The city's night scene sizzles with pumping dance clubs, trendy watering holes and smoky jazz bars
Shanghai was once called 'the whore of the orient' (it still is by some), a title earned because of its vast and amazing array of nightlife spots, and the fact that its residents really know how to have a good time.
But the communist takeover in 1949 squeezed the fun valve closed and for the next 40 years the only nightlife to be found was men playing chess on the streets, or, if you were lucky and rich enough, the odd hotel bar.
Looking at the city's nightlife today, you would never know the party had slowed down. The array of bars, discos and dance clubs would have boggled the minds of residents in the roaring 20s.
Like anything else in this mercurial city, things change, and yesterday's hot spot may wind up today's dead zone, or even tomorrow's parking lot.
In selecting our top 10 clubs and watering holes, we enlisted the aid of locals and expatriates in the know, and separated our choices by neighbourhood.
We have tried to be fair, choosing places that best cater to the varied tastes of our readers. Still, if you find one of our pub picks is not quite to your taste (whether it is too noisy or not noisy enough, too crowded or not crowded enough), chances are you will get a distinctly different vibe in another neighbourhood. So good luck, and happy clubbing!