How to have a very romantic Chinese Valentine's Day in Shanghai
Photograph: Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash
Often referred to as ‘Chinese Valentine’s Day’, Qixi (七夕) is traditionally a day for lovers in China and falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month (this year on Friday 17 August).
The festival is based on a legend involving a cowherd and a beautiful cloud weaving maiden, the earliest recorded mention of which was 2,600 years ago. The story goes that Zhinv, the daughter of a goddess, was bored in heaven and so descended to earth, whereupon she met Niulang, who tended cattle, and the two fell in love and married.
Photograph: Shizhao via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
When the Goddess of Heaven discovered that a heavenly creature had wed a mortal, she demanded that Zhinv leave earth immediately. After sacrificing one of his oxen, Niulang was able to ascend in search of his beloved, only for the Goddess to put a halt to his reunion plans by scratching a huge river into the sky to separate the lovers, thus forming the Milky Way.
The couple are therefore forcibly separated for eternity, but once a year all the magpies in the world take pity on them and fly up to form a bridge so that they can be together for the day – Qixi.
To help you celebrate love, here's a list of Chinese Valentine's Day food and drink specials in Shanghai.
M on the Bund
Photograph: courtesy M on the Bund
The modern European restaurant is serving a five-course menu (688RMB per person), an additional 300RMB each for wine pairings. After dinner, head next door to Glam to be serenaded by live music from Luis Coelho and Alina Kulish.
📍 Seventh Floor, Five on the Bund, 20 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (6350 9988).
Xindalu
Photograph: courtesy Hyatt on the Bund
Chinese kitchen Xindalu at Hyatt on the Bund is preparing a six-course Qixi set menu for two (766RMB). The sharing menu includes a selection of appetisers, baked prawns, fragrant crispy chicken, truffle beef tenderloin, asparagus with lily flower, seasonal fruits and ice cream.
📍 Lobby Level, East Tower, Hyatt on the Bund, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu (6393 1234).
Hakkasan
Photograph: courtesy Hakkasan
The Chinese fine-dining restaurant Hakkasan is offering a sharing menu for couples. Highlights include a dim sum platter, crispy duck with caviar and Australian wagyu ribeye. There will also be a DJ and live saxophonist setting the mood for the night.
📍 Fifth Floor, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu (6321 5888).
THE CUT Steak & Fries
Photograph: courtesy VOL Group
For the meat lovers, THE CUT Steak & Fries at IAPM is serving a special heart-shaped beef wellington (520RMB for two) made from tender beef short loin, black truffle, foie gras and a rich mushroom sauce.
📍 Unit L6-606, Sixth Floor, IAPM Mall, 999 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xiangyang Bei Lu (6443 5136).
Kerry Hotel Pudong
Photograph: courtesy Kerry Hotel Pudong
Choose between a buffet dinner at the hotel's gourmet restaurant The COOK (298RMB per person), which includes a glass of rosé wine, or a set dinner at the hotel's steakhouse The MEAT (1,314RMB for two). End the night on a high with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot for 50 percent off.
📍 Kerry Hotel Pudong, 1388 Huamu Lu, near Fangdian Lu (6169 8888).
Ginza Onodera
Photograph: courtesy Ginza Onodera
The Japanese restaurant at Bund18 is preparing three different sets: the tempura (1,680RMB), sushi (1,980RMB) and teppanyaki (2,300RMB). The tempura set includes shrimp, sea urchin, squid, salmon roe, wagyu, eel and vegetables. The sushi set comes with an assortment of sashimi and nigiri. The teppanyaki set features foie gras, beef broth, wagyu beef and vegetables.
📍 Third Floor, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu (6333 9818).
Jean-Georges
Photograph: courtesy Jean-Georges
Fancy French restaurant Jean-Georges kicks off its Qixi special with an amuse bouche, foie gras and sour cherry granola, moving onto a New Zealand king salmon with black truffle crumbs, grilled wagyu beef tenderloin and finishing up with a special Valentine's dessert. The early-bird menu (from 5-6pm) has five courses for 999RMB per person. The evening tasting dinner (from 5pm-late) features six courses for 1,520RMB per person.
📍 Fourth Floor, Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu (6231 7733).
Canton Table
Photograph: courtesy Canton Table
Spoil yourselves with a ten-course sharing dinner (598RMB per person) at Canton Table at Three on the Bund. Starting with chilled foie gras with grapefruit, barbecue pork and glazed honey, pan-fried tofu and shrimp paste cake. Followed by mains of matsutake with bamboo, scallops with black bean sauce, baked codfish, beef cheeks, salted winter melon and fried rice with barbecued meats. Finishing with a sweet chilled sago cream with pomelo.
📍 Fifth Floor, Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu (6321 3737).
Colca
Photograph: courtesy Colca
Celebrate
Qixi at Peruvian eatery Colca for an eight-course meal (888RMB for two)
including signature dishes and a bottle of sparkling cava. It starts
with Peruvian-style prawns, croquettes, octopus, scallops and chorizo
anticucho. Followed by mains of jumbo prawns and Argentinian beef.
📍 Second floor, Unit 2201, 199 Hengshan Lu, near Yongjia Lu (5401 5366).
Mercato
Photograph: courtesy Mercato
Share a candlelit dinner with your date this Chinese Valentine's Day with an eight-course sharing menu (1,314RMB per couple) at Mercato. The Italian restaurant will bring out upscaled truffle pizza, lobster ravioli, grilled beef tenderloin, wood-oven roasted lobster and more.
📍 Sixth Floor, Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu (6321 9922).
Qixi at POP American Brasserie
Photograph: courtesy POP
POP is serving a five-course meal (688RMB per person). Dinner highlights include chilled Fine de Claire oysters, foie gras torchon, lobster risotto and wagyu beef tenderloin. Clink your glasses with Perrier-Jouët Champagne for an additional 88RMB per glass.
📍 Seventh Floor, 17 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (6321 0909).
Romantic retreat at the Waldorf Astoria
Photograph: courtesy Waldorf Astoria
Qixi at the Waldorf Astoria is exclusive for three couples only. Each couple will be whisked to the hotel's Presidential Suite for a dinner prepared by executive chef Philippe Egalon. The special menu includes rock lobster, wagyu tenderloin, mango brûlée, beluga caviar and wine. It's a super high-end option with a price tag to match, running at 8,684RMB for per couple.
📍 2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu. Email (shawa.fb@waldorfastoria.com) or call (400 886 5533) to book.
Mr & Mrs Bund
Photograph: courtesy Mr & Mrs Bund
Shanghai's favourite couple Mr & Mrs Bund are hosting a romantic dinner for couples this Chinese Valentine's Day. Enjoy a candlelit dinner with champagne and romantic songs. Set menus for sharing start at 888RMB per person.
📍 Sixth Floor, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu (6323 9898).
Azul
Photograph: courtesy Azul
Azul is serving a eight-course set menu (588RMB for two), ideal for sharing, the dishes will include mushroom croquettes, aguachile, crispy filo pate, scallops, salted octopus and grilled Argentinian tenderloin. Save room for their signature Peruvian flan. Includes a bottle of sparkling cava.
📍 Eighth Floor, 378 Wukang Lu, near Taian Lu (5405 2252).