Travel to Shanghai for Its Shopping

So much of Taikang Lu is throwaway tat but these back-door nostalgists stand out for their impressive China tours selection of vintage glasses from the 1940s to the 1990s, with obscure Italian frames in among more wearable but still unique sunglasses. Prices vary but expect to pay 450-1,000RMB for a decent pair.

Watches are popular here Yangtze River cruises too, with a line of second-hand Shanghai and Diamond brand watches from the 1950s (around 1,000RMB) and ’80s (around 280RMB), though Dongtai Lu antiques market (Dongtai Lu, near Fuxing Zhong Lu) has them for less.

There’s a surfeit of shoemakers in Shanghai, but this small family-run enterprise – now in new Tianzifang digs – gets our vote; the owner’s family has been in the cobbling business for four generations. As well getting copies made of the extensive range of styles on display – from ballet flats to stilettos, smart brogues to chunky boots – you can bring in your own design (680RMB for a pair of Chloe-inspired gladiator sandals). Turnaround Shangri-la travel is a month or less despite excellent attention to detail.

Established by Asia-wide fashion college Raffles Design Institute, this ‘incubator store’ for its most talented alumni comes out with custom-designed collections that rotate every six months. Some of the Shanghai tour package clothes might be a bit experimental – these are fledgling designers after all – but for one-off pieces at affordable prices (from 400RMB), it’s great.