Modern Nightlife Shanghai 4-Day, 3-Night Trip (2)

By / Reported and compiled by Li Xinyi

Shanghai’s cuisine, art, nightlife, and historic residences of celebrities can each form their own travel route, yet in these routes, one can more or less detect the aura of Shanghai’s vibrancy and pride; however, without the embellishment of luxury, Shanghai just wouldn’t be Shanghai.

When visiting Shanghai by night, if you ask the locals where the most upscale place is, the Bund is the undeniable answer. Within the spectacular buildings along the Bund, numerous high-end bars have set up shop. Attending a dinner event here allows you to experience the luxury of Shanghai’s nights. The grand crimson crystal chandelier hanging in the lobby of No. 18 on the Bund often symbolizes Shanghai’s bold opulence. Aside from being eye-catching, it is also the product of Venetian craftsmanship. The bar located upstairs at No. 18 is a frequent haunt for celebrities — definitely not to be missed.

This time, the alleyways representing old Shanghai such as Bugao Li, the Taiyuan Villa where the rich and famous once resided, and the Lilac Garden have also been included in the itinerary of Modern Nightlife Shanghai. After experiencing the modern luxury of Shanghai, adding in its historically significant buildings, it’s not hard to see why Shanghai is so unrivaled. It’s worth noting that reservations at Taiyuan Villa should be made well in advance.

Before Xintiandi was developed, this area was filled with Shikumen lane residences. This Sino-Western architectural style, which emerged in the mid-19th century, is a microcosm of Shanghai’s commoner culture in modern times. However, with urban development, Shikumen gradually disappeared until Xintiandi emerged. It sought to retain the appearance of Shikumen but changed its original residential function, presenting a fashionable new look that blends the past and present. Today’s Xintiandi has become a multifunctional leisure center with nearly a hundred high-end restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and various flagship stores. No matter how Shanghai changes, this remains the most fashionable and talked-about place.

 

Transparent Thoughts is one of the few restaurants that playfully presents contemporary interpretations inspired by the iconic Shikumen buildings of old Shanghai. Yu Weiyen, a filmmaker and one of the partners, said that opening a restaurant is like making a movie—it's about the aesthetic use of space. Here, everything is driven by their own creativity, using three major design elements—lighting, glass, and colored glaze—to create what feels like a private glass museum. The space is designed for cultural exchange, and the menu takes a fusion approach full of creativity. Fine dining standards are paired with delicious and playful home-style dishes, combined with French cuisine. This is the kind of gastronomy Transparent Thoughts offers. For example, the saltiness of Hunan cured meat paired with pasta becomes a nostalgic-style Hunan cured meat pasta.

 

In October 2009, The Peninsula Shanghai was born on the Bund, adjacent to the former site of the British Consulate. It is the only new building on the Bund in 60 years, an area famed for its Expo of International Architecture. Whether or not you stay here, having afternoon tea, dinner, or enjoying a hazy night at the bar at The Peninsula is part of fulfilling the “Peninsula dream.”

 

The Renaissance-style No. 18 Building on the Bund was constructed in 1923. Originally the headquarters of the British Chartered Bank in China, it has been used by various entities over the years and is now occupied by No. 18 on the Bund. The Italian designer Filippo Gabbiani, who was in charge of renovating the building, approached the project with the mindset of preserving culture and heritage. It’s said that just cleaning the exterior walls required 30 workers spending two months using small brushes and entirely natural materials. This effort gives a deep sense of their dedication to restoring old buildings with the goal of “making the old and new distinct yet seamlessly integrated into the new century.” Currently, the building houses several world-class luxury brands, fine dining restaurants, and pubs, offering a stylish experience for Shanghai’s trendsetters.