Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Best
Markets & Antiques
For variety and the best deals, roll up your sleeves at Shanghai's markets. Wheth-
er you're looking for tailor-made clothes, bargain T-shirts or caged crickets,
nothing can beat the sensory overload of a local market. Haggling is the norm, so
make sure you test the waters before making a purchase, or you could wind up
paying over-the-top prices.
Tailor-Made Clothes
If you're worried about finding the right size, the Old Town fabric markets may be the
solution. All manner of textiles can be found here, from synthetic to silk and cashmere -
compare fabric and prices at different stands to ensure no one is blatantly ripping you off.
Suits, pants, shirts, dresses and scarves can be made at such places in as little as 24 hours
(expect to pay extra), though a one-week turnaround is more realistic.
Counterfeits
'In Shanghai, everything can be faked except for your mother', or so the saying goes.
Counterfeit goods are ubiquitous; even if you've set out to buy a genuine item, there's no
guarantee that that's what you're going to get. Antiques in particular are almost always re-
productions: the best word of advice is to buy something because you like it, not because
you think it has historic value.
Haggling
In the markets, haggling over prices is all part of the shopping experience. In particularly
touristy places, you can usually get the price to drop by at least 50%, and sometimes even
75%.
