A big city like Shanghai has something for everybody. This is more then true for shopaholics! With a multitude of malls, plazas and niche markets selling everything under the sun, it can become quite a hassle for tourists to decide what to cross off the bucket list. One market that can’t be missed, though, is the Yatai Xinyang Fashion and Gift Market or the APAC plaza, a hunting ground for great bargains and great replicas of branded items like shoes, bags and clothes.
Yatai Xinyang is situated at Century Avenue in Pudong, right at the foot of the Science and Technology Museum. Within the area there is the largest park in Shanghai, the Century Park and quite a lot of attractions which may be combined with a trip to this plaza. However, some tourists try to fit in a visit here when on their way to the Pudong airport so they can carry out last minute souvenir and gift shopping for friends and family back home. Line 2 of the Shanghai subway makes a stop close to the Science Museum and this is the most convenient metro stop to APAC Plaza.
The plaza itself is usually bustling with locals and tourists but the corridors are wide and spacious so there is no feeling of suffocation inside. First-time visitors must be wary of pushy and, at times, even aggressive sellers who must be dealt with firmly. And haggling is a must at this place. The shopkeepers will most likely quote a much higher price to foreigners hoping to ‘help’ unload their pockets! But fielding a 10% to 40% lower quote then the original ask may help to secure a good bargain. Even if a deal isn’t struck with the current seller, remember there are plenty more shop owners selling more of the same products deeper in the market who will be more accommodating to buyers.
Quality of the products varies wildly in the market. Tourists must be clear that none of the big-name products being sold at Yatai Xinyang Plaza are authentic, no matter how hard the seller insists otherwise. Electronics, whether USB’s or headphones, are particularly risky buys and may not function after a week of use. So are watches, no matter how handsome. There is little risk involved with clothes, bags or souvenirs though. Buyers must beware and check quality before carrying off with the product.
But the market is not all about replicas. Visitors can find many shops selling pearls which they will craft into creative jewelry of customers’ choosing. In certain sections of the plaza there are tailors with their shop’s setup and wide varieties of cloth from cotton to silk and wool available, who will custom make suits, coats and dresses to buyers’ specifications. And at very reasonable prices if you play your cards right.
In any case, it’s a wonderful investment of time even if travelers are not planning on buying anything as the vast universe of products on display will surely tempt one fiercely.