STUDIO P.I
Shanghai’s trendsetters head to this fashion-forward boutique for clothing by local female design duo Lu Min and Can. Min has quite the design pedigree, having worked in New York and Paris with Donna Karan and Givenchy’s haute couture lines, and she and Can bring a sense of sleek city chic to the unisex brand.

347 Zizhong Road, Shanghai
+86 21 5382 2893
studio-pi.co.uk 

SHANG XIA
Launched in 2010 as a collaboration between Hermès and Shanghai-born CEO and artictic director Jiang Qiong Er, Shang Xia is a collection of read-to-wear and interior pieces that give a contemporary take on Chinese craftsmanship traditions. This shop is the brand’s first outlet. Visitors to the stunning boutique – which was designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and resembles a cloud, with undulating walls constructed from the white weaving fabric – will find scarves of Mongolian cashmere, sculptural cashmere felt jackets, hand-carved jade chains, eggshell porcelain vessels abd zitan wood chairs.

F1, South Tower, Hong Kong Plaza, 283 Haihai Middle Road
+86 21 6390 8899
shang-xia.com 

SHANGHAI TANG
It wouldn’t be a Shanghai shopping feature without this design house, known globally for its distinctly modern brand of high quality China chic. But of all its boutiques, this location may be one of the best. Not only will you find sleek silk pyjamas, elaborately embroidered slippers, handmade dresses and leather accessories, but across the street there’s a world’s first Shanghai Tang Cafe with a menu of updated Chinese classics.

15 Xintiandi North Block, Lane 181, Tai Cang Road
+86 21 6384 1601
shanghaithang.com 

MARY CHING
China’s answer to Manolo Blahnik, the London-educated, Shanghai-case shoe designer Alison Mary Ching Yeung presents a stunningly sexy selection of stilettos and more demure ballet flats (worn by the likes of Carla Bruni) at her funky, avant-garde boutique. Think mannequin legs clad in technicolor tights extending from frames hung on black-painted walls.

 Ferguson Lane, 376 WuKang Road, Boutique 106
+86 134 8286 9378
marychingshanghai.com

MADAME MAO DOWRY
This two-floor boutique is well-know for its cultural revolution-themed relics, like life-size Mao statues and vintage propaganda posters. Those not-so-into the communist-era curiosities will still find much to love, including antique curios and colourful hand-woven silk jackets.

No. 207 Fumin Road
+86 21 5403 3551
madamemaosdowry.com

HONG MERCHANT
China-philes looking for inspiration for their abodes should make a beeline  for this 1920s mansion. Hong Merchant (or the House of Pia Pierre) is the go-to place for antiques – whether you’re looking for the chairs from the Qing dynasty or Art Deco lacquerware. It also functions as a contemporary art gallery that displays pieces created through its artists-in-residence program. The showroom is by appointment only, so be sure to have concierge to call ahead.

No.3, Lane 372, Xingguo Road,
+86 21 6283 2696
hongmerchant.com