Shanghai is a city where things change fast. Whether it’s breaking news or a new bar opening up, there’s always something going on. In the first of our new Shanghai Roundup column, we’ve gathered the best bits to keep you updated on what’s going on.

1) Openings and Closings

Surpass Court Opens for Business
A former industrial complex at 570 Yongjia Lu (near Yueyang Lu) is the location of Surpass Court, a new cluster of lifestyle and F&B venues in Luwan District. Art Labor Gallery and Fulton’s restaurant took up residence a while ago, and newer tenants like Lola, Brownstone and The Roof have cemented Surpass’ reputation as the new go-to for bar hoppers. Other food options include Indian Kitchen and an upscale Japanese restaurant called Fount.

Sinan Mansions Fills Up
Just a couple of streets away, another lifestyle hub is coming to life. Sinan Mansions officially opened in autumn last year as a luxury residential complex. Home to the super-pricey Massenet Hotel (with rooms going for 40,000 RMB a night), the development also has a row of F&B venues. David Laris is well represented, with a second Fat Olive, a bar called Yucca, and a Funky Chicken Rotisserie. Kelley Lee gets her slice of the pie with a Boxing Cat Brewery and a molecular cocktail bar called The Alchemist. Eduardo Vargas has opened a pan-South American joint named Chicha, and there’s a California Pizza Kitchen and upscale diner Shanghai Slim’s.

Cantina the Second
If you’re a Pudong resident who resents traveling all the way across the river for a burrito, worry no more. Cantina Agave, the popular Mexican taqueria and tequila bar, has opened a second branch in Jinqiao. With Kelley Lee and her team of talented chefs at the helm, it looks set to be as popular as the Fumin Lu original. The new location is at 357 Hongfeng Lu, near Biyun Lu, and is open daily between 11.30 and 14:30, and then 17:00 until 23:00.

Goodbye to…

Underground dive bar LOgO, whose grafittied doors closed for the final time last week. Bad news for the Laris empire too, as the restaurateur’s self-named restaurant on the Bund closed. Eduardo Vargas is soon to call time on his Dongping Lu stronghold Azul, and Mesa Manifesto has been given its marching orders by the landlords.

2) The Eagles to Rock Shanghai

If “dad rock” is your bag, you’ll be cheered to learn that best-selling American rock outfit The Eagles are coming to Shanghai this spring. They’re scheduled to play at the Mercedes-Benz arena on March 9th as part of their Long Road out of Eden tour. Book tickets on www.mypiao.com.

3) Online grocery store is launched

If the very idea of venturing outside in this weather makes you shiver, log on to http://chaoshi.taobao.com and get your groceries delivered free (for orders over 100 RMB) within 24 hours. Taobao’s new offshoot is working with consumer big guns like Uniliver, Nestle, P&G and Guangming, and will roll out in Beijing, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Guangzhou if the current Shanghai trial is a success.

4) Spring Festival travel mania & potential taxi price changes

 

Spring Festival fever
It’s the time of year again when the queues at the ticket offices start to snake around the block as Shanghai residents clamor for those all-important train seats. The so-called 40-day “Spring Festival rush” officially began on January 19th, and tickets to popular destinations like Chongqing and Chengdu sold out within minutes. With so many people going home for Spring Festival, Shanghai Railway Station is providing 2000 stools for people queuing to buy tickets. An extra 150 ticket booths have been opened to ease the wait time.

Flexible taxi prices
Changes could be afoot for Shanghai’s 50,000 taxis if congestion-easing plans are put into action. Raising the fare at peak times and lowering it when the roads are quieter could help to relieve traffic jams, according to the municipal transport bureau. Taxi drivers and netizens remain unconvinced that the scheme would do anything to reduce congestion.

5) Frozen over

Shanghai’s Big Freeze continues, with temperatures dropping to -4.4 centigrade. The rain, sleet and snow could wreak havoc for Spring Festival travelers if the cold front continues, and Shanghai hospitals are reporting an increase in admissions due to the freezing weather.

6) Shanghai trembles

If you felt the earth move on January 12th, you were feeling the aftershocks of an earthquake in the North Yellow Sea. Measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale, the quake happened over 230 kilometers off the coast of Shanghai at a depth of 10 kilometers. Read more here.

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