Hej Hej's top tips for exploring Shanghai...

Lifestyle Fri Nov 22 2019 by Nina Franklin

Pearl of the Orient, Paris of the East; Shanghai is a city of modern wonders and traditions as old as time. Smells and spices that make your mouth water, sights and sounds that make your legs wander, colours and climates that inspired the two ladies of hej hej, Kirsten Judd and Alice Isles, to craft their own line of linens, meticulously tested by sweltering heats and ample noodle slurping.

Explore the former French Concession

Take a walk (or even better a bike!) through the former French Concession. This is the area of Shanghai where the French government were based during Shanghai's colonial times. The architecture is unique - sometimes you feel like you're in Europe rather than Asia. And the streets and lanes are home to some of the best cafes and restaurants in the city.

When Alice is in town, our favourite streets for exploring on our daily dog walk are:

- Wukang Road (武康路)

- Anfu Road (安福路)

- Changle Road (长乐路)

- Julu Road (巨鹿路)

- Fumin Road (富民路)

- South Shaanxi Road (陕西南路)

- Yongkang Road (永康路)

Get yourself something tailored

South Bund Fabric Market and lesser known Shi Li Pu Cloth Market are home to hundreds of seamstresses and tailors who can whip us anything from a leather jacket to a cashmere coat to a silk gown. If you're feeling extra creative, a trip to the Embellishment Markets to pick your own buttons, zippers, feathers and other trims is a bit of fun. These markets are what inspired us to create hej hej in the beginning!

South Bund Fabric Market

399 Lujiabang Lu,

near Nancang Jie

陆家浜路399号, 近南仓街

Shi Li Pu Cloth Market

168 Dongmen Lu,

near Zhongshan Dong Er Lu

东门路168号，近中山东二路

Embellishment Market

388 Renmin Lu,

near Sichuan Nan Lu

人民路388号, 近四川南路

Try the local cuisine

This needs a top five of it's own! We don't want to name names but we think the best local dishes are xiǎolóngbāo (小籠包) - soup dumplings, and shēngjiānbāo (生煎包) - pan fried pork buns. Whether they're filled with truffle and pork and enjoyed in a restaurant (Din Tai Fung), cost less than $2 and served fast food style (Yang's), or available 24/7 with a side of sesame paste wontons (Dong Tai Xiang). All are great and should be consumed everyday.

Din Tai Fung

Xintiandi, South Block Plaza, 2/F, Lane 123 Xingle Lu, near Madang Lu

新天地南里广场2楼, 兴业路123弄, 近马当路

Yang's Fry Dumpling

2/F, 269 Wujiang Lu,

near Maoming Bei Lu

吴江路269号2楼，近茂名北路

Dong Tai Xiang

309 Shaanxi Nan Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu

陕西南路309号, 近建国西路

Yang's Dumplings

Enjoy the French pastries and coffee

Thanks to the French influence of the past, Shanghai has some very tasty bakeries and patisseries. Kiki's favourite is Luneurs for a chocolatine and ice-cream. Alice can't go past RAC for crêpes and galettes. Both are best washed down with an iced latte (冰拿铁).

Luneurs

888 Huashan Lu,

near Wukang Lu

华山路888号, 近武康路

RAC

Bldg 14, 332 Anfu Lu, near Wukang Lu

安福路322号14幢, 近武康路

Take a night out

There is something on every night of the week in Shanghai. Once you've ticked off the lightshow at The Bund, we recommend winding down with a cocktail (Pineapple Turbulence with Peddlers Gin is our pick), live music and dancing at Heyday or Shake.