Combining the neon lights of Las Vegas with the fashion-ferocity of New York, Shanghai is the Eastern city that never sleeps. We asked local blogger Brian Gresko for his insider advice on where to grab a bite, a stiff drink and a massage to remember:

Food is everywhere you turn in Shanghai. From vendors selling street meat to the upscale restaurants that dot the Bund—Shanghai's crowded riverfront promenade—a visitor could easily eat the day away. For regional specialties, try 1221 (1221 East Yanan Road). Ex-pats take their visiting friends here for the food and traditional flair; the wait staff practices the ancient art of tea pouring, with pots sporting insanely long spouts.

Traditionally bars are a Western phenomenon, but you can find some great spots in Shanghai to drink in style. For an upscale vibe, try People 7 (150 Yue Yang Road). You have to solve a puzzle at the door to enter, a gimmick that makes it feel oh-so-exclusive. After whetting your whistle there, head for some dancing at Guandii (2 Gao Lan Road), a hip-hop club where you're likely be the only Westerner. It's packed, deafening, dark, and awesome.

The perfect way to nurse your inevitable hangover the next day: a Chinese massage. Go to one of the numerous Dragonfly Massage Parlors for a lavish treat that won't tax your budget (hour-long massages at this chain are only fifteen bucks). If you drank away most of your money the night before, don't worry. Head to an even cheaper "local" salon, motion with your hands and say "a-mo." They will lead you to a back-room table, where you will pay a measly five dollars for an hour-long session. Note: Cleanliness and atmosphere could be lacking. And don't make the mistake I did the first time. Evidently, during a Chinese massage, you keep your clothes on. Awkward.

- Brian Gresko

RANDOM TANGENT:
In the flick Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the film starts in a Shanghai nightclub called Club Obi Wan, a reference to Star Wars, also produced by George Lucas.

Similar Topics:China, Travel

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