London Dungeon opens Shanghai branch just in time for Halloween

Photograph: Amy Snelling

The only thing scarier than the tourist crowds on Nanjing Dong Lu is now The Shanghai Dungeon on Nanjing Dong Lu, currently in soft opening and expected to open so hard on October 27 – just in time for Halloween. No, it's not a real dungeon for misbehaving tourists.

Photograph: courtesy Merlin Entertainments

Perhaps losing some of its scare-factor for not actually being set in a dungeon (unless you count shopping malls as a sort of prison) this 'dungeon' is set in Mosaic mall and is a part of The Dungeons scare-house brand that started with The London Dungeon. In comparison, it has been localised, and the horror is entertaining, but perhaps not especially horrifying – although, it has its moments. 

The Shanghai Dungeon recreates a twisted 1900s Shanghai world with elaborate sets, costumes and dedicated actors. The dialogue is all performed in Mandarin, however the production company tells us that English dialogue is a possibility in the future. If your understanding of Mandarin isn't so great, you can still enjoy the atmospheric spookiness and odd adrenaline-pumping jump and drop scare.

Photograph: courtesy Merlin Entertainments

The entire experience clocks in at around 60 minutes, which means it won't keep you locked away for a whole afternoon. So it's not a bad place for friend outings, or to take the family – unless you want to put them in a real dungeon and leave them there, or if you have anybody under 12 years of age since that's the age limit for The Shanghai Dungeon.

During soft opening, which lasts until October 27, you can get early-bird tickets for 120RMB. After soft opening, tickets will be 170RMB.

📍The Shanghai Dungeon, Mosaic Shanghai, 353 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Shandong Zhong Lu.

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