A fantastic restaurant located next to the Phoenix Hostel on Yunnan Street in central Shanghai. There is a wonderful array of local and Chinese provincial specialities on offer including Hunnan style pork buns and lamb and shrimp dim sum. All are utterly cheap in price as well as being exquisite in taste. Definitely worth a visit if you get a chance.

17 Yunnan (South) Road, Shanghai

Google map: tinyurl.com/ydqwaat

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Enoteca is a pair of wine bars where bottles start at around 90RMB- the same price as you pay in a Shanghainese supermarket.

The low profit margins don't mean that corners are cut though, as the service is spot on, French-style bar food (Croque Monsieur, creme brulee) is delicious and the XinTianDi branch has great live music on Wednesday nights.

Classy on the cheap with a loyal following.

Enoteca 1
53-57 Anfu Lu, near Changshu Lu
Tel: 5404 0050

Enoteca XinTianDi
58 Taicang Lu, near Jinan Lu
Tel: 5306 3400

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Windows Scoreboard- the best of the three Windows around town, Scoreboard serves up a steak dinner for 30RMB, and 10RMB beers to a crowd of expat college kids and credit crunchees.

The music is a lot better than the service, and there are screens showing random TV channels everywhere you look, but it's hard to argue when Fish and Chips cost 10RMB a plate.

3F, 681 Huaihai Zhong Lu
near Sinan Lu
Tel: 5382 7757

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C's Bar
Open until the last person leaves, students and expats rolling dice together over classic Hip-Hop, occasional left-field club nights (check out Antidote or Brown Nylon Suit), 10RMB beer, 20RMB whiskey.

685 Dingxi Lu,
near Fahuazhen Lu
6294-0547

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BA and Virgin have frequent direct flights to Shanghai Pudong International airport from London.

Other airlines with good connecting flights from the UK are KLM, Air France, Emirates and Qatar Airways.

To check fares from a number of different airlines from London see
www.lowfareflights.co.uk/Pu%20Dong%20(Shanghai)-China-Flights.asp
or direct BA see
www.britishairways.com/travel/fx/public/en_gb?to=Shanghai&from=LON

For flights from airports outside London check KLM (via Amsterdam) see www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/index_default.html
they have good value direct flights from Amsterdam to Shanghai.

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It can be described as many things: a spicy omlette; a 'breakfast burrito'; the literal meaning approximates to 'egg pancake'. Great for a quick, cheap hot snack; a useful fallback for vegetarians in a meat-loving nation; plus great to watch them being made.

At streetside vendors everywhere

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One of the very few choices for budget foreign travellers, the Captain's hostel enjoys a prime location on the Bund and sports a pretty decent roof restaurant to boot. It's 20RMB for a bunk; best to book. Though it's possible to get 'Chinese' dorm rooms elsewhere it's not recommended.

37 Fuzhou Lu, nearest Metro Henan Zhong Lu (Line 2) Tel: +86 21 63235053 www.captainhostel.com.cn

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Otherwise known as “soup dumplings”, these are a Shanghai speciality. They can be found sold cheaply on the street either fried or steamed, and also at some Shanghainese restaurants. Watch out on your first bite though: unfortunate first-timers often get a squirt of scalding liquid on their clothing and lose the lining from the roof of their mouths.

Street stalls and restaurants

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There's quite a few international restuarants in Shanghai, but for a more authentic experience head for the nearest backstreet and sit yourself down somewhere that looks busyish. Most places won't have an English menu (though eateries near business areas and universities often do) so make sure you have your phrasebook handy. Then get chomping on those chicken feet and beef tendons. Yummy!

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