It was 8pm on a Thursday night and we were dying for a place that would give us a buzz to last into the weekend - yes, we're alcoholics like that. Luckily, located conveniently on Fumin Lu and Julu Lu was the prescription for our needs: Dr. Wine. more ›

The corner of Fumin Lu and Julu Lu is a hotspot for expat diners: Nepali Kitchen, Shintori, Guyi, Otto, Coconut Paradise, and Mesa. But smack dab in the middle are also a handful of Chinese restaurants that don't get much mention in our beloved English-language rags. We checked one of them out recently and have now added Hui Yuan Fang (汇元坊) to the list of worthy destinations located within that intersection. more ›

We remember, a few months ago, walking to Embre on Changshu Lu only to discover it had closed down, after decent reviews and six months of existence. We were exploring the restaurant options near our new apartment, and our second choice, a tapas place on Huashan Lu, also was no longer in operation — really, the building had been leveled. Food and beverage places disappear quickly here in Shanghai ... but sometimes they reappear quickly, too. more ›

Probably still pretty safe, especially when compared to other major cities in the world. But a foreigner still might not want to walk alone down a street famous for brothels at 3:30 am with a wad of cash is his pocket. more ›

With the new railway and direct flights not far down the pipeline, it's easier than ever to get to Lhasa. And if you're ever feeling homesick, you might feel better upon seeing the "Pink Parlours" of Lhasa. On a lonely night on the rooftop of the world, a visit there just might take you back to those days when you were a Shanghai Ulysses navigating the treacherous waters of Fumin Lu, trying your best to resist the call of the blowzy mini-skirted siren that beckon you. The American photographer Sarah Schorr has documented some of the prostitutes that live and work in Lhasa. It seems that these are among the many changes that economic progress -- ten percent annual growth -- has brought to Lhasa and Tibet in recent years. more ›

Recent reviews of the best burgers in town made Shanghaiist want a drink -- a cocktail, to be exact. Don’t get us wrong, we love our local favorites -- we’re addicted to Xinjiang Black Beer now that it’s stocked at the nearby convenience store. We’re even known to occasionally take a healthy shot of baijiu alongside our Qingdao Beer during dinner. (At least, we think so -- we usually don’t remember the details of baijiu nights.) But when the Black Beer’s sold out, and baijiu doesn’t feel quite right (does baijiu ever feel right?) a cocktail can hit the spot. more ›

Of course, it is happening in the United States: more ›

Sideways on Xinle Lu more ›

Ya Ke Xi on Nanjing Xi Lu more ›

Fumin Lu in between Changle and Julu Lu is a small yet concentrated swath of Shanghai’s “pink and pirated” trades. more ›