Shanghai’s autumn may still feel like summer, but the city’s retail and lifestyle scene never stops evolving. Here are the latest shops, restaurants, and art experiences to explore during Shanghai Fashion Week.
Where to Shop
Xi Tang
Inside Xi Tang.
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A contemporary art space for lovers of traditional craftsmanship, Xi Tang was founded by former Shang Xia creative director Leon Sun.
Opened in June, its immersive space near the Bund is an intricate exploration of Eastern aesthetics — the living room, gallery space, and tea room flow seamlessly into one another, offering a spiritual escape. It offers a mixture of experiences such as traditional Song Dynasty tea ceremonies, exhibitions, and more.
Its latest exhibition centers around silverware artisan Chen Yingze. Titled “Pure Heart, Like Silver,” the teapots created by Chen marry the latest silver technology with abstract engravings.
6F Somekh Building, No. 149 Yuanmingyuan Road, Shanghai, China
Dongliang Maison
Dongliang Maison in Shanghai.
Courtesy of Dongliang
As one of the first multibrand stores in China, Dongliang’s one-year-old home in Shanghai has won over the city’s most discerning luxury shoppers. That’s why the retailer is doubling down on the market by expanding to a neighboring villa house. The expanded Dongliang experience will include a tea house, Shanghai’s first corner shops for Phoebe Philo and Alaïa, as well as an area for another cult favorite, Dries Van Noten.
No. 168 Wuyi Road, Changning District
Bing Xu
Inside Bing Xu’s boutique.
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Known for its blend of playful motifs and classic loafer styles, the 13-year-old Chinese shoemaker Bing Xu has finally opened the doors of its client-only salon in late August. Tucked away in a century-old apartment, the store offers the full range of the brand’s footwear, which has since expanded to versatile flats, party-ready heels and seasonal boots.
No.84 Yanqing Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
Perfumer H
Inside Perfumer H.
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Perfumer H, the British fragrance brand with a cult following, joined the hubbub of downtown Shanghai last April with a new store, its largest to date. The store boosts a gallery space, an intimate library, a consultation room where guests are served Perfumer H tea, and a lush back garden filled with niche plants. Pieces by the Chinese wood carpenter and artist brand Heidi Woodcraft are exclusively available at the Shanghai store.
No.5 Lane 845 Julu Road, Jing’an District
What to See
“Fluxus, By Chance”
Inside “Fluxus, By Chance.”
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The latest exhibition from the “Centre Pompidou × West Bund Museum Project” centers on the Fluxus art movement — the first of its kind in China. Featuring works by art world luminaries such as Marcel Duchamp, George Maciunas, Joseph Beuys, Yoko Ono, Man Ray, La Monte Young, and George Brecht, the exhibition also pays tribute to John Cage and showcases works by a local movement known as “Xiamen Dada.” Huang Yong Ping, the founder of the movement, along with major conceptual artists such as Geng Jianyi, Yin Xiuzhen and Shi Yong, all fell under the spell of Fluxus and carved out a unique position for the cohort within the international avant-garde.
“Fluxus, By Chance,” through Feburary 22
West Bund Museum, Hall 3
“The Coexistence of Imperfection”
A work by Cho Gi-seok.
South Korean fashion photographer and visual artist Cho Gi-Seok has unveiled his first major solo exhibition in Asia, titled “The Coexistence of Imperfection.” The 33-year-old Cho, who is also the creator of Kusikohc, a semi-finalist for the 2023 LVMH Prize, began his career in 2016 after graduating with a graphic design degree. Having worked with the likes of Billie Eilish, Jennie of Blackpink, Kylie Jenner and more, Cho’s work consistently melds raw emotions with fantasy-driven symbolism.
“The Coexistence of Imperfection,” through March 8
Fotografiska, No. 127 Guangfu Road, Jing’an District
“Mes Amis”
Inside “Mes Amis.”
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Félix Deschamps Mak, the French painter’s first solo exhibition in China, has landed at Icicle Space, the brand’s airy cultural space within the former French Concession. Titled “Mes Amis,” or “My Friends,” Mak’s world is one of spectacles, influenced by his childhood growing up in the world of theater. Creating characters that form an imaginary circus, Mak transformed the facade of the main building into a themed display of his vivid and contrasting hues.
“Mes Amis,” through Nov. 2
No. 2 Hengshan Road, Xuhui District
Where to Eat:
Le Café Louis Vuitton
Inside Le Café Louis Vuitton.
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Located within “The Louis,” Louis Vuitton’s blockbuster retail project shaped like a boat, Le Café Louis Vuitton is the brand’s first dining space in Shanghai. Accommodating guests between the bar, casual seating areas — both indoors and al fresco — and table arrangements, the bistro-style eatery is led by executive chef Leonardo Zambrino, formerly of The Hall in Chengdu, and executive pastry chef Zoe Zhou.
N211 Shop, No. 789 West Nanjing Road, Jing‘an District
Sushi Oyama
The September opening of Sushi Oyama marks the return of Takeo Oyama, a pioneer of the city’s omakase scene over a decade ago. Located within Xintiandi shopping mall, its “minimal” set menu is priced at around 1,200 renminbi, or $168, and changes nightly. Seasonal seafood, flown in directly from Tokyo and Nagasaki, is paired with sushi rice with the perfect balance of stickiness and aroma.
No.29 Ji’an Road, Level 3
Laizhou Bar
Operated by Laizhou Distillery from Chengdu, Sichuan province, Laizhou Bar is known for its tea culture-inspired cocktails made with Linglie Vodka, Laizhou Single Malt Whisky, and Jiaoyu Dry Gin — all spirits produced in-house. Featuring easygoing alfresco dining and dramatic interiors, the bar also serves creative Sichuanese dishes such as spicy wontons, mapo tofu with roasted bone marrow, and Sichuan-flavored Liguori Bolognese.
No.291 Fumin Road