Shanghai After Dark: From the Club to a Tiny Bar With a Cat
China, Shanghai
Shanghai nightlife from rooftops to tiny bars. My best night started at C·PARK and ended with breakfast at seven.
━16.10.2026
A packed dance floor in Shanghai.
Nightlife in Shanghai is very varied. There are rooftops, all kinds of bars and clubs, places for locals, for travellers and for business.
You can party as much as you want. The parties just don't go on as late as in many other places in the world.
C·PARK: Many Bars Under One Roof
We went to C·PARK. It's an underground culture and nightlife area under Zhaohua Road in Changning. There are several small bars, live music places and restaurants under one roof.
You could get snacks. Each bar had its own music and theme.
People were dressed really stylishly. Same with the fashion in the shops. The clothes and accessories were great and the shopping options were crazy.
The Best Moment Was a Small One
Nightlife was fun in different parts of the city. My favourite was one night with my friend Vertti.
We wandered into the Shanghai night from our first hotel a couple of times. We were at a club and after that ended up in a tiny bar drinking whisky and tequila.
The bar had a cat you could pet. It was the bartender's or the owner's cat.
A local woman taught me sticker art, which I had never done before. Vertti had good conversations in the background. We ate candy, drank good drinks and enjoyed the night until the sun started to come up.
Around seven we took a Didi straight to the hotel for breakfast and a little rest.
More Nights Together
That was my first night out in Shanghai. More followed. My friend Eero and his partner Veera joined us and we went out to taste and experience the city in different ways.
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Tips for the Night
- Dress well. Shanghai is a place to look good.
- Parties end earlier than many are used to. Small bars keep the night going.
- Didi home is cheap even at dawn.
- Stay open. My best moment wasn't in a big club. In that little bar someone taught me something new.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is C·PARK in Shanghai?
An underground culture and nightlife area under Zhaohua Road in Changning. It has several small bars, live music places and restaurants under one roof, each bar with its own music and theme.
How late do parties go in Shanghai?
Not as late as in many other places in the world. Small bars keep the night going. We stayed out until the sun started to come up.
What should you wear for a night out in Shanghai?
Dress well. People in Shanghai dress really stylishly.
How do you get home after a night out in Shanghai?
Take a Didi. It's cheap even at dawn.
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Samuli Makkonen, Pleasure Advisor
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