Treasure-hunting in Shanghai
Shanghai abounds in antiques because of its importance
as the largest city in the most populous oriental country.
When tourists come to Shanghai, they always want something
old or ancient which will remind them of their delightful
trip to China later in their life.
In order to let you find what you crave more easily, we
provide you with the following list of Shanghai's best-known
flea markets and antique stores:
Chuangxin Antique Store: At the junction of Huaihai Road
and Changshu Road, it used to be called Jinmen(Golden Gate)
and was quite famous in the 50s. It sells qaulity leather
goods, clocks and watches, and ornaments.
Dongtai Antique Market---There are about 200 stalls, operated
by private traders. They are open all day and sell antique
ceramic, stone, padauk and gold ornaments. They also sell
flowers, birds, fish and insects such as crickets. Staff
from Shanghai's foreign embassies are known to frequent
this market. Owners of Shanghai's largest antique stores
also visit this market to augment their stock.
Fuyou Road---The Kua Ji Road Flea Market attract crowds
of amateur collectors every Sunday morning on the lookout
for a wide variety of objects such as paintings and calligraphy,
pottery and all sorts of curios. Auction sales are held
at Shanghai's two newly reopened auction houses, but better
bargains may well be found in the street market, where haggling
is the order of the day.
Huabao Building Basement Market---It is in Shanghai's old
town, namely God's Temple. Now it is the biggest indoors
antique market in Shanghai because of its management area
and the variety of goods.
Shanghai Antiques & Corios Store(No.194-226 Guangdong Road),
Antiques & Curios Branch of Shanghai Friendship Store(No.694
Nanjing West Road), Antique Section of Friendship Store(F/5
40 Beiling East Road: These three are the oldest antique
shops in Shanghai. They offer the best and the most complete
range of antiques in the city. Unlike the flea markets,
they mainly cater for overseas visitors and only accept
FEC.
Shanxi Antique Store: At the junction of Shanxi West Road
and Yan'an Road, it caters mainly for foreign customers
and sells porcelain ornaments, antique clocks and watches,
and artifacts.
Weixin Antique Store: it is situated at Jinling East Road
and is Shanghai's largest shop selling antique clocks and
watches from China as well as of foreign make. Most of its
best timepieces were once owned by the wealthy people in
the old-day Shanghai.
Xiangshen Store: It is situated in 73 Shaanxi South Road.
It sells antique clocks and watches, and cameras.
Xinguang Optical Instrument Store: At the junction of Huaihai
Middle Road and Yandang Road, this is also an old shop(formerly
called Wanjing), in fact the city's most famous shop specializing
in both old and new optical instruments and second-hand
instruments. Its staff are also among the very few people
in Shanghai who can repair old cameras. It sold only modern
products for a while after changing its name to the present
Xinguang, but recently resumed dealing in old and antique
optical instruments.
Zhonghua Xin Road--- These are all private traders with
no fixed stalls. They are open all day, selling antiques,
hardwares, electrical appliances, bicycle parts,etc. Though
the largest market in Shanghai, it mainly handles everyday
items. But there is possibility that something special may
be found among the bric-a-brac.
|