What to Buy in Shanghai (上海)

China's old-brand capital — century-old snacks, silk, and Art Deco shopping streets.

The Bund waterfront in Shanghai with historic buildings across the Huangpu River
Photo: Ermell · CC0 · source

Shanghai's shopping identity mixes 1930s glamour with everyday old-brand practicality. The city produced China's first wave of national consumer brands — White Rabbit candy, Lao Feng Xiang gold, Shanghai-brand watches — and many are still sold in their original packaging, which is half the charm.

Two purchases are genuinely Shanghai-only experiences: getting a qipao tailored to your measurements, and browsing the old streets where time-honored food brands have sold the same pastries for a century. Food gifts are the easy win — sealed gift boxes of butterfly cookies, pear-syrup candy, and pastries travel well and need no explanation back home.

Prices below are not listed unless verified. In markets and bazaar stalls bargaining is normal; in department stores and brand flagships prices are fixed.

Shopping highlights

  • Century-old food brands (White Rabbit, Shen Dacheng) in gift-ready sealed boxes
  • Custom qipao tailoring — the definitive Shanghai-only purchase
  • Nanjing Road and Yuyuan: old-brand flagships within walking distance
  • Paper-cutting and folk crafts from Tianzifang's studios
  • Lao Feng Xiang gold — China's heritage jeweler since 1848

Worth buying in Shanghai

Worth finding

White Rabbit Creamy Candy (大白兔奶糖)

China's most nostalgic candy: a chewy milk toffee wrapped in rice paper you can eat, sold in its iconic blue-white-red packaging since the 1940s.

Price varies — check in store

Worth finding

Shen Dacheng Pastries (沈大成糕点)

Century-old Shanghai bakery famous for green glutinous rice balls (青团) and red bean pastries — gift boxes are the way to take them home.

Price varies — check in store

Worth finding

Shanghai-Style Paper Cutting (上海剪纸)

Delicate hand-cut paper art in the distinctive Shanghai style — flat, lightweight, and easy to frame back home.

Price varies — check in store

Worth finding

Pear-Syrup Candy (梨膏糖)

A Shanghai institution since 1855: small amber candies made from pear syrup, traditionally sold at the Yuyuan bazaar.

Price varies — check in store

Worth finding

Shanghai Watch (上海手表)

China's heritage watch brand (est. 1955) — mechanical watches with retro designs at a fraction of Swiss prices.

Price varies — check in store

Worth finding

Custom-Tailored Qipao (旗袍定制)

The definitive Shanghai-only purchase: a qipao made to your measurements by a local tailor — the city's signature garment.

Price varies — check in store

Where to shop in Shanghai

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street (南京路步行街)

Street

上海市黄浦区南京东路

  • Nanjing East Road, Huangpu
  • Tax refund: Check with the store
  • Information checked 2026-10-10
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Park Hotel Shanghai (国际饭店)

Specialty Shop

上海市黄浦区南京西路170号

  • Nanjing West Road, Huangpu
  • Tax refund: Check with the store
  • Information checked 2026-10-10
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Shanghai No.1 Department Store (第一百货商业中心)

Department Store

上海市黄浦区南京东路830号

  • Nanjing East Road, Huangpu
  • Tax refund: Check with the store
  • Information checked 2026-10-10
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Shen Dacheng Flagship Store (沈大成总店)

Specialty Shop

上海市黄浦区南京东路636号

  • Nanjing East Road, Huangpu
  • Tax refund: Check with the store
  • Information checked 2026-10-10
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Tianzifang (田子坊)

Street

上海市黄浦区泰康路210弄

  • Taikang Road, Huangpu
  • Tax refund: Check with the store
  • Information checked 2026-10-10
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Yuyuan Garden Market (豫园商城)

Market

上海市黄浦区福佑路168号

  • Yuyuan, Huangpu
  • Tax refund: Check with the store
  • Information checked 2026-10-10
Open map

Sources

City guide checked 2026-10-10.