Bazaar tales

Viva la revolution

Buried in the basement of an apartment complex, the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center stands as a hidden gem in the city, with its collection of propaganda posters stoking the cultural fire that burns beneath the metropolis. Manager Yang Peiming has amassed over 5,000 pieces of artwork dating between 1949 and 1979. Most illustrate the patriotism of the Chinese people during this period, detailing both their heroic struggle and the reverence shown for the young revolutionary Mao Zedong. The first room of the art center takes guests on a chronological poster-journey through time, while the second is dedicated to other artwork and souvenirs. These range from postcards (5 yuan) to wall-length posters (thousands of yuan).

Open daily from 10 am - 5 pm

868 Huashan Road near Wukang Road, basement floor of Block B (Building No 4)

Time to get anime-ted

Stocked full of manga comics, anime figurines and gothic schoolgirl costumes, Comic City is a small bazaar of neo-Japanese culture in downtown Shanghai. Shopkeepers sit back on foldable chairs battling each other on their Playstation 3s amid a barrage of weird accessories, themed wigs and funky party costumes, making this an especially great place to visit around Christmas or Halloween.

Open daily from 10 am - 8:30 pm

1856 Nanjing Road W. near Changshu Road. Take Subway Line No 2 to Jing'an Temple Station and head out from Exit 1. From there it is a five-minute walk down Nanjing Road W.

Fancy a cup of cha?

Whether it is Dragon Well or Pu'er tea, the shopkeepers at Tianshan Tea Market are more than happy to invite you in for a sample while they give you a 101 on the art of preparing Chinese tea. Though the market is relatively quiet, prices can be a little steep, so try bargaining down to half the original asking price. The area is currently having its temple-like exterior renovated ahead of the Shanghai Expo, but it's worth trolling through the construction outside to find some peace and quiet in the market's inner sanctum.

Open daily from 8:30 am - 8:30 pm

520 Zhongshan Road W. near Yubing Road S. Take Subway Line No 2 to Loushanguan Road Station, and head east from Exit 2. After 15 minutes you will reach Zhongshan Road W. The market lies one block north at the intersection of Yubing Road S.

Bugging out

Shanghai's Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market serves as a tropical menagerie full of chirping crickets, scrambling turtles, mini aquariums and houseplants. The crickets are kept in individual cages but can be taken home in a plastic box for 15 yuan, while rabbits, squirrels, puppies and kittens are also on sale for pet lovers. Vibrant colors and the general hum of life make this market a spectacular subject for photography.

Open daily from 10 am - 6 pm

405 Xizang Road S., near Fuxing Road E. Take Subway Line No 8 to Laoximen Station. Head out of Exit 1 and walk north for five minutes.

(China Daily 07/11/2009 page13)