A Degenerate's Guide to Shanghai, China (Nightclubs, Drugs, Prostitution)
Have you ever wondered what the laws and cultural ideologies are on said topics in Shanghai?
Do you want to know where to go and how to acquire these things safely?
I am not born and raised solely in Shanghai, however I had been blessed with the opportunity to live in the beautiful city for 6 years throughout my teens. During my time there, I had my fair share of experiences partying and got to DJ at some clubs. I familiarised myself with the drinking and nightlife culture.
I was born in Taiwan and raised in Australia before moving to Shanghai. Now I’m living and studying in Toronto, Canada.
I hope this post teach you something about a city I love so much and help you guys especially those living in western countries safely navigate through Shanghai if you ever choose to visit!
Overall Shanghai is a very safe place to live, unlike many other countries you will be safe to roam the streets alone at night time. Chinese people are not violent whatsoever, if you are ever targeted by a criminal in the streets, it is most likely just a scam artist trying to fool you into giving them money. Like any other country, there are certain ghetto areas that you should avoid, however with some common sense you will not be in any danger whatsoever.
Nightlife (Bars/Clubs)
Club Linx in Shanghai
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Unlike in North America, drinking and smoking laws are not enforced in China (or the rest of the world). Alcohol can be found in almost every restaurant, convenient store or street vendor. It is not uncommon to see children buying drinks and smokes without being asked for an ID. I am 23 years old, and here in Canada I have not been able to buy drinks without showing my ID, and the only place to buy alcohol other than certain restaurants and bars is at LCBO, which closes at 10pm！
Similarly, to western clubbing culture, Chinese people go out partying at clubs to have fun, however their drinking culture is very different. When drinking, it is all about who can drink the most, in fact "干杯”, the term used for "Cheers" here directly translates to "bottoms up" and when cheers to, you will be expected to finish your cup of liquor! You are always expected to try and outdrink everybody, and will without a doubt have many friends raise their glass at you yelling "干杯" throughout the night.
Forget about Kings cup! Drinking games in Shanghai is all about dices. If you want to learn the drinking game norm, visit this link: here
Most local Chinese people living in Shanghai enjoy drinking at dinner parties and spending their Friday nights at a karaoke bars. Clubbing is a culture adopted from the west that has only been introduced in recent years. Clubbing in general is considered an upper-class activity even in Shanghai, and the Chinese people you meet in clubs are often considered on the wealthier end. China had gone through a cultural revolution not very long ago, and the sudden explosion of economic activity in recent years have spawned a culture where many like to flaunt their wealth. It is not practiced by most of the population by any means, however it will be very noticeable to you at certain nightclubs. To flaunt their wealth, they will wear high-end clothing, drive supercars and pay for very expensive bottle service to have a beautiful showcase of alcohol at their table. There is a very famous club called Linx, where the tables and seats are stationed above platforms that can elevate up above ground. The more money that is spend at a table, the higher the table is raised; thus, you can literally see the hierarchy of money blown at the club tables!
There are many many clubs and bars to choose from, however I will suggest some of my favorite ones that I am sure you guys will enjoy!
Here you will also be able to find many people who can speak English!
Stampede:
One of my favorite pre-game bars to go to before hitting up a club! Here you can enjoy drinks at the bar, and drive go Karts drunk!!
Myst:
If you love Electronic music, Myst is a must!
Bar Rouge:
Located by the bund (Yellow River than runs through the heart of Shanghai).Bar Rouge has by far the best view of shanghai skyline!
Drugs
In China, drugs are a no no. If you are a Chinese citizen caught with a crime related to illegal substances, you are executed. Yes, you are likely to be killed and you will have to pay for your own bullet! As a foreigner if you are caught with drug possession you will likely get deported out of the country.
Generally speaking, the majority of Chinese people you meet will be extremely against drugs. It is largely due to the long history China has had with opium, which has in turn made the country very strict on any illegal substances, including Cannabis! Because of this, drugs can be quite hard to find and very expensive! On the upside, the strict laws and cultural values mean that most people including cops don’t know what Cannabis looks or smells like.
If you are an adventurous risk taker there are ways around to find the substances you seek!
Personally, I am not one to buy illegal drugs in China because I am aware of the risks and feel it is not worth taking, however having lived and networked in the city, I know where to go for you degenerates!
Without having direct connections, finding a dealer in public can prove very difficult, so the category of substance you are looking for will come from dealers of different race. Yes, you will need to look for dealers of certain ethnicity!
Marijuana and Psychedelics:
If you are looking for mind altering drugs like weed or shrooms in Shanghai, you must look for dealers of Xinjiang ethnicity. Xinjiang is a province in western China, right next to the border of Kazakhstan. Xinjiang people have the look of an ethnic mix of half brown half Asian. Often these dealers are able to speak English, and will approach you on the streets downtown around popular nightlife locations. They will walk next to you and quietly hint “hashish? Hashish?”. Nanjing xi Road
Cocaine, Ecstasy and Heroin:
Most cocaine dealers in Shanghai are from Nigeria and are also able to speak English. You will need to approach them yourself to see if they are cocaine dealers. You can find these dealers at many of the popular clubs and bars in Shanghai. Obviously not all black people there are dealers! Please don’t ruin some tourist’s experience there by mistaking them for a dealer! You must look for outliers standing in the corners of the club as if they are there not for partying, but for business.
Methamphetamines:
If you are looking for drugs like Meth, you will most likely need to have a friend from the area who can speak Chinese. Most of these dealers are Chinese and you will only be able to buy from them if you are Chinese and have the connections.
Prostitution
In China, prostitution is illegal and becoming increasingly enforced. However, it is still considered quite a norm, especially among the older generation. Prostitution is commonly accompanied with business deals, karaoke and other forms of celebratory means. It is quite common for Chinese men to have mistresses and cheat on their wives, which correlates with much of the low fidelity and mistrust in many relationships. In fact, many Chinese women prefer that their husbands visit brothels rather than cheat on them and fall for another woman. Don’t get me wrong, there are increasingly more “healthy” relationships in China especially among the younger generation, however many of the norms passed down from the past is still very relevant! I am not a fan of paying for sex, but here are some ways to find escorts.
Streetwalkers:
Like many other countries in the world, there are hookers walking the streets. They are often very easy to spot! Generally speaking if you see a woman overdressed and wandering around the streets alone, they are likely to be prostitutes.Pink Rooms:
Pink rooms are brothels in China. They are extremely popular among Chinese men and you can find many pink rooms in alleyways around Shanghai, especially in the more rural parts of the city. They are called "pink rooms" because the insides are usually lit up by pink luminescent lighting.
Club Escorts:
If you have a table reservation in a club, you can ask the manager to provide you with escorts. The manager will bring out a group of escorts and literally have them line up for you, for you to choose who will be accompanying your drinking! I was shocked to see this, because I thought this only happened in the movies!Promoters:
If you are ever approached by someone on the streets offering you hookers or a special "massage". Never, I repeat NEVER follow them back to their dens. Most of these promoters are scam artists, and will often lead you somewhere secluded to rob you!
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Thanks for reading my post guys!!
Keep in mind I have not been back to the city for sometime now, my blog may be a little outdated!
Please follow me if you like 😊 @jefft