As soon as you walk into the AP Plaza Market, most likely you’ll be immediately approached by someone to sell you something. Don’t worry though, this is normal and you aren’t obligated to talk with them.

This is one of the first markets I visited, and it is a great place to score some massive discounts and practice your bargaining skills.

What Can I Find in the AP Plaza?

AP Plaza contains over 1000 stores where you can shop for clothes, jewelry, suitcases, watches, electronic devices, etc. Most of the luxury products are a fake copy of the original brand products, but many of them seem almost alike and are hard to differentiate from the original. Almost all sales associates at this market speak English to a certain extent, and you can communicate with them pretty easily. 

The AP Plaza shopping market has a collection of various things – most of them are fake while some are original. If you are a good negotiator, you can score some pretty good deals here on some authentic looking gear. Things like shirts, designer suits, jeans, shoes, bags, suitcases, sunglasses, underwear, DVDs, headphones, speakers, RC helicopters, drones, computer keyboards, and much more. 

You’ll also find a number of shops selling electronics and accessories, such as iPhones, Beats by Dre, Bose sound canceling headphones, etc.

If you are buying electronic devices, just be warned that they are likely fake and may not be of the highest quality.

The $25 GoPro or $15 Apple AirPods may look like a steal, but you must test everything properly before buying.

In addition to the fake products, they have a custom tailor section where customers can get inexpensive custom handmade suits in any desired color, material, and design.

As the goods are mostly fake, you should opt for bargaining hard on every product (about 50-70 percent or even more from the listed price). However, the price is not displayed as it changes from locals to foreigners.

Bargaining is the norm here, as they usually quote a higher price for their products, at least 2 or 3 times the fair price. Always check the quality of the products. Fake products usually contain wrong brand names and logos, like the “N” in New Balance, is generally mirrored, Puma becomes Poma, Adidas may be “Abibas”, and the Red logo of Vans is often fake.

If you have explored Shanghai before, you know that each neighborhood is quite unique and offers different experiences – from the cuisine, architecture, etc.

From the Bund to the French Concession and beyond. Each area offers a variety of accommodation options at various price points. If you are ready to throw down some cash, you can opt for the top Hotels near AP Plaza and the Bund. 

However, there are also a number of hostels that are conveniently located where you can stay for quite cheap. Another option is Airbnb, if you are interested in a more local type of accommodation. 

The French Concession

One of my favorite areas in Shanghai is the French Concession. Something about the trees hovering over the road making it feel like you’re in nature’s tunnel.

It’s also a very hip and artsy part of town so expect to meet other young adults as well. You’ll find some pretty great bars and restaurants in this area, because it’s home to many expats in Shanghai, and is a vibrant place to hang out.

The Bund

Most would say that a visit to Shanghai would be complete if you don’t make a visit The Bund, a famous promenade running along the West Bank of Huangpujiang River overlooking the central part of the city. 

Jing’an

The Jing’an district is ideal for travelers who don’t want to commit to the prices of French Concession but are looking for a more western experience in Shanghai. 

What is There to Eat in Shanghai?

Shanghai is home to some of China’s best and most distinctive cuisines.  A lot of Shanghai food is influenced by being positioned just south of the Yangtze River and at the mouth of the Huangpu River.  Therefore, seafood is abundant here. However, the entire region boasts some pretty tasty dishes that are unique to Shanghai.

The locals are known to have a “sweet tooth” and sugar is often an ingredients in  Shanghai cuisine.

Street Food Near AP Plaza

There’s not really any food inside this market; however, I did stumble upon a cool little shop that lets you sit down and drink beer.

Although, AP Plaza is located in the heart of Shanghai. So nearby the market, you can find a number of food joints and Shanghai-native eats.

Restaurants like JinTang, DaSHi Dai, Bibi Ke offer a mix of pure Shanghai dishes and unique flavors but there’s just something about eating street food that makes you feel like you are on an adventure.

Xie me Huang ( Crab Shell Pie 蟹壳黄), Ci fan (rice ball, 粢饭), Sheng jian (fried bun, 生煎), Pai gu nian gao (pork chop with rice cakes, 排骨年), Xiaolongbao (soup dumpling, 笼包) and Chai Pan wonton (柴馄饨) are some of the tasty foods you can try near AP Plaza Market.

AP Plaza is the largest counterfeit market in Shanghai’s Pudong Area and known for its fake branded products. This “fake market” is located underground Metro Line 2 Science and Technology Museum.

The history of AP Plaza dates back to the early 2000s where different local resellers started selling their manufactured goods as branded products in many small shops in a large building. For example, as soon as the popular Beats by Dre was founded in 2006, they started selling the locally manufactured goods under Beats brand name and logo.

Later the Shopping Plaza was divided into two-parts, the northern and the southern half.

The Northern half of the Shopping Plaza is called Xinyang.  This is where you can find most of the original copies, whereas most of the fake luxury goods are found in the southern half.

Today, AP Plaza Market contains over 1000 stores where you can shop for clothes, jewelry, suitcases, watches, electronic devices, and more. Just remember that no matter how good they may look, most of the luxury products are a fake copy, but many of them seem real because it’s so hard to differentiate the fake from the original.

Also, nearly all the sales staff here speaks English so it’s the perfect place to practice your bargaining skills!

The largest city and the rising financial hub of China, Shanghai, is an immensely popular tourist destination that hosts millions of tourists and workers every year. Despite a huge population of 25 million and 10 million visitors, the busy city offers a number of quiet attractions, as well as new and historic sites for tourists.

Shanghai is a place that reveals itself slowly, so it may take a while for you to discover all its charm. From iconic landmarks to spectacular museums, beautiful gardens to floating towns, and bargain shopping to opulent boutiques.  The city offers something to every visitor. But, you need to get away from the busy areas and explore every corner of this financial capital and mega-city to experience what makes it special.

Shanghai translates to the ” City of the Sea” because it is situated right on the mouth of the Yangzi River. The history of Shanghai spans over a thousand years. Until 1842, the city was merely sought as a small fishing village due to its location, and now it’s one of the biggest and most international cities in all of China.

In the late 19th century after the First Opium War, the British named Shanghai as a trading port, opening a door for foreign involvement in the country. The city soon turned into an autonomous concession area administered independently by the American, British, and French.

Each Colonial invasion brought a radical cultural, architectural, and social shift in the city. Most native Chinese residents adapted to the change of foreign settlements and exposure to western culture. In the 1930s, the city became a prominent industrial center attracting over 60,000 foreign business and migrant workers from other parts of China.

In its heyday, Shanghai was the ultimate place to be, with modern architecture, the finest art, and powerful businesses in Asia. This shaped China’s modern history with fancy restaurants, brothels, international dance clubs, and a foreign-run racetrack was constructed to cater to every whim of the rich. But as it so often goes, parallel to the opulence ran poverty; with the lower middle class providing cheap labor and keeping the city and businesses running.

During World war 2, the war between communists and nationalists forced many foreign colonies to flee the country. This marked the beginning of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 followed by uniformity and the stark reality of Communism. From 1950 to 1980, the city experienced extreme famine and droughts and economic depression but still managed to be the largest contributor of tax to the central government.

In 1972, Shanghai hosted a historic meeting with the U.S president Richard Nixon and signed the Communique enabling the two countries to resume trade relations. This encouraged trade and opened the door to wider foreign investments. Today, Shanghai is the most successful city in China where elegance and charm coexist with commercialism and modern technology.

Global Trade 

The iron and steel industry was among the earliest to be established in the city. They developed new facilities including the Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation, the world’s largest enterprise since the beginning of the 21st century. This was followed by the machine and machine tool industry which worked parallelly with the China modernization plans.

The game-changing industrial equipment produced included multiple-use lathes, computer assembling tools, precision instruments, polymers, and electronics devices.

The petrochemical industry heavily contributed to the growing economy with the manufacturing of chemical fertilizers, plastics, dyes, detergents, and refined petroleum products.

China Production of Goods

In 1995, the manufacturing process in the textile industry was reorganized to produce zippers, rubber shoes, tires, convertor belts, and abrasives much more efficiently. For the past few years, Shanghai has been the leading industrial and manufacturing port in the world because of its large, cost-effective, technologically innovative, and skilled workforce.