For Chinese books, there are Xinhua Bookshops in many parts of the city.

Old Books

Second-hand books is not the business it was once in Shanghai. First, vast quantities of books were destroyed in the 1960s. Second, the old bookshop district on Fuzhou Lu has been almost completely redeveloped. But not to worry, there are still second-hand bookshops around, and here is a list:

• 424 Fuzhou Lu - the rear courtyard of the Guji Shudian
• 401 Fuzhou Lu - Tushucheng (Book City) on the fourth floor
• 1351 Zhonghua Lu - Qunzhong Shudian (masses bookshop)
• 46 Xinzha Lu
• 101 Songxing Xi Lu
• 150 Changle Lu

• 89 Shengze Lu
• 97 Shanxi Nan Lu

There are also a number of small shops at the Donghai Computer Plaza on Nanjing Xi Lu, just to the west of Tongren Lu.

One of the biggest computer shops is the Meilihua chain, which has a number of outlets around Shanghai, one of the best being at the corner of Nanjing Lu and Jiangxi Lu.

When buying Chinese furniture, there are two questions you should always ask: (1) How old is it? The answer invariably is "very old" so forget that one. (If the answer is "Ming Dynasty" forget that one too; how much pre-1644 stuff do you really think is lying around antique warehouses here anyway?). The second question is, What wood is it? Some of the answers you may get are on the right. (The only other words you need to know are "tai gui" -- to be shrieked while reeling backward, clutching at your heart. Or you can always laugh and say "Ni kai wanxiao," or You must be joking!)

hongmu blackwood (AKA mahogany) xiangmu camphor zimu catalpa nanmu ceder baimu cypress (very rare) wumu ebony jumu elm (most common answer) huaimu locust songmu pine hongsong red pine zitan red sandlewood limu pear yongmu poplar (aspen) youmu teak hualimu rosewood huang hualimu yellow rosewood

1. Head east using Yan An Lu Tunnel, arriving Pudong take first the first right on Pudong Nan Lu.
2. Take the next right on Dong Chang Lu (Bank of China is on far corner).
3. Take another right on Pu Cheng Lu (a lane), through street market (not easy in a taxi; you may have to get out and walk it), til the lane ends at a T-junction.
4. Then turn left onto Dong Ning Lu, to No. 229, which is the back gate of the factory.
5. Go past 229 and turn right at the next lane, to the front factory gates on the right.
Their hours are M-F 8:30-3:30, Saturday 8:30-11:30, but call first (5884-0332 or 5884-0249). Allow an hour to get there.

Stamps

Shanghai has a small but very enthusiastic group of stamp collectors, mostly interested in modern Chinese stamps, but also some traffic in pre-1949 material and foreign stamps. The following places are the best for collectors to investigate. If you find any other places, please let us know

1. 600 Jumen Lu; Tel: 6377-4700
2. 88 Damuqiao Lu; Tel: 6417-2268
3. 188 Tianmu Xi Lu (Buyecheng Shangsa - no night city building) - 5/f and 6/f
   Tel: 6354-6133
4. Wujiaochang (5 Corners) - Outdoor stamp and coin market next to the KFC.

Chinese peasants have for milennia been producing a printed blue cloth from which to make clothes, bedding and a wide range of other articles. Hidden away in an alleyway in the French Concession area is a little shop and museum dedicatedto the art. The address is No. 24 Lane 637 Changle Lu, and it's between Chjangle Lu and Julu Lu, quite near to Changshu Lu. It requires a bit of searching, but it's worth the effort. It's called the China Blue Printed Cloth Gallery, and features a simple meuseum on the cloth and printing techniques. Outside in the garden, long swathes of the cloth are hung out to dry.

Sexual Products

There is a pharmacy on the corner of Huaihai Xi Lu and Panyu Lu which announces on a big sign in the window that it sells sexual products, including ointments which claim to sustain pleasure and cure, or at least prevent, AIDS at the same time. Other items including equipment and paraphenalia available. A white-coated attendant is available for consultations. Sales, she said, are good. Chinese tend to buy single items, while foreigners buy in bulk. The paraphenalia for use by ladies, she said, are largely bought by older men who are not so active any more for their wives. How thoughtful.

Ties

Good ties are a difficult thing to find. If you're looking for one in Shanghai, you could be looking a long time. This shop is not the perfect place by New York standards, perhaps, but the selection is pretty good: Collito, on Shaanxi Lu near the Yanan Lu intersection, adjacent to the porcelain store (the shop doesn't seem to have a street number).