Shanghai is a major international port which is known in China for its enthusiastic embrace of all things new and fashionable, making it a shopper's paradise.The Nanjing Lu Pedestrian Mall is a fascinating blend of western and eastern shopping, and Huaihai Zhong Street has a great selection of Chinese silk, which is a popular souvenir. The Old Town Bazaar has a variety of crafts and antiques, including popular Shanghai souvenirs like jade bracelets, cloisonné jewellery and vases, lacquerware and porcelain items, and vintage Cultural Revolution books and posters.Other shopping districts in Shanghai include Parkson Shopping Centre, and the 'four cities': Yuyuan Shopping City, Xujiahui Shopping City, New Shanghai Shopping City and Jiali Sleepless City. Fuzhou Road is a great place to find cultural items like music, art and books.Although knock-off items are popular buys in Shanghai, visitors should be aware that customs in many countries do not allow travellers to take multiple items of this sort back with them. Counterfeit souvenirs are also common, so buyers should be wary of paying high prices for easily faked items like jade and antiques.Travellers should flex their bargaining muscles at street shops and markets, but the prices in formal stores and hotels are generally fixed. They should remember to keep smiling and draw the shopkeeper away from other customers for the best deals.
