This is your What’s On Guide for Shanghai. It’s curated each month by our local staff and includes tips on fun, free (or good value) things to do around the city. Current students can check their inbox for the full digest.
Shanghai International Improv Festival
When: Daily until Nov 6
Where: Jalapeño, 393 Weihai Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu
威海路393号, 近石门一路
Zmack and the People’s Republic of Comedy host the third annual Shanghai International Improv Festival. It happens at 2 venues with 12 shows and 20+ teams. You’ll see improv comedy from Australia, France, Germany, USA, Philippines, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and more! Including two special guest teams from Chicago – the indie stars SAND and the iO Theater powerhouse SEARCH ENGINE. Plus, plenty of teams from your hometown improv collectives: The People’s Republic of Comedy and Zmack Shanghai. Events are 100rmb pre-sale; 120rmb at the door.
TEAN Staff Note: This venue provides you with a wide range of modern comedy of different cultural, political, ideological, religious backgrounds. Who says they are paranoid again? (a little joke)
Shanghai International Short Film Contest Awards and Screening
When: Saturday, Nov 5
Where: The Place Shanghai, Unit 407, Bridge 8 Phase IV, 457 Jumen Lu, near Quxi Lu
局门路457号407室, 近瞿溪路
The Shanghai International Short Film Contest celebrates the talents that participated in this year’s contest. They start with a dinner and drinks mixer and then a screening of some specially curated films from Zimbabwe International Film Festival and other international film festivals. Following the screenings, the SISFC will present the grand prize of 1,000 USD to the winning film project. Following the screening, there will still be great food and drinks flowing into the night with music and the video performance art of Tina Sprinkles. Tickets are 80rmb.
TEAN Staff Note: Shanghai shot film contest as well as other film art contests, festivals, are huge tourist attractions, in China, they are considered very much likely to be the Oscar in front of their house. Shanghai also, was the Hollywood in east, during 1930s to 1960s, the film industry was once blooming here, and strongly influenced the film industry in Hong Kong, Shanghai’s successor in many other industries as well.
Shanghai Comic Con 2016
When: Nov 5-6
Where: Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing
2739 Guangfu Xi Lu, near Zhongjiang Lu
光复西路2739号, 近中江路
Shanghai Comic Con (SHCC) returns. The inaugural convention in 2015 was way better than we expected, with a big venue, impressive guests, and true fans. Celebs this time around include Nathan Fillion, Amy Acker, Robert Knepper, and others. For comic artists, they’ve got Alex Solis, Nathan Hamill and Jason Freeny. Single day tickets from 200rmb are available now.
TEAN Staff Note: Comic subculture as well as the anime subculture have officially become the major stream of daily life of almost every modern Asian. And the SHCC is known as the most successful, most celebrated fest for Chinese fans. Should you be interested as well, this venue means something important for you.
6 Hours Of Shanghai Endurance Race
When: Sunday, Nov 6
Where: Shanghai International Circuit
2000 Yining Lu, Jiading
上海国际赛车场， 伊宁路2000号， 嘉定
Perhaps Shanghai’s second biggest race after the F1, 6 Hours of Shanghai is an endurance race where the team that travels the longest distance wins (so, maybe better to watch this one on TV?). This is part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2015, Porsche won the world championship and the Shanghai race. Other teams include Toyota, Audi, Ferrari, and Aston Martin.
TEAN Staff Note: F1 race in Shanghai, brings you not only the excitement of experiencing the fast and fury in real life, but as well provides you will a lot potential business, employment opportunities worldwide. Some of our students even found themselves internships there before, you could as well.
West Bund Art + Design Fair 2016
When: Nov 9-13
Where: West Bund Art Center, 2555 Longteng Da Dao, near Fenggu Lu
龙腾大道2555号，近丰谷路
Back for its third edition, West Bund Art + Design Fair hits up Shanghai’s ‘cultural corridor’ once again in 2016. Expect a who’s who of international galleries, and if previous forays are anything to go by, top-notch curation. More info as we get it.
TEAN Staff Note: Into fashion of all kinds? Wondering what it will be like in the far east? This venue is something you shouldn’t miss. Additionally, should you be interested in understand more about Chinese modern culture, this venue will do you good.
Electric Zoo
When: Saturday, Nov 12
When: Expo Park, Shibo Da Dao, near Changqing Bei Lu
浦东新区,世博大道, 近长清北路,上海世博公园
An EDM festival of epic proportions, the New York-originating and the internationally traveled Electric Zoo festival is making its Shanghai debut November 12 at Expo Park. Along with Tomorrowland, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Sensation, Electric Zoo is one of the world’s largest electronic events, with expansions already in Mexico and Tokyo. Known for their outrageous stage set-ups (it’s a giant octopus) and animal-themed mayhem, the Shanghai version is importing all the official state-of-the-art lights, gear, installations, things that boom, things that spray, things that foam, things that gush, things that ooze, things that pop, all that madness for the China debut. Prices are 399rmb on SmartTicket.
TEAN Staff Note: As this venue is tagged “nightlife”, you well know it will be for everyone or for no one. Different from a much colder, or let’s say, much more distant European (especially central and northern European) EDM festival, this venue will surely provide you with a homely, interesting afternoon (starts from 1.30pm)
Fight Night Wine Tasting
When: Nov 16
Where: Jade on 36, Pudong Shangri-La, 36/F, Grand Tower, 33 Fu Cheng Lu, near Lujiazui Xi Lu
浦东香格里拉酒店, 富城路33号36楼, 近陆家嘴西路
To celebrate Kiwi Week in Shanghai Jade on 36 hosts a Fight Night wine tasting: New Zealand versus The World! There will be 4 “rounds”, so 8 different wines for you to taste. Each round will include one wine from New Zealand, and one wine from a competing country. Cote for the best. The wines that get the most votes win each round, then either New Zealand or The World. Pre-sales 170rmb. Groups of five 75rmb (150rmb per person). 220rmb at the door. Tickets include wine plus gourmet canapés.
TEAN Staff Note: It is obvious that they will offer some pleasant “vin” from New Zealand, it is again in the early summer there and the new wine are about to be shipped worldwide. Usually wine tasting venue is rather a meeting point of people with same interests in Shanghai, and isn’t it always lovely to have them around?
Thanksgiving Feast
When: Thursday, Nov 24
Where: POP American Brasserie, Three on the Bund, 7/F, 17 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
广东路17号, 外滩三号7楼, 近中山东一路
POP blends the signature tastes of east and west coasts of America and classic Thanksgiving recipes together in two sumptuous Thanksgiving menus. Thanksgiving East Coast Tradition Menu, 288rmb per person. Thanksgiving West Coast Fusion Menu, 388rmb per person. Prices subject to 10% surcharge. Available from 11am to midnight on the day.
TEAN Staff Note: Should there be something for people from the United States during their heart-warming festival? Surely people from Shanghai have been considering. The restaurant is located on the Bund, the heart of the oriental pearl, in a colonial styled building, which use to be one of the most important banking cooperation between east and west, you are surely welcomed.
Charity Santa Run at Lujiazui
When: Sunday, Nov 27 from 7:30 – 10:30am
Where: Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai, 33 Fucheng Lu, near Yincheng Dong Lu
富城路33号, 近银城东路
The Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai organizes another Charity Santa Run in Lujiazui. Entree is 188rmb and includes a T-shirt, duffel bag, cookies, breakfast, a Santa hat, and more. Proceeds go to Fudan University Children’s Hospital for kids suffering from Leukemia. You can get a ticket online for 188 yuan.
French Christmas Market
When: Nov 26-27
Where: The Pearl, 471 Zhapu Lu, near Wujin Lu
乍浦路471号, 近武进路
The Pearl hosts the third edition of their French Christmas Market over the weekend with 50 vendors offering handmade and homemade products such as traditional hot wine, Foie Gras, waffles, and more. “Kids will get the opportunity to meet ‘le Père Noël’ or Santa.” Goes from 12-10pm on Saturday and 12-8pm on Sunday. Tickets are 20rmb at the door.
TEAN Staff Note: Christmas will be within a month, there will be plenty different Christmas markets that helps with lack of atmosphere. French and German (sponsored by Shanghai government and Hamburghaus) Christmas market will be the best choice. This venue will be located in the Pearl, a historic theater way up in Hongkou, it was once a temp, then it was Chinatown, now it’s available for events and the odd piece of theater. It’s a really beautiful old space with a gallery and boxes, very traditional but hip, too. It’s a bit out of the way, but don’t let that put you off if there’s something going on here, it’s good to head out to this often-overlooked part of town. Lots of inexpensive Chinese restaurants on the same street, too. Very ideal for a spontaneous and alternative Shanghai tour.
