11 fantastic things to do in Shanghai this week

Photograph: courtesy Jaunt China

It's Monday again, which simultaneously means the end of another weekend and the start of another week. Crazy how that always happens. As per usual, there's a lot of great stuff to sink your teeth into in Shanghai this week. Read on for our picks of the best things to do.

Eating & Drinking

Sunday Folks Pop-up

Photograph: @me_ke_arisa via Instagram

Popular ice cream brand from Singapore Sunday Folks is organising a pop-up fitting for the weather. A collaboration between the dessert brand and KerryOn, expect carefully crafted sweets, freshly made waffles and gorgeous toppings.

📍Jingan Kerry Centre, 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Changde Lu. Until Mon 15 Oct. 10am-10pm. 

Music & Nightlife

Snapline

Photograph: courtesy Modern Sky Lab

Brilliant Chinese post-punk trio Snapline - who were a key part of the 'No Beijing' movement in the mid-'00s – are reuniting after a lengthy hiatus (bar an appearance at Maybe Mars' tenth-anniversary celebrations last year) to bring their new album and a very special live show to Shanghai. They'll be playing all three of their studio records – including the new one of course - as part of this limited edition gig.

📍 Modern Sky Lab, Third floor, Ruihong Tiandi, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Tianhong Lu. Fri 24. 8.30pm-late. 150RMB; 130RMB (presale).

Andy Stott

Photograph: Yang Xiaozhe

An unmissable booking at ALL as marvellous Manchester-based producer Andy Stott makes his debut appearance in Shanghai, having first played China last year as part of Douban's Wetware Festival (booked by ALL founder Gaz Williams). Stott's music gets hit with all kinds of labels, from techno to dub, but none of these seem to do his textured, experimental, and always interesting sound justice.

📍 ALL, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu. Sat 25. 10pm-late. Price tba.

Things to Do

Luminizing and Elegance: Qipao in Shanghai

Photograph: Annabelle Chen

Trace the reinterpretations of the timeless qipao at the newly-opened qipao exhibit at Shanghai History Museum. 72 Shanghai-style qipaos are on display at the exhibition, some of them dating back to the Qing Dynasty. The exhibition chronicles the evolution of the qipao over the years and details how the qipao became the fashion and cultural symbol it is today.

📍 Shanghai History Museum, 325 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Jiujiang Lu. Until Tue 16 Oct. 9am-5pm. Free.

Tom Rhodes: Live in Shanghai

Photograph: courtesy organiser

Veteran world travelling comic Tom Rhodes returns to Shanghai courtesy of The Shanghai Comedy Club. VIP tickets include two drinks, front row table seating and a meet and greet with the man himself after the show. His last special, Light Sweet Crude, is currently available on Netflix if you want to get a taste of him in action.

📍 Shanghai Comedy Club, 428 Jiangning Lu, near Wuding Lu. Sat 25. 8.30-10.30pm. 150RMB; 250RMB (VIP package).

Fantasy Land VR

Photograph: courtesy Jaunt China

Get a glimpse of the future at this funky tech pop-up. Part gallery exhibition, part interactive arcade, Fantasy Land VR is showcasing a series of mind-blowing virtual reality experiences from immersive horror films to roller-coaster rides and sci-fi games. Their showpiece attraction, the 'Birdly VR flight simulator', allows you to fly like a bird through a virtual metropolis – you'll have to see for yourself how. Check them out at S107, first floor of the HKRI Taikoo Hui mall. Tickets can be bought at the door or online. 

📍 HKRI Taikoo Hui, 789 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu. Until Sun 2 Sep. 10am-10pm. Weekdays: 58RMB (Birdly VR); 98RMB (main exhibition); 140RMB (both) Weekends: 58RMB (Birdly VR); 128RMB (main exhibition); 170RMB (both).

Back to School Scavenger Hunt

Photograph: courtesy rawpixel via Unsplash

Get in the mood for the start of the new school year with The Rooster's Back to School Scavenger Hunt and give back to the community at the same time. All proceeds will benefit Stepping Stones, a non-profit organisation which aims to provide quality English education to migrant children. To enter, form a team (max four persons) and sign up with Chase (WeChat ID: ChaseLW9). There are great prizes in return for running around town, such as a craft beer keg party and free-flow brunch passes.

📍 The Rooster, 455 Shaanxi Bei Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu. Sat 25. 2-7pm. 200RMB per team.

Film

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Photograph: Marvel Studios

The tiniest Marvel hero may turn out to be the mightiest – or at least that's what is implied by his absence in Avengers: Infinity War. For now, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) rocks dad life and pines for another adventure. His wish comes true in the form of Hope van Dyne, the Wasp (Evangeline Lily), as they battle against a new enemy.

📍 On general release from Fri 24.

The Meg

Photograph: Apelles Entertainment

We know what you're thinking – not another shark movie. Expert sea diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) is on a path of redemption after he has a second chance at taking down the 70-foot long shark that cost him his crew, career and marriage.

📍 On general release. 

Art

Charlie Chaplin: A Vision

Photograph: courtesy organiser

A major retrospective exhibition of Charlie Chaplin photographs comes to Shanghai coproduced by the Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne and Yuz Museum. The collection includes production and set stills, as well as travel albums and portraits by well-known photographers such as James Abbe, Edward Steichen and Richard Avedon.

📍 Yuz Museum, 35 Fenggu Road. Until Oct 7. 10am-9 pm. 150RMB.

An Encounter

Photograph: courtesy organiser

Completing her doctorate degree in the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, Chinese contemporary artist Kristin Ng-Yang is having an exhibition at Noeli Gallery, featuring her charcoal drawings, lithography, watercolour, mono prints and photograph from 2013 through 2017. As a migrant artist, Kristin’s artwork is borderless and distinctive, influenced by African and Chinese culture.

📍  Noeli Gallery, Bldg B, 150 Yueyang Lu, near Yongjia Lu. Until Aug 31 (Every day except Mon). Free. 

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