Today, we’re diving deep into Shanghai’s nightlife scene from a partygoer’s perspective, aiming to provide an objective guide. This guide covers both mainstream nightclubs and niche clubs.
Hiphop Section
HOOD
Players call Hood the ceiling of Hiphop. If you could only choose one Hiphop club, it would definitely be Hood. Large dance floor, great atmosphere, spacious booths, and plenty of trendy guys and beautiful girls.
I truly love the girls on Hood’s dance floor – they’re there purely to dance, many are college students, very easygoing and genuine, unlike some clique girls who constantly ask for red envelopes.
Music: Mainly Trap / Mombahton / Twerk / B-list
Weekday Booths: 2k/4k | Weekend: 6k/8k/12k/15k
No cover charge on weekdays | Weekend cover: 100 RMB with a cocktail
NINJA
Ninja is a pioneer of Shanghai’s Hiphop nightclubs. While major commercial clubs were busy inviting various top 100 DJs, Ninja was already deeply cultivating the Hiphop field.
It leans more towards being a club. Currently, there are two venues: 158 Datong Fang on Julu Road, and 758 Julu Road, with the latter being noticeably more popular.
Ninja has many loyal fans, mostly younger players, international students, trendsetters, and young people. The dance floor atmosphere is great on weekends, but it’s pretty empty on weekdays.
Music: Mainly Trap / Old School / New School
158: Weekday Booths: 2k | Weekend: 4k/6k/8k
758: Weekday: 3k/5k | Weekend: 6k/10k
Weekday Cover: 60 RMB | Weekend Cover: 100 RMB with a cocktail
AKOMA
A brand under Modern Sky, Akoma has held many interesting themed events. The Akoma x Junji Ito & HEYTEA collaboration was very creative, and it’s also the first nightclub in China to release a hairstyle NFT.
Akoma has one drawback: most of the booths are quite small, with dance floor tables only seating 4 people, which feels cramped. Fortunately, the dance floor is fairly large.
The atmosphere is good on weekends, with many handsome guys and beautiful girls. Recently, perhaps due to the pandemic, weekend prices have dropped significantly.
Music: Trap / Disco / Funky
Weekday Booths: 2k | Weekend: 3k/6k/8k
1OAK
1oak is an internationally renowned brand, with Hu Yanbin as an honorary shareholder. It made a big splash when it first opened, but perhaps due to its slightly remote location, it seems to be on a downward trend now. The dance floor is large, the decor is unique, and there are many foreigners.
Music: B-list / Trap / Vinyl
Weekday Booths: Flexible | Weekend: 3k/5k
ASL
One of Shanghai’s earliest Hiphop Clubs, it reopened after being closed for a while. The dance floor atmosphere is pretty good on weekends.
REDROOM
The Red Room at 758 Julu Road was the only store that didn’t close much during the pandemic. You never have to worry about being checked when dancing there, but prices also soared during that time. Now the prices have come down. Booths are flexible on weekdays, and 4k/6k/8k on weekends. It’s empty on weekdays, but the atmosphere is good on weekends, with many young people.
404 SH
That’s right, it’s the Shanghai branch of Hangzhou’s 404, located where OC used to be in Huanyu Hui. The venue is not large, but the prices are high, often 30-40k on weekends. There’s no dance floor, and it’s mostly frequented by big spenders.
404 Bar is little known among true Hiphop players, firstly because it lacks a dance floor, losing a large portion of genuine ravers, and secondly because this store has been jointly boycotted by Shanghai’s marketing community, with no one posting about it on WeChat Moments.
ORII
Newly opened, the venue is not large, located right across from Master. The layout and color scheme are quite suitable for taking photos, following the path of an internet celebrity store.
2nd Floor, 566 Huaihai Middle Road
Chinese Dance Clubs
CHANC
Chance is Shanghai’s first Chinese dance club, located next to TAXX. Chance’s dance floor is in the center, with booths surrounding it in a circle, which is the proper layout a normal bar should have. The dance floor is large, the atmosphere is great, and there are often big sing-alongs.
Music: Classic Chinese Pop Remixes / Hiphop / K-pop
Booths were once hyped up to 100k when it first opened, and revenue remains high.
Weekday Booths: 2k/5k | Weekend: 3k/5k/10k
ONE CLASS
The second Chinese club, with booths named after various districts of Shanghai. The venue is not large, there’s no dance floor, and a circular bar greets you right at the entrance.
Music: Classic Chinese / K-pop / Hiphop
Address: No. 1 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District (formerly Spinn)
Niche Underground Clubs (TECHNO/TECH)
ALL CLUB
Hailed as China’s most avant-garde experimental electronic music base (and rightfully so), it attracts many trendsetters. Upon entering, you’ll see various Y2K crowds.
The outside is a lounge with a huge bar and seating booths, while the inside dance area is pitch black, with all sorts of people grooving.
Music: Mainly Techno, followed by experimental electronic/Hiphop
The style of DJs invited each day varies, so you can check their official WeChat account in advance.
ELEVATOR
Elevator nearly went bankrupt but was later crowdfunded by players to reopen. It’s more like a gathering place for good friends, also with a lounge + dance floor in two halls.
Music: Mainly Techno, followed by House/Electro/Experimental/Vinyl/Disco, etc. In short, Elevator’s music, like All’s, will make you think of the universe, religion, and mental illness, with people in the dance floor moving as if they’ve lost their minds. Those who like mainstream nightclubs probably won’t get used to it.
There are often various themed costume events.
It must be said that Elevator is a true dance club.
Address: B1, No. 265 Nandan East Road (next to the gym)
CELIA
Music: Mainly Techno/Tech House/Deep House/Progressive House. The music is truly top-notch, very underground. The cocktails are quite tasty 😂
🎫 Comes with a 100 RMB cocktail
DADA SH
Dada has been open for many years. Xingfu Road’s Dada holds memories of many people’s youth. After relocating, it still retains its original flavor. The bar is right at the entrance, and the dance floor is further inside. Dada is also considered one of the cores of Shanghai’s subculture.
Music: Techno/Drum Bass/Hiphop, depending on the DJ’s music style that day
🎫 50 RMB
Address: No. 1303 West Yan’an Road
POTENT
Located just downstairs from Master, on the second floor to the left of TX Huaihai. Potent’s hall is very large, with a huge bar, booths, and dance floor. The main hall plays commercial Hiphop, while the small hall plays Techno.
The atmosphere is pretty good on weekends. It’s considered a gay bar, but there are always various issues. Security is not very friendly to the LGBT community, with many complaints.
Weekend Booths: 4k/6k, Male 🎫 100 RMB, Female Free 🎫
SYSTEM
System has 4 halls, two displaying some art installations, one for dancing, and one for music playback. There’s an interesting satirical installation that has become an internet celebrity spot, and amusingly, many influencers stand beside it to take photos 😅
Music: Techno/House, with invited DJs leaning towards experimental/industrial/noise styles
Sometimes it’s crowded, sometimes not.
Address: 3rd Floor, Yunsheng Building, No. 1327 Middle Huaihai Road
Large-scale EDM
MASTER
Master previously underwent renovations due to wage disputes. After changing owners and reopening, prices have dropped quite a bit. With 3,000 dazzling lights, the lighting effects are outstanding, claiming to sustain a lighting factory. I believe you’ve all seen it before 😂. It’s not as crowded as before.
Music: EDM/Psytrance/Bigroom
Weekday Booths: Flexible | Weekend: 3k/5k
MASS
China’s first Korean nightclub, it was insanely popular at the time. I can’t help but sigh at how quickly nightclubs are replaced. Not much to say, not many people anymore.
Music: Korean Bounce
Weekday Booths: Flexible | Weekend: 3k
WAN MORE
WM positions itself as a second-tier nightclub. The mechanical lighting wall is very flashy, and the big screen is also huge. Not many people anymore. Weekend booths range from 2k to 3k
Fuxing Park INS
Fuxing Park is a huge entertainment complex. The main hall spans 3 floors, with an impressive floor height. The 4th floor Hiphop hall is run by the original Lebaron team, while the 5th floor has private rooms. It was originally going to be called Playhouse, but the name was changed after Ph withdrew investment. Opening soon.
24EVER High-rise Entertainment Complex
On the 24th floor of the building where Mint used to be. Opening soon.
ERA
Changed owners and name, renovated, and the style has also changed. Opening soon.
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