Shopping help from Shanghai Daily?
If you're new to Shanghai or still in that "testing the water" phase of living here, you should be well aware of Shanghai Daily's guide to living in Shanghai, called Live in Shanghai (previously mentioned here). Recently, the website added a new and useful section about shopping in Shanghai.
Low on gift ideas and cash, Shanghaiist took a little dip in the danger zone by checking out the website's savvy new section. The new shopping site is divided into six parts: introduction, department stores, (the vaguely titled) discount, supermarkets, souvenirs, books, and bargains.
Other than the handy, easy to read PDF maps of popular shopping areas like Xujiahui and Nanjing East Road, Shanghaiist was particularly impressed with the list of discounts that department stores around the city are offering (listed in the discount section). The larger and more famous department stores in Shanghai are offering sizable discounts on their merchandise for the holiday season. Perhaps "discount" is too strong of a word. "Non-refundable voucher" is a bit more accurate.
At the Parkson Department Store (百盛), for example, for every 199 RMB spent at the department store, Parkson will supply you with a 70 RMB or 100 RMB coupon (depending on the merchandise of course) to use on a future purchase at Parkson. Be careful of fires and mysterious closings.
Shanghaiist took this advice to heart and trekked across the raging Huangpu River to meet a horde of shoppers ... on a workday ... the week before Christmas ... during rush hour. In retrospect, Shanghaiist regrets the timing of such a visit but with the helping of Shanghai Daily, our X-mas shopping is finished! If only Live in Shanghai could cure headaches.
Parkson Department Store, 918 Middle Huaihai Rd., near South Shaanxi Lu Metro Station, Exit #2, 百盛购物中心, 淮海中路918号, 陕西南路地铁站, 2号出口.