The Best 'Fakes' Market in Shanghai: Shopping Guide

One of the highlights of any trip to Shanghai is the awesome shopping you can find in the city. Whilst many flock to Nanjing Road to get their fashion fix, I prefer to head underground - literally.

Nestled below ground, above the Science and Technology Museum metro stop, is AP Plaza - my favourite ‘fakes’ market in Shanghai.

This market is an underground treasure trove of goodies, and with trainers to handbags, glasses to underwear, this place has it all. Whatever style of trainer/bag/watch you are after, this place is sure to have it. So far I have bought Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance and even a pair of Dr Martens from this place. As well as Fjällräven bags, Herschel wallets, Casio watches and even prescription glasses, made to order within the hour!

If you are after something more traditional, they also have an area which has some lovely Qipaos and suits that you can buy tailor-made.

This is a great place to find gifts and fill up your suitcase before heading back home. You can even buy a suitcase here if you need one.

First time in China?

**This guide has everything you need to know!**
✅ **Arrival Essentials**
✅ **Getting Around**
✅ **How to Set Up Your Phone**
✅ **How to Find Restaurants**
✅ **Safety & Scams**
✅ **Hotel Booking Tips**

Get the guide!

THINGS TO KNOW

PAYMENTS

Many places don’t accept Western cards. The easiest way to pay is with cash, or make sure you have Chinese mobile payments set up so you can use Alipay or WeChat to pay.

HAGGLE

This is customary here in China, and this place is full of pros, so make sure you are familiar with the exchange rates and have prices in your head of what you want to pay.

DO NOT ACCEPT THE FIRST PRICE

This is my most valuable piece of information.

Whatever they offer you is simply way too much, so be prepared to haggle. My advice is to offer between 5 and 10 % of their initial price so they know you mean business and work your way up from there. They may act as if you are being rude, so conversing in a light-hearted, jokey manner will often score you points. Settle at around 20-30% depending on how much you want the items etc. You should think about what your maximum price would be for the items and not pay more than this.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO WALK AWAY

If your haggling doesn’t seem to be working, then don’t be afraid to walk away. More often than not, they will lower the price, and if they don’t, then you will probably find it at the next shop anyway.

ASK FOR A DEAL

If you are buying multiple things from one shop, then don’t be afraid to ask for a deal. A lot of the vendors speak some basic English as they are used to dealing with tourists.

SHOP AROUND

There are many shops in this area, and a lot often sell the same thing, so if you think it is too expensive, someone else will most likely go down to a lower price.

QUALITY

The quality really varies in this place. Some shops are better than others, so have a browse around and go back to the shops that you think the items look better in. They will probably be a bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for. I have some items that have lasted me years and some a matter of weeks, so you need to be happy with the price you pay in case the quality isn’t as good.

KNOW YOUR PRICES

Do a bit of research before you go to know how much you would spend on something back home. Different styles of trainers start at different prices, just like they would be in the shops back home, so if you know how much the genuine items cost, it will be easier to know if you are getting a good deal or not.

BRING A PHOTO

If there is something you really want but can’t seem to see it on display, ask a vendor. If they don’t have it, they will ask around or find you something similar. I often find they have some classic styles on display that sell well, but then other things in drawers, etc that they get out if you have a special request.

HAVE FUN

This place is certainly an experience and one which I love. It’s like a sport here, so enjoy it and have fun I’m sure you will come out with some great bargains.