12 Great Summer Date Ideas

You are young, single, living in Shanghai. Hence, you date people. And on a regular basis. But after trying all the hottest bars in the city you may become tired of it. First dates are often like a job interview with cocktails, right? Boring. Let’s try something different. 

VIRTUAL REALITY/ARCADE

In a playful mood? Show your date that you like entertainment, action and a challenge. Grab your electronic rifle and  charge into a virtual battle field. If you don’t want to spend too much you can head to Arcade, the bar (in case you were wondering).

Places to hit:

Big E (Pudong)

Address: World Plaza,B2/F, 855 Pudong Nan Lu,near Dongchang Lu 

Price:RMB170  during the week days, Price: RMB 320 during weekends for three hours

Star Core 

Address: 457 Jumen Road

Price:  RMB 80 30 minutes

Arcade (the bar)

Address: Fuxing Xi Lu N 57

ICE SKATING

It may be cliché but that’s because everyone likes it. Hold the quivering hand of your date and try to slide together on the ice. And if you fall, fall together. Furthermore, if you’re skilled you can guide your date along, like a superman/wonder woman.

Places to hit:

All Star Skating Club ( inside the mercedes-benz arena )

Address: 1200 Shibo Da Dao around

Price:  RMB 50 per person

Shanghai Century Star Skating Club

Address: 200 Shanggang Lu

Price:  RMB 80 per person

CLIMBING

Outside activities are way more exciting than being holed up inside, especially when the weather is nice. Rock climbing is cool and great fun, seriously. While one is climbing, the other is there to secure your safety rope. You learn how to trust each other while also enjoying the view.

Places to hit:

Shanghai Hengyi Indoor Rock Climbing

Address: 444 Dong Jiangwan Lu  

Price:  RMB 40 per person

Shanghai Rockdancing Climbing Centre

Address: 128 Huayuan L

Price: 45RMB/Mon-Fri, 55RMB/Sat-Sun

Xuhui Riverside Public Space

Address: Dongan Lu, near Longteng Avenue

Price:   Free but kinda hardcore.

MOBIKE

Enjoy together the “fresh air” of Shanghai! Well, actually cycling is always fun and refreshing and even more so when you’re with someone. You can race (which is of course dumb) or enjoy a scenic spin on the river side (which is just plain romantic). It might be the cheapest option on the list, and the easiest to do.

MR X

Mr. X is awesome! You are locked together in a room and need to solve the puzzles using your skills in pragmatism, memory and reactivity. People usually have a great time together there and what better way to build  a strong bond than with some teamwork? Plus it's a quick way to find out if the other person is an insufferable maniac incapable of cooperating, better to know that now instead of after marriage.  

Address: 550 Jumen Lu around RMB100 per person

THE SHANGHAI ZOO

Ok, not the sexiest place in the world. The animals are miserable, it’s dirty and really sad. But it’s a good way to see if your date has a heart or any semblance of empathy. If he/she doesn’t feel aggrieved and saddened by the animals’ enforced entrapment, she/he may be a psycho, or be emotionally stunted. In which case, run.  

Shanghai Zoo

Address: 2381 Hongqiao Lu

Price:  around RMB50 per person

ARCHERY/ SHOOTING

Just don’t have an argument during the date so as not to shoot each other. This would be ever so messy.  

East Shanghai Shooting and Archery Club

Address: 663 Hongqiao Lu

Price: Varies depending on the toy you pick

SWIMMING POOL

Let’s face the truth: to get attracted to somebody you need the brain and the body. Especially in Shanghai which is a supermarket of nationalities where you can find any color/body type/style. Pick the swimming pool, so you have a sneak peek on what to expect later. Though ethically questionable, it’s undoubtedly worth it!

Many pools exist in Shanghai, you can find them in our article “12 Outdoor swimming pools to hit this Summer”

BOWLING

Challenge your date to dress like The King and go jump together into the 70’s. Bowling is super fun, and perfectly competitive; you can focus on the game and talk together without it ever turning ugly. Pretty innocent, entertaining…  what are you waiting for?

Bund Bowl

Address: B1/F, 575 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu

Price:  around RMB 60 per person

IKEA

There’s a range of activities possible here. 1: have fun together watching locals live there like it’s their own pad (taking naps, playing together, cuddling) 2: pretending you are willing to move in together and picking out furniture to buy  (if you think you have a future together) 3. have a pillow fight or cuddle in one of the beds 4. have a distinct culinary experience at the cafeteria.  

Address:

126 Caoxi Lu ( Puxi) 550 Linyu Lu ( Pudong)  , 1818 Hutai Lu ( Baoshan)

AMUSEMENT/THEME PARK

Joy Valley (water amusement park), Disney Land (you know what it is), World Joyland (based on World of Warcraft and Starcraft), Jinjiang Action Park (roller coaster)… there’s plenty of possibilities. Just pick the one which matches up best with your taste and budget.  

Places to hit:

Jinjiang Action Park

Address:  201 Hongmei Lu

Price: RMB 130 per person

Happy Valley

Address:  888 Linhu Lu near Linyin Da Dao

Price: RMB 200

World Joyland

Address: Changzhou,Taihu Da Dao,near Xiyi Highway (yes in Jiangsu province but you can do the round-way trip in the day).

Disney Land

Address: 360 Shendi Xi Lu, Chuansha

Price: RMB 280 usually, prices change, check online at shanghaidisneyresort.com/tickets/

WEIRD MUSEUM

If your date has a good sense of humor (and he/she should because you need it to survive in China) try to visit one of these useless and/or weird museums which sparkle the city. Tobacco Museum, Museum of glass, Public Security Museum, Himalayas Museum

… There’s too many options.

Places to hit:

Tobacco Museum:

Address: 728 Changyang Lu, near Tongbei Lu

Museum of glass:

Address: 728 Bldg 8, 685 Changjiang Xi Lu

Public Security Museum:

Address: 2-4/F, 518 Ruijin Nan Lu,

Himalayas Museum:

Address: 3-4/F, Zone A, 869,Yinghua Lu, near Fangdian Lu

CAGES

If you still need to have a drink and pair it with something fun, try Cages. You hit some baseballs, play together petanque and have fun without the constraining datey atmosphere. But, you may bump into people you know. Seriously, it will happen. So be prepared.  

Address: 428 Jiangning Lu, Jing'an Sports Centre, 3/F

LIVE MATCH

Why not? Go together to watch football, rugby, basketball… it can be fun and you may learn new words in Chinese together (spoiler: they’re likely to be bilious insults). It’s like watching a movie you don’t really care about so you can talk together without annoying the crowd.

Extreme case: FITFAM training

Want to challenge your date? Go together to a FitFam training session. Surprisingly rolling together in the mud and grass creates a strong bond. Turn down make up, eau de cologne and any artifice to see the person in their most primal and true state. Rise up the endorphin  levels and see what will happen.  

Check fitfamshanghai.com to sign up one of their training. 

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