What to See
‘Molly: 20th Anniversary Exhibition’
Inside Molly’s anniversary exhibition.
An encore to last year’s blockbuster Labubu and Crybaby exhibitions, Pop Mart is returning to Shanghai with a new exhibition centered on Molly, the toy maker’s first signed and earliest proprietary character. The exhibition includes new works created in collaboration with 21 artists and local artisans.
‘Pingping and Kaka, a Feng Li Exhibition’
Inside Feng Li’s latest exhibition at Place M.
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Founded by legendary Japanese photographers Daidō Moriyama and Masato Seto in the 1980s, the independent photography gallery Place M officially launched in China last year. Its latest exhibition explores a theme that feels both familiar and novel in Chinese fashion photography: physical diversity.
Feng Li, the self-taught photographer known for his surreal portrayals of everyday life, turned his gaze to two distinct characters during his stay in Tokyo — Pingping, an employee at Place M, and Kaka, Pingping’s classmate. With fashion being an important part of his visual language, Feng styled the models in looks by the Chinese designer Penultimate, adding a whimsical spin to their unfiltered, youthful energy.
‘Home and Beyond’
Espace Gabrielle Chanel at Power Station of Art.
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As the inaugural exhibition at Espace Gabrielle Chanel, the brand’s renovated space at Power Station of Art, “Home and Beyond” focuses on the works of the esteemed art curator Hou Hanru. The exhibition explores how personal space and public life coincide, and is dispersed throughout the 1,700 square-meter library designed by the renowned Japanese architect Kazunari Sakamoto.
Where to Eat
In&Out
A dish from In&Out.
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The latest Yunnan bistro in town is In&Out, located within the charming district near Shanghai’s popular Wukang Road. With decor that emulates a local village, the restaurant transports diners to China’s exotic tropical highland while serving classic local dishes and dessert.
Taking advantage of Yunnan’s seasonal greens, such as isatis leaf, oxtail greenbrier, and sweet bamboo shoots, the restaurant’s spring menu is full of aromatic natural flavors.
Cila
Cila’s dishes.
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Cila, a Northwestern fusion bistro, is helmed by Mario Chen, a former sous chef at the fine dining restaurant Jean-Georges who grew up in the Northwestern region. Dishes here also offer an exotic getaway, featuring all the region’s specialties, including chili oil-splashed noodles, grilled cumin lamb, and all the fragrant skewers one could wish for. Whimsical items on the menu includes chili gelato and cumin-spiced yogurt, both a celebration of the region’s famous spices.
Song Banquet
Featuring Song Dynasty-inspired decor, the Plaza 66 restaurant blends Cantonese and Chaoshan flavors with traditional Song banquet rituals. Helmed by the executive chef Lin Yi, who has worked under Hong Kong’s “god of cookery” Chung Chow, the restaurant’s signature dishes include steamed sole with semi-fermented yellow chili, brandy-infused braised pigeon, and lychee-stuffed prawns.
Hikiniku to Come
As the Tokyo-based restaurant’s first outlet in mainland China, the place serves freshly ground beef grilled over charcoal paired with freshly cooked rice from a hagama pot. A set menu, priced at 128 renminbi, or around $19, comes with three small patties, a miso soup, and a raw egg for dipping. The restaurant is located within Fufu, a newly minted miniature complex that counts cycling brand Rapha, beauty label AromeManpo, and Chinese gelato Rice Space among its tenants.
Where to Shop
Laopu Gold
A set of gold tea cups from Laopu Gold.
The buzzy Chinese-style gold jewelry brand officially opened at Shanghai’s prestigious Plaza 66 luxury shopping mall — drawing crowds that rival a Supreme drop-day frenzy. Despite dropping gold prices, the Laopu aesthetic has continued to diversify its product offerings — it also helps that Laopu is known for its meticulous in-store service that rivals luxury brands.
Nanamica
Inside Nanamica’s first China store.
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Nanamica, the popular Japanese fashion label with nautical aspirations, recently unveiled its latest store on Wukang Road, a leafy enclave that founder Eiichiro Homma likened to the Daikanyama of China. The store, with its navy-tiled exterior and wooden cabin interior, is L-shaped and boasts a “beach house in the city,” spanning around 750 square feet.
Lemaire
Inside Lemaire’s Shanghai store.
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Between century-old trees in the garden and elegant Art Deco architectural features, Lemaire’s new Shanghai flagship feels more like a well-maintained mansion than a brand-new retail outpost. The flagship, the brand’s largest to date, requires a WeChat reservation before visiting. However, the brand also takes walk-ins, with its wait time around 15 to 20 minutes.