If Zara, H&M and Uniqlo aren't enough to satiate your international shopping needs, then you'll be glad to hear that GAP's flagship store swung open its doors for all apparel crazy Shanghai-ers out there who want to sport a piece of Americana. more ›

Throughout this year, we've been getting glimpses at the more-than-possible opening of a Gap franchise here in Shanghai. Now Urbanatomy has found out the date... or, at least, the season. Gap is coming in the fall to both the Nanjing Xi Lu and Huaihai Zhong Lu mega-shopping streets with mega-sized stores (15,000 to 19,000 square feet). Anyone around there seen a peek of their new stores? more ›

It looks like instead of opening a second location, as previously rumored, American Apparel will be moving its only Shanghai store from the 1933 complex to Infinity Mall on Huaihai Zhong Lu. Considering that was quick becoming the only thing of interest at the otherwise empty old slaughterhouse-turned-art space/retail outlet, is there really any reason to visit that place anymore? Besides because of a love of old Shanghai architecture of course. more ›

Pssst, guess what? The six story monolith to America's favorite representation of unattainable beauty standards has now been fully realized! Today, the 3400-square-foot Barbie flagship shop on 555 Huai Hai Zhong Road opened its doors officially and let in the public. more ›

What's up this weekend? Plenty of things, but Shanghaiist plans to attend these two events for sure. Friday night, Phreaktion and DJ Siesta bring you Matrix & Futurebound at Club Bonbon. MC Stride does the vocals. From their site: more ›

Just because we’re on the other side of the world from Ireland doesn’t mean that there won’t be plenty going on for St Paddy’s Day over here in Shanghai. This year, March 17th — the date when all of us are a little bit Irish — inconveniently falls on a Monday but fear not, the Emerald Isle’s Shanghai contingent are celebrating early with a bunch of events this weekend. more ›

Feeling artsy today? Go catch London-based artist Dorothy M. Yoon's exhibition which features 13 Asian females in blonde wigs and equally blonde bleached eyebrows inspired by her childhood fantasies. A joint exhibition by contemporary artists Christeene Britton & Wang Youling celebrating harmony and life can be a good bet if you're looking for something a little more abstract (and perhaps a little less quirky). Enjoy. more ›

As Shanghai’s punishing winter falls upon us, few things counter the chill as effectively as a steaming, bubbling hotpot. While Shanghaiist has had a long-lasting love affair with spicy Sichuan hotpot, with its communal cauldron of numbing stock and gobs of pig innards, we realize that many of our loyal readers actually shy away from rubbery entrails and multiple chopstick dipping. It is to these dear readers, and to anyone else looking for a surprisingly... more ›

For all of those of you who stayed at home, hunched over the computer, waiting for an update on the happenings in live music this weekend....well, we apologize. Dust yourself off, pick up the shaver and take a shower, today is a big day for music. Getting things started early, 4:30pm at 4Live, are Taiwan indie pop duo, Natural Q. Seems to be the season for indie pop, after performances last month by Carrchy and... more ›

Our friend, Jack Chen of Shanghai Studio, the wonderful guy that was responsible for all our freaky decorations during our Halloween party and the vampire that freaked quite a few of you out, shows us that his less creepy side can be just as creative with his very first personal art show of Angel art paintings. What: Jack's Angel Art Show @ Shanghai Studio Entrance: RMB50 (incl. one Tiger Beer) Free entry for everyone in... more ›

Saturday looks to be a big night for all you DJ lovers out there and will pit the underground vs. the above ground.......literally. Dex aka Nomadico, of the Underground Resistance, is set to blow away the electronic music crowd at the Shelter (underground in a bomb shelter). While at Bon Bon (above ground in a tall tower) DJ Qbert will amaze the crowds with his scratching. Let the battle begin. Saturday Dec. 1st Dex w/... more ›

Live Bar has always been open to different genres of music, and of late, seems to be the venue of choice for Chinese folk, metal and student bands. Friday night they will host one of China's most popular nu-metal bands, Twisted Machine. Any fan of metal should not miss this show, a great chance to see what Chinese metal has to offer. On the other side of town, up'n'coming indie rockers, Yuguo will play an... more ›

This is your final warning! more ›

A quick note to interrupt your last-minute Halloween costume shopping (we made our costume yesterday ... you'll definitely hear us coming) to let you know what films we plan to show at the big Shanghaiist Halloween Party on Saturday night. If you haven't been to Shanghai Studio, it's a spooky maze-like place that occupies an old bomb shelter. So if music and dancing are your things, we've got rooms for that. If chatting and drinking are your things, we've got rooms for that, too. For those of you who have "other" activities in mind, there are also plenty of dark hallways and corners for you to do your thing. more ›

Our favourite local restaurant, ARCH, presents The Alternative Portrait Project by Shanghai-based photographer Alexandra Diez de Rivera who went inside the homes of 12 families living in Shanghai and created 12 amazing portraits that blur the line between the real and the surreal. more ›

It is back — Shanghai's biggest, baddest, scariest, spookiest Halloween party! If you came to our kickass party last year, you'll know what we're talking about. If you didn't, ask your friends who did, or see what you missed out on here and here. We created such a ruckus the police came to join in the fun! more ›

There isn't a live music update this week, but it's art shows galore TONIGHT. Three picks that aren't in your conventional Moganshan Lu / Taikang Lu destinations. more ›

These are definitely sweet days for Shanghai dessert lovers. We've already reviewed Sugar and La Crêperìe. We even panicked a little over the temporary closing of Paul, which thankfully is now thriving and whose napoleon is one of the best tasting pastries we've ever had. Now comes Brix 12, located on the first floor of Hong Kong New World Plaza, which had their grand opening last week after a month-long soft run. more ›

Due to multiple requests (total of two, and one was me) here is more golden week festival news. The previously mention Hop Festival has gotten an official name...so....let it hence forth be referred to as the Yue Festival. Ticket prices are set at 140rmb for students, 280rmb advanced purchase and 360rmb at the gate. Rock-ing has also released their ticket prices and they range from 280-880 depending on how special you want to feel. For those who are worried about getting to Zhujiajiao and back to see the 1234 Beach Rock Festival, your sleepless nights are over! Promoters have promised to keep the complimentary shuttle buses running to Shanghai Stadium late into the night. Shanghai isn't the only Chinese city to catch festival fever. Modern Sky in Beijing will also be hosting a 3 day festival at Haidian Park that first week in October. Rumored headliners are the Yeah Yeah Yeah's and Mogwai. We will keep our ear to the underground and keep you updated on the freshest festival news (aren't we clever? we can string words that rhyme into sentences!). more ›

These are definitely the dog days of summer and as in summers past, live shows have dried up with the heat. Ironically enough Shanghaiist has chosen to skip town and head to even hotter Hong Kong where PK-14, Hedge Hog, New Pants and the Re-tros will be playing in the cramped but intimate Fringe Club on Sunday. more ›

Summer is here and everything is heating up. Leading up to this weekend, this is what Shanghaiist thinks is going to be hot today and tomorrow. more ›

At least, that's what the Swedish fashion retailer would like you to think, given the massive party it threw last night at the Pudong Science and Technology Museum, which included a brief appearance by Aussie pop queen Kylie Minogue. It's clear that expansion into Asia, specifically China, is high on H&M's priority list, so their media machine can be forgiven for grand pronouncements like "Asia is about to change" that show up in our local rags. more ›

We have already told you that H&M will open in Shanghai on April 12 (in the old Benetton building at 651 Huaihai Zhong Lu), and now we have a little more to add to the story (emphasis on a little). This is the hard-hitting stuff you have come to expect from Shanghaiist — yes, Kylie Minogue is coming to Shanghai (earlier this month it was announced that Kylie is the new face — and body, we assume — of H&M swimwear). Sadly, that's about all the "news" we have to offer. The email from the PR firm handling the launch said she'd be appearing at an event for "special invited guests" on April 11. And that's about it. more ›

Just a friendly reminder that you can catch a screening of Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together tonight at 7:30 in the basement of ARCH. Drinks are 20% off, film and conversation are free! (IPR enforcers, please don't sue us). more ›

Kode 9, the dubstep mercenary from London, touches down at Bon Bon tonight for a special edition of Phreaktion's Booyaka! weekly. more ›

Because the boss tells them to. more ›

As Shanghaiist recently reported, AIDS in China continues to be a serious, rapidly growing problem. Much of the current epidemic stems from illegal blood selling in Henan Province during the mid 1990s. Dr. Gao Yao Jie , an activist for AIDS patients in Henan Province, estimates that up to1 million people are infected in Henan province alone. In spite of this, HIV/AIDS still has a reputation in China as a disease of “marginal groups” like drug users, prostitutes, and men who have sex with men. This stigma keeps many infected persons from getting tested or informing their families/friends/lovers of their condition. more ›

They have pics organized by street: Nanjing Dong Lu, Nanjing Xi Lu, Huaihai Zhong Lu and Xujiahui. more ›

We're sure there are other members only bars in Shanghai, but they would actually require memberships for you to enter. Not Southern Cross, at 1276 Huaihai Zhong Lu, not too far from Huating Lu and across the street from the No. 2 entrance for the Changshu Lu metro stop. The sign outside says "Member's Bar" and the door is locked. But all you need to do is knock on the door and pay 50 kuai to become a "member" for the evening. Here's what their photocopied "Membership Table" says: more ›

It’s true, the first Pompidou Centre in China is landing in Shanghai. According to this report (in Chinese) by Oriental Morning Post, Renaud Donnedieude Vabres, culture minister of France, and Bruno Racine, president of the Pompidou Centre (we're going to call it the "PC" from now on), the first PC in Shanghai is going to cover 10,000 square meters at the intersection of Huaihai Zhong Lu and Songshan Lu, near the site of the old French concession police station (pictured). The report was kind of vague, as they often are, but the historic building is expected to be preserved and somehow incorporated into the project. more ›