40 fabulous things to do this autumn in Shanghai

Photograph: Element5 via Unsplash

Ahh autumn, it’s that time of the year when the leaves are changing, streets are bright with shades of orange, yellow and red, and you can finally sit outdoors without melting before it gets too freezing. Here’s your list of the essential things to do this autumn in Shanghai.

Go autumn leaf-peeping at these Shanghai parks

Photograph: Matt via Unsplash

1. Zhongshan Park

📍 780 Changning Lu, near Kaixuan Lu.

2. Xujiahui Park

📍 889 Zhaojiangbang Lu, near Taiping Lu.

3. Century Park

📍 1001 Jinxiu Lu, near Huamu Lu, Pudong.

4. Jiaotong University Park

📍 1954 Huashan Lu, near Panyu Lu.

5. Xiangyang Park

📍 1008 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xiangyang Bei Lu.

6. Qiuxiapu Park

📍 314 Dong Da Jie, near Bole Lu.

7. Jingan Park

📍 1649 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huashan Lu.

Soak up all the arts and culture at these exhibitions

Photograph: Annie Lin

8. Check out the wit, wordplay and absurdity of British artist David Shrigley at his sculpture and installation show at Power Station of Art *thumbs up*.

📍 200 Huayuangang Lu, near Miaojiang Lu. Until Wed 14 Nov (open Tue-Sun). Free.

9. American artist and Shanghai resident Maya Kramer explores the discord between humans and nature with a series of surrealist installations at Capsule Gallery.

📍 First Floor, Building 16, Lane 275, Anfu Lu, near Wukang Lu. Until Thu 25 Oct (open Tue-Sun). Free.

10. Originally set to end earlier this month, Shanghai's hottest – but not at all wettest – selfie scene, the iconic and immersive exhibit ‘Rain Room’ has got an extension, and will be sticking around at Yuz Museum through the end of the year – though open on a slightly less regular schedule, follow Yuz Museum WeChat for details (ID: ‘yuzmshanghai’).

📍 35 Fenggu Lu, near Longteng Dadao. Until Sun 30 Dec (open Tue-Sun). 80RMB.

Get into the spirit of Halloween

Photograph: David Menindrey via Unsplash

11. Get dressed up as something ghoulish (find your costume at one of these costume shops) and get your freak on at one of the city's top Halloween parties. Wanna get your costume on point? Take a look at step-by-step tutorials of spooky but spectacular Halloween makeup transformations. 

12. Turn off all the lights, grab your pillow and settle down for a night of frights by watching the ten best horror films ever made back-to-back.

13. Spook yourself out Shanghai-style with these 15 short horror stories you’ll understand if you live in the big, bad city. 

14. The only thing scarier than the tourist crowds on Nanjing Dong Lu? The newly opened Shanghai Dungeon on Nanjing Dong Lu. From the same group behind The London Dungeon, here you can explore the twisted side of 1900s Shanghai. 

15. Show off your carving skills at The Rooster’s charity pumpkin carving contest. It’s a 100RMB donation and proceeds go towards YBC healthcare to support children with Down's Syndrome. 

📍 The Rooster, 455 Shaanxi Bei Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu. Sat 20. 4pm-tba. 100RMB.

Over Halloween, but into pumpkins? Get your fix at...

Photograph: Element5 via Unsplash

16. Pie Bird. This American-style pie store is keeping things traditional with its classic pumpkin pie – there’s also apple crumble, coconut cream, key lime and strawberry rhubarb (38-46RMB per slice, 248-298RMB for a whole pie). 

📍 1313 Xinzha Lu, near Shanxi Bei Lu.

17. Dig into a Sunday roast at Mr Willis, where the signature 12-hour marinated whole roast chicken (125RMB half, 195RMB whole) is served with a delightful provençale pumpkin gratin.

📍 Third Floor, 195 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu.

18. One of Shanghai's newer gems, Together's hearty pumpkin slices (48RMB) on its dinner menu are a cut above your average roasted pumpkin – as soft as clouds and sweet yet smoky. Going for lunch? Order the pumpkin soup instead (38RMB). 

📍 546 Yuyuan Lu, near Zhenning Lu.

19. Go all in at Egg with a pumpkin spice latte (38RMB) paired with a pumpkin muffin (32RMB) or slice of pumpkin pie (36RMB) from the bakery. 

📍 12 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu.

20. Grab a slice of Zozzo’s pumpkin cream pancetta pizza (29RMB) dressed up in pumpkin cream, scamorza, mozzarella and slices of pancetta. 

📍 9 Donghu Lu, near Xinle Lu.

21. Take the DIY approach and make your own pumpkin dishes. Scan the QR code below for five recipes for the likes of pumpkin tartlets, pumpkin fudge and more.

You can get all the goods you’ll need from FIELDS, currently stocking everything from actual pumpkins to pumpkin noodles, pumpkin soup and canned-pumpkins.

📍 Visit fieldschina.com to order.

22. Keep it clean at Lizzy’s All Natural with a pumpkin spice latte (36RMB) featuring fresh roasted pumpkin, cashew milk, organic espresso, a sprinkling of cinnamon and ginger, a shaving of nutmeg and dash of maple syrup.

📍 More Than Eat Food and Drink Hall, 758 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu.

And for more seasonal eats and drinks

Photograph: courtesy Strictly Cookies

23. Snack on an oh-so-soft caramel apple crunch cookie from Strictly Cookies (70RMB for five) for the ultimate fall-feels.

24. Upgrade your morning coffee with Brut Cake Café's chilli and cinnamon warm spice latte (36RMB regular, 42RMB large).

📍 698 Yuyuan Lu, near Zhenning Lu.

25. Tuck into French bakery Pain Chaud’s tarte tatin (40RMB) – it’s got a toothsome crispy crust and is filled with a layer of apple compote beneath plump stewed apple wedges.

📍 256 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Jiashan Lu.

26. Or go for Bread etc’s ‘apple pie’ (25RMB a slice). Layers of butter-brushed, golden brown flaky pastry make a perfectly crisp base for delicate slices of apple and a sprinkling of caramelised hazelnuts. 

📍 1486 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu.

27. DIY with this mulled apple cider (juice to non-Americans) recipe with local spices and a cheeky splash of bourbon to keep you warm.

Do all your rooftop drinking while it's not too hot, but still not too cold at...

Photograph: The CUT Rooftop

28. THE CUT Rooftop

A seventh-floor rooftop terrace reached via private elevator, this bar overlooks Xiangyang Park – making it a great spot to catch the leaves turn for autumn. Happy hour every day from 6-9pm with drinks from 40RMB.

📍 Seventh Floor, IAPM, 999 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu.

29. The Captain

The Bund-side cocktail den comes prepared with blankets, and for Bund-standards, reasonably priced bites and booze. Go for happy hour (5-7.30pm Mon-Thu) and choose from a selection of cocktails at 65RMB. 

📍 Sixth Floor, Captain's Hostel, 37 Fuzhou Lu, near Sichuan Zhong Lu.

30. Mayita

Pretend it's still summer (only not unbearably hot) with palm trees, chill vibes and margaritas at Mayita. Happy hour deals (5-7pm daily and 10.30pm-1am Fri-Sat) are buy-one-get-one-free select cocktails and beer, and buy-two-get-one-free pitchers of margaritas and sangria.

📍 Sixth Floor, 98 Shouning Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu.

31. Kartel

The ever so popular rooftop bar on Xiangyang Bei Lu is offering 30RMB happy hour deals every day from 6-8pm. Catch a show downstairs at Kung Fu Komedy while you’re there. 

📍 Fifth Floor, 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu.

When it starts to get properly cold...

Photograph: courtesy Qimin Organic Hotpot

32. Grab a bunch of friends and eat all the hotpot – a steamy seasonal must-do in China.

33. Huddle away from the cold at these hidden cafés (shh, just keep them a secret).

34. Stay home, snuggle up in bed with Sherpa's and BottlesXO and binge watch all the best movies of 2018 (so far).

35. Or, brave the outside world with a trip to the movies, as box office heavy-hitters including Venom (Nov 9), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Nov 16) and Crazy Rich Asians (Nov 30) hit the big-screen late autumn.

Be active all over the city

Photograph: courtesy Prime Fitness

36. Get your blood pumping by signing yourself up at one of Shanghai’s top gyms.

37. Keep motivated and ramp up the energy levels with a running bud at these running clubs. 

38. Double-bow your running shoes and take on one of these five jogging routes – ranging from 4-7km – at your own pace. 

39. Don’t like running? Grab some friends and head to the courts for tennis, badminton or squash.

40. Knock out some mean punches and kicks at martial art studios (extract the QR below for the full list of studios).

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