What to do with a visitor in Shanghai? Part 3 - An Evening in Pudong

It has been a long, long time in-between posts on this little visitor advice topic of mine. The new update is partly due to the upcoming overseas guest/tourist season that seems to start towards the end of March each year. The other reason is although I've been cooking this idea for a long long time now, and it got pretty much out of control in terms of content. I'm going to write the day-trip version soon too. So here it is. An evening trip to Pudong!!

Pudong invokes a particular kind of reaction in those of us who live in Puxi. The Boonies, The Sticks, Shanghai Suburbia, or Land of the Expat Villa and Long Lunches. Suffice it to say, Pudong is generally looked down by Puxi-dwellers as NYC residents would look down on New Jersey or Queens. With this rivalry in mind, my circle of friends often refer to Pudong as 'Pu Jersey'. Otherwise, we affectionately refer to it as 'The 'Dong'.

Pudong also has some pretty cool things. I'll admit that I believe Pudong is far more sedate than what you would find across the Huangpu, but there's some good quality evening options around the Pudong area. As Pudong is a massive district. I will justl focus on writing about three main areas that I've spent a little time in and around. Jinqiao, Pudong Nan Lu, and Lujiazui.

Jinqiao
Out of all of these three areas, I've spent the least in the Jinqiao area. It is a decent trip from downtown Puxi, but should you find yourself out in Jinqiao, there's two main areas to hit for an evening out. These are Zendai Thumb Plaza (Du Mu Zhi) and the Jinqiao Green Sports & Leisure Center. To me, The Thumb Plaza complex mirrors the expat village area centred around the Hongmei Road area in Shanghai's Honqiao district. The usual expat chains are to be found here. I usually can't go past Moon River Diner for a meal, but also there's a number of good Indian restaurants in this complex. For a number of cold beers, hit the Korean Wah Bar for some frosty ales. Not far away from Thumb Plaza is the Green Sports & Leisure Centre. This place has a number of expat oriented shops, including The Pines Supermarket, Decathlon, Jinqiao Megafit (best gym I've seen in Shanghai), and a clustering of restaurants and bars. The Blue Frog is always my first choice here for a beer, there's a number of other options available that will suit your tastes. As for hitting the clubs, well, IMHO its time to look elsewhere.

Pudong Nan Lu & Zhangyang Lu
This area It is only a short metro or taxi ride away from Puxi and other areas of Pudong and boasts an almost unlimited choice of shopping and eating options. In fact, most of them are located in two massive shopping centres, The Next Age Department Store (also known as BaBaiBan shopping centre) & Pudong Times Square. For eating, I'd recommend the Shanghai Uncle Restaurant (Haishang Ashu Fandian) for some really tasty Shanghainese. The ribs are tasty, as is the Mandarine Fish. Another option for entertainment I can recommend is located on the 10th floor of BaBaiBan. There's an amusement arcade, and you'll also find a pool hall and bowling alley and cinema there keep the night moving along. There's also a number of kosher KTV joints, including one in the amusement hall, around the Pudong Nan Lu area, so you won't be missing any entertainment options.

Lujiazui
Lujiazui is undoubtedly the biggest evening centre in Pudong. The concentration of tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping and accommodation in this area isn't found anywhere else in Pudong. And, what's better, it is only a stone's throw from Puxi!

The Superbrand Mall (Zheng da guangchang 正大广场) is the biggest drawcard for shopping and (surprisingly) dining in Lujiazui. There is a wide selection of dining options in this mall. I've eaten at a few places in here, and really you just need to pick a cuisine & then make your choice of place. But my recommendation? Go to Pizza Hut! What? Ok, don't go for a fantastic meal, but for the AMAZING view. The Pizza Hut overlooks the Huangpu River and The Bund, and costs about RMB100-200 less than most of the other top-shelf restaurants (like South Beauty) that share its vantage point. I don't think there's a better view, but pity about the pizza. But there's many other options to choose from here. Towards the top of the Superbrand Mall, there is an indoor ice rink and a cinema that shows English-language films. You can purchase tickets at the cinema, or at the base of the Superbrand Mall underneath the escalators near the main entrance. Oh yeah, and heaps of shopping (including Toys 'R Us & Chaterhouse Bookstore if you want a taste of home).

World-wide, Shanghai has the reputation of possessing some of the most futuristic cityscapes in the world. And yeah, the bulk of them are based in Pudong, with the largest share being located in the area known as Lujiazui across from The Bund area in Shanghai. Watching this area from dusk to mid-evening is one of the ultimate urban experiences I have discovered. The area is so large, and so diverse, that there are three main ways to enjoy Shanghai's transformation at night.

My favourite way to experience Shanghai at night has to be visiting the Cloud9 bar at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, located in the JinMao Tower. I'd recommend reserving a table from 1 hour before sunset to really enjoy the change of city from drab & polluted to a light wonderland. Ask for a table facing The Bund or The Pearl Oriental Tower to ensure a good view. The only problem with this is price. The Cloud9 bar has a minimum charge from around RMB120 per person in the evening, which is almost 2 cocktails. Bring your wallet, or even better, a guest in the hotel. Avoid rainy and foggy days for this experience, you won't see anything.

The second way to appreciate what Pudong has to offer in the evening is to hit the Riverside Promenade (Binjiang Da Dao). You live in Shanghai and haven't heard of it? Well, that's the proper name for the embankment opposite The Bund (Waitan). This area is a stone's throw away from SuperBrand Mall and features a boardwalk promenade with various bars, cafes and restaurants. Just pick one with a great view and watch the old Shanghai put on her best face as the night lights come on. This is also an awesome place to experience how much ship and boat traffic the Huangpu River carries each day. It just doesn't stop.

The last and my close-second favourite way to enjoy the evening sights of Pudong is to jump across the Huangpu River to watch the evening light show from the banks of The Bund. Yeah, technically this isn't in Pudong, but escaping back to Puxi is a great way to wind down your evening in Pudong ;) . Strolling along the Waitan can be harrowsome after a long day, as large crowds and aggressive hawkers and beggars can get on your goat. Might I suggest that an even better way to enjoy the scenery is to grab a few drinks from the great vantage points of Bar Rouge or The Glamour Bar. If your budget allows, dining at M on The Bund is one of the more luxurious ways to while away the evening.

Keep an eye out for Part 4 - A Day in Pudong.

Previously on scRambler...
What to do with a visitor in Shanghai? Part 1 - The Usual.
What to do with a visitor in Shanghai? Part 2 - X marks the spot.