Local Lifestyle of Shanghai

Shanghai is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city. Its locals work hard and play harder. They have taken the best of Chinese and Western cultures and have blended them together in a way unique to Shanghai.

Shanghai is one of a kind, and its friendly occupants are well known for their hospitality, and their ability to make visitors feel quite at home.

Shanghai local's lifestyles combine the best of China's past and present along with some Western cultural aspects making Shanghai's local culture unique in the world. In this cosmopolitan metropolis, visitors can experience both the history and modernity of Shanghai.

Lifestyle of Shanghai

Shanghai's Elderly

• Practicing Taichi
• Performing martial arts
• Doing local dances
• Enjoy Pingtan and Shanghai Opera
• Doing western style dances like tango and cha-cha

  Lifestyle of Shanghai's Elderly

Early in the morning, Shanghai's elderly can be seen in mass heading to Shanghai's parks and the People's Square to do morning exercises, often with grandchildren in tow. They can be seen in groups practicing tai chi, performing martial arts, and doing local dances. It is a site that can be seen throughout China.

Two traditional pastimes that are unique to Shanghai are the ancient art of Pingtan (storytelling and ballad singing) and Shanghai Opera. Pingtan is a form of storytelling that traditionally has only one performer. The performer sits on the stage with only a couple of props used to emphasize what he is saying and tells love tales, or tales of the daring exploits of legendary Chinese figures.

This is very popular among Shanghai's elderly men, who often go to the Yuyuan Garden's tea house to enjoy this performing art. Shanghai's Local Opera is also popular amongst the elderly, and they enjoy watching performances in the evenings.

In the evening, many middle-aged and elderly people can be seen doing Western-style dances like the tango and cha cha in the parks well into the evening.

Shanghai's Young Generation

• Hard-working
• Head out to bars and nightclubs
• Shopping

  Shanghai's Young Generation

Shanghai locals are known for their hard work, but after work, they really like to play, and it is at night that Shanghai truly shines. Most of Shanghai's ancient and modern buildings are lit up at night, and the scene is quite spectacular.

It is the perfect time for local lovers to take a cruise on the Huangpu River which flows through the city and passes by the Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower, which look particularly beautiful at night.

The younger crowd likes to head out to be seen at Shanghai's numerous bars and nightclubs. Shanghai's nightlife is world-renowned and is something the locals take very seriously. The most hopping nightlife spots can be found on Julu, Xintiandi, and Hengshan Road.

Many of Shanghai's fashionable young ladies like to spend the evenings shopping in Shanghai's many boutiques on Shanghai's Nanjing Road and Huanhai Road.

Shanghai's Working Class

• Take the golf course
• Playing Tennis

  Golf Course

Among Shanghai's working class, many sports have become quite popular. Due to the influx of Western businessmen and visitors, Western sports have become vogue, and like in the west, Golf, and Tennis are a necessity for Shanghai businessmen.

Although expensive, golf courses are becoming more and more popular, and are normally designed to exact specifications. The most popular golf courses among Shanghai's businessmen are the Palm Beach Golf Course, and the Shanghai Golf Club.

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