Shopping in Shanghai Has Lost Its Charm
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- Went to Shanghai for a business trip and visited several malls around Meilongzhen.\n- Found that there's not much to explore in the malls of Shanghai anymore.\n- In the past, each mall was filled with a variety of brands and styles, but now:\n - High-end malls are dominated by luxury brands.\n - Lower-end malls mostly have sports brands like Adidas, Nike, Puma, and coffee shops like Starbucks.\n- It's hard to find other brands such as IT, Moussy, Massimo Dutti, Basic House, or CK. Even on maps, there are only a few stores, and they are far away.\n- Some of the available brands have very unattractive selections, seemingly just to clear out old stock.\n- Even less common brands like Benetton, Sysley, or Korean brands like She Smiss, Thursday Island, etc., are nowhere to be found.\n- There are some domestic brands, but they tend to be outdated and overpriced. For example, a coat can cost 8000 RMB, which is even more expensive than MaxMara Weekend.\n- This trend is not unique to Shanghai; it has been happening in Guangzhou for years. However, Guangzhou still offers more variety due to its entrepreneurial spirit and local fashion brands.\n- Warning: Be cautious when shopping in Shanghai. The brand selection is limited, and prices can be surprisingly high. Consider exploring smaller, independent stores or vintage shops for a more unique and affordable experience.\n- #Shopping #Shanghai #Guangzhou #TravelTips
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I'm not saying Shanghai isn't good for shopping, but it's not as good as it used to be. There aren't as many brand stores as before. Also, I'm not very familiar with Shanghai, so I only explored the area around Meilongzhen where I was working. I did take a taxi to another area, though.
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Why would you go to Shanghai to buy brands like Moussy and IT? They're not worth it.
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I used to love buying from Marks & Spencer, but they've left China, so I haven't bought new clothes in a long time.
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Never heard of that brand.
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If you're young, check out TX Huaihai, Nice Rice, and the vintage shops on Xindalu and Changle Road. There are also local designer stores like Doe. These are just a few examples, and there's more to explore if you know where to look.
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Can you recommend some vintage shops?
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I understand what you mean. Malls in every city have become very uniform. Even if you change cities, the stores are the same. I prefer to explore small, independent shops on the streets. Sometimes, you can find really nice, well-tailored clothes at a more reasonable price. It feels like finding a treasure, and it's more enjoyable than shopping in malls.
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You're not looking in the right places. The brands you mentioned are typically found in lower-end malls. If you like Korean brands, that might be a bit harder to find in Shanghai, as locals aren't as interested in them.
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Yes, that's true.
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I don't enjoy shopping anymore either. In the 90s, Shanghai's malls had a wide range of products for both the rich and the poor. Now, even the stuff that looks cheap is priced in the thousands, and I don't get it.
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If you say this, people will call you poor.
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You said exactly what I was thinking. I had to go to Shanghai again, but I couldn't find a suitable mall after searching all night.
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There are a lot of recommendations in the comments. It's worth checking them out, but there are so many that I don't have time to read them all.
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How can you say Shanghai isn't good for shopping? Maybe only Tokyo in Asia can satisfy you.
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I probably won't go to Japan in my lifetime.
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It seems like this is the case in most malls in China. The good designs are not available in the stores, and you have to buy them through resellers or platforms like Poizon. What's the point of having physical stores then?
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What is Poizon?
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You can check out the Chinese brands Bai Ming and Esons at the Longzhimeng Mall in Changning.
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I looked them up, and the quality doesn't seem great. The pictures on their website show obvious flaws, which suggests that their quality control or website management is not up to par.