shops and stalls of Nanjing Street. At the same time, you will also enjoy the melodious trumpet sound of artists performing art on the street. Occasionally, there is also the appearance of extremely interesting cowboys.

The crowded and bustling atmosphere of this famous pedestrian street is a popular attraction for tourists to visit when coming to Shanghai. Along Nanjing Street are fashion, toy, traditional souvenir shops… With many unique and eye-catching items that you can choose to buy as gifts at very affordable prices.

City God Temple of Shanghai (Cheng Huang Miao)

The City God Temple of Shanghai stands out in Shanghai as both an old town and an ideal tourist destination. Not only that, this place is also an extremely ideal shopping area with shops and supermarkets growing up close together in the ancient and traditional space.

Besides, the items here are also sold in a very diverse way. Not only fashion, but this place also sells Chinese pharmaceuticals such as traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine… effective for treating joint pain, shoulder pain, back fatigue and old people’s diseases. In addition, Cheng Huang Miao also has ceramics, handkerchiefs with bold colors of national culture, promising to be a souvenir that you cannot miss.

Pudong District (# where to buy souvenirs in shanghai)

Pudong district is an extremely developed neighborhood of Shanghai with the appearance of high-rise buildings, large commercial centers and bustling shopping malls. If you want to find an ideal shopping place, immersed in the luxurious street atmosphere of China, then Pudong Bridge will definitely be an ideal destination for you.

Of course, accompanying the outstanding development of this neighborhood is the variety of items sold from fashion to souvenir products, allowing tourists to visit and shop.

Huaihai Road

Huaihai is a name that Chinese people liken to a Harajuku of Tokyo, Japan and is also a fashion capital not to be missed in Shanghai. Coming to Huaihai, you will be immersed in the bustling, colorful atmosphere with rich models and fashion items, accompanied by precious and expensive jewelry that makes you sometimes confused about what to bring home.

You can also easily find and buy these items in Huaihai by visiting the shops, the giant commercial center is spread all over the street, clearly showing the luxury and class of this place.

Middle Tibet Road

Middle Tibet is a busy eating street in Shanghai with a culinary background imbued with local culture and traditional dishes. You can not only “fill” your stomach with dishes with many flavors from classic, typical to diverse international flavors.

Besides, you can also find and buy handmade souvenirs such as wool, handkerchief… with stable quality but extremely affordable price.

Xujiahui

Located at the crossroads of Honqiao, Huashan, Zhaojiabang, North Caoxi is Xujiahui, a famous destination as a paradise of bustling shopping and entertainment. This place concentrate 3 large supermarkets and 6 leading commercial centers in China with electronic and computer products such as equipment, accessories and prices ranging from moderate to luxury.

Dongtai Road

Dongtai Road is likened to a huge collection of antiques with items imbued with traditional Chinese culture such as pottery, porcelain, bronze and calligraphy paintings. Coming here, you not only have the opportunity to discover a profound cultural beauty, imbued with Chinese art, but also can choose items that are considered “specialties” of China as gifts for relatives and friends from meaningful shops and stalls.

Here, you can also visit the antique market to find value antique items.

Fuzhou Road

If you’re looking for more artistic gifts, you can also stop by Fuzhou Road, a neighborhood known as the “cultural and art street” with many bookstores owning many valuable books, rarity and record shops, small picture shops. A fully recreated art world is displayed in front of visitors through shops and boutiques along both sides of the long street, promising to bring you artistic souvenirs for your friends and relatives.

North Shaanxi Road

North Shaanxi Road is known by tourists as a paradise of footwear with a variety of designs and styles suitable for all ages. In particular, the price here is also very affordable and reasonable for tourists, so don’t hesitate to stop by to bring yourself a few pairs back home as gifts!

Note when shopping in Shanghai

Shopping in supermarkets, malls, or stores selling branded goods with listed prices, you do not have to bargain or haggling. But if shopping outside the flea market, the shops sell souvenirs to tourists, you should bargain and check the goods carefully before deciding to buy.
The products here often sell at a much higher price than the original price. So, before buying, you should consult the prices in a few stores to see where the best price is before asking to buy. Usually you should pay 1/3, 1/4 of the price offered by the seller. If you do not speak Chinese, you can bring a small calculator to use to negotiate with the seller. This way, you will be able to buy items at the right price, without being overpriced.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Shanghai you can refer to

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