18 excellent things to do in Shanghai this week

Photograph: courtesy Cages

Summer’s starting to get in full swing (boy was it humid today) and while this past weekend was a cracker, the next seven days are looking even better and (dare we say it?) bigger. There’s UFC 264 on Sunday at The Camel and the business end of Euro 2020 at Cages for sports fans as well as a double-header at Elevator and SHFT’s Kohala Pool Party for dancegoers. For the rest of what’s good in Shanghai, read on.

Flyers courtesy venues and promoters. Click to enlarge.

Book Ahead

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The Grand Expedition

UK immersive theatre and dining experience The Grand Expedition by Gingerline is arriving to Shanghai this month. Inspired by fairytales, the epic culinary adventure sets three- and five-course meals to live animation and performances in a production that Time Out London called 'nostalgically gorgeous', trasporting you to a retro world with gasp-worthy set pieces.



📍Fosun Foundation, 600 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, near Dongmen Lu. Fri 23 Jul-Sun 22 Aug. From 598 RMB. Scan the QR code above to book.

Day Trip Escape Shanghai Supperclub

One to mark in your diaries, Social Supply present their latest Supper Club –a day's retreat to a riverside courtyard in the Chinese countryside. Guests will be transported from La Matcha on Jinxian Lu to the destination where you'll tuck into brunch from Tomatito's Ramon Verano and Inward Living's Lorraine Lee. The event also includes yoga or an art therapy class with Kathryn Robbins and you'll be returned back to Shanghai at around 6pm. Scan the flyer for the full schedule and to book.

📍 La Matcha, 210 Jinxian Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu (meeting point). Sat 24 Jul. 10am-6pm. 688RMB. 

Things to Do

Euro 2020 Semi-Finals at Cages

We've entered the business end of Euro 2020 and Cages will be screening all the football action from the team sheets 'til the last penalty (if the games make it that far). For this week's semi-finals, food and drink tents open at midnight on both nights with 3am kick-offs for Wednesday (Italy vs Spain) and Thursday (England vs Denmark). Entry is 100RMB including six tickets for food and drink. Scan the QR code to register. 

📍Cages Bar and Sports, Third Floor, Jingan Sports Centre, 428 Jiangning Lu, near Wuding Lu. Wed 7-Thu 8. From midnight to late. 100RMB.

Clothing Drive at The Rooster

Give your old clothes still in good nick a new lease of life by dropping them off at The Rooster’s clothing drive for The Renewal Center this weekend.. Swing by anytime after 3.30pm with jackets, trousers, shirts, coats, shoes as well as unused socks and underwear and your good turn will be rewarded with a pint of Vedett.

📍The Rooster, 455 Shaanxi Bei Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu. Fri 9-Sun 11. 3.30pm-late. Free entry.

The Bastille Day Walk

Join the experts at Historic Shanghai in honouring France's National Day (Bastille Day) with a stroll through Old Xuhui on Saturday. You'll be taken through areas where notable French residents once lived as well as schools, churches, parks and other facilities that all played important parts in their daily lives, plus hear and hark back on stories of scandal. Spaces are limited, sign up here.

📍Meeting point details shared after RSVP. Sat 10. 10am-1pm. 300RMB; 200RMB (Historic Shanghai members).

UFC 264 Viewing Party at The Camel

One for fight fans, The Camel will be showing UFC 264 on Sunday morning. The card looks to be one of the biggest in combat sports history, headlined by the trilogy bout between Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier. The two fought back in January with Poirier evening the score at 1-1 and the winner is likely to go on and face Charles Oliveira next for the UFC Lightweight Championship. Main card starts at 10am with brunch available from 11am.

📍The Camel, First Floor, 97 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. Sun 11. 10am-late. Free entry.

Dumplings Unite: Pierogi x Chinese Jiaozi

Master the art of dumpling making at this workshop that will teach you how to make not one but two styles of the national hero: Polish pierogi and Chinese jiaozi.  Pierogi Ladies and Eat Dumplings are hosting the class and will give the low-down on the differences and similarities between the two before before teaching you how to make your own. Call 138 1878 2405 to reserve (price includes a glass of wine).

📍 Pierogi Ladies, No 8, Lane 283, Jiaozhou Lu, near Xinzha Lu. Sun 11. 3.30-5.30pm. 298RMB.

Eating & Drinking

Egg Chef's Tabe: Xenia and Jenya

Co-founders of pop-up restaurant Borsh@Kompot Xenia Sidorenko and Jenya Evgeniya will be steering the ship at Egg's newly renovated original Xiangyang Lu location on Thursday night. Their menu – inspired by Ukraine and Russia – features dishes like borsch with homemade sour cream, pancakes with red caviar, golubtsi (cabbages rolled with meat in sauce), traditionally cured pork lard with rye bread and honey cake to finish. To book, click here.

📍Egg, 12 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu. Thu 8. 8-10pm. 288RMB.

XIME Summer Menu x ChezNora Natural Wine Pairing Dinner

Japanese restaurant XIME is celebrating the launch of its new summer menu with a natural wine-paired dinner on Friday night. Head chef Sam Norris is in charge of curating the food, taken from his time to Japan with  dishes like grilled mackerel with lime dashi soba and squid ink tempura with mentaiko mayo, paired with wines from ChezNora. Spaces are limited to ten people, bookings mandatory – scan the flyer for those.

📍XIME, 1B, First Floor, The Center, 989 Changle Lu, near Changshu Lu. Fri 9. 7pm-late. 358RMB.

Summer Grooving

Temperatures are starting to soar, so get into the warm-weather spirit at Funkadeli's Fumin Lu outpost on Saturday. The bar and restaurant's beach-themed bash will have bites from the barbecue courtesy of chef Lucky Lasagna alongside a lucky draw, activities and summery drinks like Aperol Spritz slushies. 148RMB gets you three tickets for food and drink.

📍 Funkadeli, 291 Fumin Lu, near Donghu Lu. Sat 10. 2pm-late. Free entry.

Tropical Booze Cruise

The Tacolicious twosome of Thijs Oomens and Logan Brouse will be setting up the terrace at Element Fresh’s Kwah Centre location in the shape of a tropical booze cruise on Saturday. Think a topical-themed bar with tiki cocktails to be paired with bites like Jamaican jerk burgers, Hawaiian pork roast kebab pitas and beats from DJ Chunx behind the decks. Entry is free but presale food and drink tickets can be purchased by scanning the flyer. 

📍Element Fresh (Kwah Centre), Fourth Floor, Kwah Centre, 1028 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xiangyang Bei Lu. Sat 10. 3pm-late. Free entry.

Music & Nightlife

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Elevator's monthly episode of London underground rave culture is back to take control of club's dancefloor on Friday night. The prolific Tom Yeti is popping by to headline proceedings with residents DJ EBP, Chouchou, Ben NRG, DJ Qui and a first-time appearance from Elixir rounding out the rest of the lineup – expect everything from from UK bass to acid, industrial and techno.

📍Elevator, B1, 265 Nandan Dong Lu, near Caoxi Lu. Fri 9. 9pm-late. 80RMB.

Juice!

Big, heavy lines of glorious bass hailing from all over the world will be on the bill at C's on Friday night. The basement bar will be going global with a round of internationally inspired sounds from dancehall to reggaeton to amapiano showcased by an all-female DJ cast of Mambo No. 5, Cavey and Kente.

📍C's, Basement, 685 Dingxi Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. Fri 9. 10pm-late. Free entry.

Kohala Pool Party

Veteran party planners SHFT are teaming up with Corona for their first swim-shindig of the year on Saturday at Radisson Blu Forest Manor Shanghai Hongqiao's super-sized (6,000sqm) pool. DJ Wordy leads a bumper lineup that also includes Tom Price, Crystal Q, Daddy G, LIIV, RUN, Renee and MC Mic. For whenever you want to put the pool-side shenanigans on pause, there's also a chill-out zone with massages. Tickets can be purchased here (includes one drink).

Feeling lucky? Click here for a chance to win free tickets for you and your plus one.

📍 Radisson Blu Forest Manor Shanghai Hongqiao, 839 Jinfeng Lu, near Tianshan Xi Lu. Sat 10. 1-8pm. 280RMB; 240RMB (presale).

Love Bang 11-Year Anniversary

The Love Bang crew are bringing their signature house party-in-the-club vibes to Elevator for their 11th anniversary on Saturday. The night is centred around the idea of divorce or 'sometimes you have to break up with what you used to love to make room for something new', so expect things to get a little emotional with a line-up of Maze, DJ Cavia, DJ Tekken 3, Heatwolves and Everlast Phantom pumping out emotional club music, dancehall, emo, rap and break-up songs. There will also be a crying booth with free tissues, while clubgoers can also take a vow to divorce from something.

📍Elevator, B1, 265 Nandan Dong Lu, near Caoxi Lu. Sat 10. 9pm-late. 80RMB.

Film

Green Initiatives x Canadian Consulate Film Screening: Anthropocene

An in-depth and distressing look into the destruction humans have brought upon the planet, Green Initiatives along with The Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai are screening Anthropocene: The Human Epoch on Thursday night. The 2018 documentary – the third instalment in a trilogy of films, following Manufactured Landscapes and Watermark – is a reality check on the very real existence of climate change and gives a tour of threatening case-studies around the planet like mining in Germany and Russia, flooding in Venice and ivory production in Kenya. After the screening, there will be a mini market and an open discussion. Scan the flyer to sign up. 

📍On Air Space, Third Floor, 174 Xietu Dong Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu. Thu 8. 6.30-9.30pm. Free entry.

CINEMQ 40: 出窍 INSIDE/OUT

In appreciating what makes you, you and the principles behind self-love, queer film screening series CINEMQ presents INSIDE/OUT a night of short films at ALL about 'the ecstasy of body, soul and beyond'. All screenings come with English and Chinese subtitles. Stay late for the after party with sounds courtesy of designer, drag artist and now DJ, Will Dai from 10.30pm 'til late.

📍ALL, Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. Thu 8. 8.30pm-late. Free entry.

Art

Loie Hollowell: Recalibrate

Catch the final week of American artist Loie Hollowell's first solo museum exhibition and debut presentation in China that showcases 15 large-scale paintings from her latest series Plumb Line, created between 2018 and 2020. Hollowell's autobiographical paintings often address her embodiment of pregnancy, in particular, ‘the transfiguring of the female body in stages of prenatal and postpartum existence’.

📍Long Museum West Bund, 3398 Longteng Dadao, near Ruining Lu. Until Sun 11. 150RMB (all exhibitions).

Family-Friendly

Plump Food and Drink Festival

Thrill your tastebuds at Taikang Terrace on Saturday where over 15 of Shanghai’s food and drink personalities will be pitching up with some of their favourite dishes. Chefs confirmed for bill so far include Rembrandt Van Der Laan (BISOU), Sean Jorgensen (The Cannery), Simon Sunwoo (Liquid Laundry) and Carlos Sotomayor. Besides the bites, there'll be drinks – both non and alcoholic – in the form of coffee, tiki cocktails, 白8 Baijiu and beers like Baladin Nazionale and CITA Session Lager. The event is dog and family-friendly. Entry is free with six food and drinks tickets for 100RMB.

📍Taikang Terrace, 169 Jianguo Zhong Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu. Sat 10. Midday-8pm. Free entry.

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