Antiques Market of Shanghai Old Chenghuang(God of city) Temple:
Tucked in the basement of this cornerstone building at Yu Garden, this market is a convenient, albeit higher priced, stop for antiques. You'll find 250 booths selling ivory, jade, porcelain, and other collectibles, all at negotiable prices.
Address: Yu Garden, 265 Mid Fangbang Road, Shanghai, China
Phone: 021/6355-9999
Cang Bao Antiques Building:
During the week, you can browse four floors of booths that sell everything from Mao paraphernalia to real and fake antique porcelain. On Sunday, the action starts far before sunrise when, according to a local saying, only ghosts should be awake, hence the market's nickname: "ghost market." Hawkers from the provinces arrive early to lay out their goods on the sidewalk or inside on the fourth floor. Ivory, jade, and wood carvings are among the many goods sold here, all at negotiable prices.
Address: 457 Mid Fangbang Road, Shanghai, China
Dongtai Lu Antiques Market:
Outside antiques stalls line six blocks and sell everything from Buddha statues to Mao posters to Victrolas. While the chances of finding a real antique among the reproductions are slim, it's fun scavenging among the shelves to see what you can unearth. You'll see the same "jade" bowls and porcelain vases in multiple stalls, so if your first bargaining attempt isn't successful, you'll have another opportunity a few stores down. Prices have shot up over the years and fakes abound, so bargain hard and with the knowledge you're likely getting a curio rather than a true collectible.
Address: Off Xizang Road, Shanghai, China
Henry Antique Warehouse:
This company has the unique honor of being a Chinese antique furniture research, teaching, and training institute for Tongji University. Part of the showroom often serves as an exhibition hall for the modern designs created jointly by students and the warehouse's 50 craftsmen. On average, the showroom has 2,000 pieces on display, ranging from altar tables to 1920s art deco bedroom furniture.
Address: 3F, Building 2, 389 Hongzhong Road, off Wuzhong Road, Shanghai, China
Phone: 021/6401-0831
Hu & Hu Antiques:
Co-owner Marybelle Hu worked at Taipei's National Palace Museum as well as Sotheby's in Los Angeles before opening this shop with sister-in-law, Lin, in 1998. Their bright, airy showroom contains not only such furniture as Tibetan chests but also a large selection of accessories, from lanterns to moon-cake molds. Their prices are a bit higher than their competitors, but so is their standard of service.
Address: 1685 Wuzhong Road, Shanghai, China
Phone: 021/6405-1212
Shanghai Antique and Curio Store:
For a government-owned shop, this gallery has some unique pieces: wooden altar sculptures, expertly painted fans, cloisonné-inset screens. There's no bargaining, but you're sure not to get a fake, and the receipts are official.
Address: 200-242 Guangdong Road, Shanghai, China
Phone: 021/6321-5868
