SHANGHAI Xintiandi has established itself as an urban tourist attraction showcasing the historical and cultural legacies of the city.

The fashionable entertainment area starts at the intersection of Madang and Taicang roads. Stroll along Madang Road starting from the crossroads and you will discover a number of high-scale boutiques and a variety of great eateries.

Go south on the road past Zizhong Road and you will also find lifestyle stalls selling knickknacks and new restaurants and cafes that reflect the road's trendy ambiance.

The former residence of the temporary government of the Republic of Korea is also situated on Madang Road and is of great historical importance at least to Korean tourists who come by the bus loads.

Even if you are not interested in Korean history, the house itself is a nice example of a shikumen (stone-gate house) building from 1930s Shanghai.


Cheese & Fizz for the French lifestyle

Aficionados of the French lifestyle can stock their shelves and fridges with a variety of imported cheeses and wines from Cheese & Fizz, a gourmet delicatessen offering more than 60 wonderful French fromage selections. The popular choices are Mimolette Extra Old (92 yuan/100g), Gruyere Suisse Vleux (85 yuan/100g), and Fourme d'Ambert (70 yuan/100g). Of course, what's cheese without wine? Cheese & Fizz stocks more than 300 brands of wine from both old and new world regions. It also offers vintage wines such as Pineau Grande Reserve and Cognac Paul Giraud from the French Champagne Region. More than an abundance of wine and cheeses, you could invest in a range of wine tools and tasting aids from L'Atelier du Vin and Riedel. Knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide your choosing. It is a nice store to seek out if you are looking for the fine wine and exquisite French cheese lifestyle.


Opening hours: 10am-12pm

Address: Unit 101, 119 Madang Rd

Tel: 6336-5823


Wise Kids more than child's play

Keeping a child entertained and safe is not kids play, no matter where you are. As the only Wise Kids branch in Shanghai, this is a one-stop shop for parents who want to amuse their toddlers with trinkets that do more than just hold their attention. Stocking storybooks such as the Thomas and Friends series and LEGO play sets, most of the products are established kids' brands such as Play Mobil and Tolo Baby. Additionally, child safety implements such as gates and stove covers are also sold. Apart from being a child-centric shop with orange-wash walls, parents can also hold their child's birthday party in the 100-square-meter play area. The facilities include a creative art studio, multi-sensory fun land and family game plaza. And for 4,000 yuan, parents get to use the party venue for two hours, receive 12 gift packs and get access to a party host.

Opening hours: 9am-10pm

Address: Unit 104, 119 Madang Road

Tel: 5382-5232


Alexandre De Paris flagship store for hair accessories

Easy to snip off, yet challenging to grow one we love, our hairstyle is an expression of identity. A carefully chosen hair accessory will add style and elegance to your chignons. With more than 50 designs available here, you will be spoilt by the array of horseshoe combs, clips and slides. Encrusted with Swarovski crystals, each stone is painstakingly attached onto the head piece. All the creations are designed by Louis Alexandre Raimon, a renowned hairstylist who has treated the locks of Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, and the Duchess of Windsor. Prices start from 500 yuan for a simple hair band to 2,000 yuan for a slide.

Opening hours: 11am-9pm

Address: Unit 103, 119 Madang Road

Tel: 5306-2037


Simply Thai's sumptuous desserts

Thai sweets have distinctively colorful appearances and exquisite flavors. Simply Thai's Xintiandi outlet lures customers with a sumptuous dessert buffet at a price of 38 yuan per person available only when you spend over 100 yuan from the a la carte menu. The wide variety of dessert offerings includes popular favorites like Siam Ruby in Coconut Syrup, Pandan Custard with Sticky Rice and Sago and Coconut Pudding, as well as new goodies not found on the menu such as Glutinous Rice with Sweet or Savoury Coconut Toppings, Pumpkin Custard, Coconut and Pandan Jello. With a spread of mouth-watering Thai desserts, Western cakes and fruits, the all-you-can-eat dessert buffet is such a pleasant way to end a scrumptious Thai dinner and satisfy your sweet cravings. If you only order the dessert buffet, it costs 118 yuan per person.

Opening hours: 11am-12pm (Sundays to Thursdays); 11am-1am (Fridays and Saturdays)

Address: No. 27, 181 Taicang Rd (the entrance is on Madang Rd)

Tel: 6326-2088


Charms from Annie's Florist

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other, as the Chinese proverb advises. Lovely to give and receive, the charms of flowers linger after all the festivities have faded. With more than 10 types of flowers at Annie's, customers can choose an appropriate arrangement to suit the special recipient. Chrysanthemums and roses, native to Kunming, the flower city of China, as well as flowers from other regions are available here. Should you decide to bless someone with a fuss free bud, consider the Protea Barbisera from Africa, a flower that survives with minimal care and water. The florist shop owner is also a trained landscape horticulturist and has designed floral arrangements for the opening ceremonies of various companies. A flower costs around 10 yuan and for 300 yuan you can get a bouquet of 10 flowers with fillers of your choice. Free delivery is available for destinations within 15 minutes walk of the shop; for longer distances customers are charged only the taxi fare.

Opening hours: 10am-9pm

Address: 264 Madang Rd

Tel: 5306-7215


Wonder Coffee's relaxed environs

It would be easy to dismiss this cafe as another coffee outlet within Xintiandi. But you can't help being charmed by the layout. The counter takes up most of the first floor area and there is only a small corner at which six customers can sit. You are forced to stoop low when climbing the staircase because the ceiling is only 1.2 meters high. Cushions strewn around low wooden tables with a seating capacity of 12 entice you to kick off the shoes and relax from the bustle of the city. Hand-written menus greet you, reminiscent of the days when letters were written and not typed. The owner is an interior design graduate who modeled the place as his dream home and regular patrons are coffee aficionados. Offering coffee blends from different regions of the world, its most popular brew is Sumatra Mandheling. Besides coffee, it also offers a tea set from 2pm to 5pm where you can have a choice of coffee, tea or cocoa and a dessert to go for 28-38 yuan depending on need. And should you fall in love with the tiramisu or cookies, you can be guided how to make them by the in-house chef. Lessons are available every Tuesday or Wednesday and to become involved you pay 30 yuan to learn how to bake cookies or 22 yuan for every inch (2.5 centimeters) of cake that you want to bake. Fees are inclusive of ingredients.

Opening hours: 12am-10:30pm

Address: 290 Madang Rd

Tel: 5306-5996


Zurner celebrates ethnic themes

At Zurner, ethnic-inspired design has a big following. The shop owner and designer, Mina Hu, saw great potential in Chinese ethnic culture for enhancing design values. She has traveled to minority regions in Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan, Shanxi and Shaanxi and sourced traditional and unique materials to create hand-made fashion accessories with modern flair. The items blend traditional ethnic fabric with simple but elegant designs, adding a touch of style and enhancing the look of any outfit. And she keeps the prices reasonable. The jewelry line ranges from 68 yuan for a fabric bracelet to 690 yuan for a silver necklace. So, if there's a special gift you need to bring home from China or you just simply love the ethnic theme, Zurner is worth a stop.

Opening hours: 11am-10pm

Address: 294 Madang Rd

Tel: 5382-4535