Out of the two weeks I spent in Shanghai, I think I visited Qi Pu Lu at least once every 2 days. During my stay I also found out that the place was named Qi Pu Lu because it sounds like Cheapo Road. This place gets incredibly crowded on weekends so if you can, go in the mornings of weekdays and watch out for pick pocketers. Oh you may also want to empty our your bladder and have a full meal before entering the doors. Do not fear, there are plenty of food stands outside on the streets for you to eat! Toilets on the other hand, are a lot harder to find.
qi pu lu:
The clothes that are usually put out at the front of the shop are usually super cheap. You'll also find many stores that suddenly declare that all the clothes/shoes/bags/accessories they are selling in the shop are a certain price (usually very cheap) and see a horde of girls rush towards that store.
qi pu xing wang (七浦兴旺服饰市场):
This is my favourite building to shop in. Has everything you need. Another favourite of mine is just down to road that sells imported Korean and Japanese clothes.
In this area, there are many large four storey buildings like in the picture above. In these buildings are rows and rows and storeys and storeys of tiny stores selling cheap street wear and accessories.
scarves:
Different stores specialise in different things. People who sell scarves only sell scarves, people who sell tops only sell tops etc. Something which could have cost 300 RMB can be bargained down to about 50RMB (which is not even $10AUD!). It is amazingly cheap.
accessories:
Your chance of getting things for cheaper rises if you buy more. For example, it's hard to get good discounts for accessories. But if you find, say 10 you like, you will probably get it for the price of a third of them.
tops:
Don't worry if one shop keeper isn't willing to give in to your bargaining. There is a 90% chance that some other shopkeeper down the aisle is selling the exact same thing.
empty aisle:
If you understand Chinese, the shopkeeper's are very amusing. They fuss when foreigners come and by foreigners I mean people who clearly look European or non-Chinese/Korean/Japanese. They'll notify all their neighbours by calling out "Foreigners have come!" and when they leave, a literal translation would be "Foreigners have run away!"
aisle of clothes, bags, accessories:
Most things are sold 'free size' which means they should fit most people. As asians are quite petite, it will be rare to find extremely large shoe sizes. At the same time, if you're XS or S in Australia, you could potentially be a XL in pants size, so prepare your heart.
other side of the foot bridge:
Standing on the other side of the foot bridge waiting to get picked up. Closing times are around 4-5pm. If you get in during this time, shopkeepers are more easily persuaded to give discounts since they're rushing to get home and would love to sell a few last things.
How to get there:
Take line 10 metro to TianTong Station. Exit from building entrance (says 七浦路) at the top of the entrance. At this point you're already at Qi Pu Lu. If you don't like the style of clothes sold here, feel free to exit the building. I did so by going to the 2nd floor and taking the back entrance out onto a quiet road. (Follow toilet signs). Once you've climbed up the steps onto the road, turn right and keep walking. (Should see an area similar to the first picture of this post). There are more buildings for you to explore from there.
Out of the two weeks I spent in Shanghai, I think I visited Qi Pu Lu at least once every 2 days. During my stay I also found out that the place was named Qi Pu Lu because it sounds like Cheapo Road. This place gets incredibly crowded on weekends so if you can, go in the mornings of weekdays and watch out for pick pocketers. Oh you may also want to empty our your bladder and have a full meal before entering the doors. Do not fear, there are plenty of food stands outside on the streets for you to eat! Toilets on the other hand, are a lot harder to find.
qi pu lu:
The clothes that are usually put out at the front of the shop are usually super cheap. You'll also find many stores that suddenly declare that all the clothes/shoes/bags/accessories they are selling in the shop are a certain price (usually very cheap) and see a horde of girls rush towards that store.
qi pu xing wang (七浦兴旺服饰市场):
This is my favourite building to shop in. Has everything you need. Another favourite of mine is just down to road that sells imported Korean and Japanese clothes.
In this area, there are many large four storey buildings like in the picture above. In these buildings are rows and rows and storeys and storeys of tiny stores selling cheap street wear and accessories.
scarves:
Different stores specialise in different things. People who sell scarves only sell scarves, people who sell tops only sell tops etc. Something which could have cost 300 RMB can be bargained down to about 50RMB (which is not even $10AUD!). It is amazingly cheap.
accessories:
Your chance of getting things for cheaper rises if you buy more. For example, it's hard to get good discounts for accessories. But if you find, say 10 you like, you will probably get it for the price of a third of them.
tops:
Don't worry if one shop keeper isn't willing to give in to your bargaining. There is a 90% chance that some other shopkeeper down the aisle is selling the exact same thing.
empty aisle:
If you understand Chinese, the shopkeeper's are very amusing. They fuss when foreigners come and by foreigners I mean people who clearly look European or non-Chinese/Korean/Japanese. They'll notify all their neighbours by calling out "Foreigners have come!" and when they leave, a literal translation would be "Foreigners have run away!"
aisle of clothes, bags, accessories:
Most things are sold 'free size' which means they should fit most people. As asians are quite petite, it will be rare to find extremely large shoe sizes. At the same time, if you're XS or S in Australia, you could potentially be a XL in pants size, so prepare your heart.
other side of the foot bridge:
Standing on the other side of the foot bridge waiting to get picked up. Closing times are around 4-5pm. If you get in during this time, shopkeepers are more easily persuaded to give discounts since they're rushing to get home and would love to sell a few last things.
How to get there:
Take line 10 metro to TianTong Station. Exit from building entrance (says 七浦路) at the top of the entrance. At this point you're already at Qi Pu Lu. If you don't like the style of clothes sold here, feel free to exit the building. I did so by going to the 2nd floor and taking the back entrance out onto a quiet road. (Follow toilet signs). Once you've climbed up the steps onto the road, turn right and keep walking. (Should see an area similar to the first picture of this post). There are more buildings for you to explore from there.
Hi guys! Welcome to our blog. We're just 2 friends, freshly graduated from high school and looking for ways to kill time (3 months)!
anna
Seventeen year old Sydney resident who has just stepped out of high school and ready to take on university!
I love playing with make up, new clothes, electronics, puppies, shopping, travelling and good food!
Someday, I'd like to travel the world with my closest friends and family, doing embarrassing touristy things and eating all the unique and edible foods in the world.
Oh by the way, I also run a food blog at polyphagia ♣ . It won't hurt to take a look.
shannen
Hi. My name is Pencil. My friend is Eraser. Eraser is always there for me. Eraser rubs out my mistakes in my life.
^That's from the template. I think it's cute, so I'm just going to leave it there for now. Anyways, I'm Shannen!!!
NICE TO MEET YOU. I've recently graduated from high school and trying to make the most of these holidays!
About me? Well I'll begin by saying that I am extremely easily distracted, especially by the internet (Youtube, to be precise).
I love it.
"Extremely easily" sounds weird, doesn't it? Hmm.
PS. I am really bad at lying
PPS. Apparently I'm also bad at telling the truth..
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