Time to buy! (image from nationalgeographic.com)

Shanghai is a bargain shopper's paradise, perfect for picking up keepsakes and gifts as well as more practical stuff to help you along your way. With markets galore you'll find just about anything you can possibly imagine (and plenty of things you can't!), so dive in and consume. Feed your shoe fetish, deck yourself out in pearls, release your inner designer, indulge in the ahem, "designer" handbag you'd never buy otherwise. But always remember the golden rule, bargain, bargain then bargain some more!

We've put together a rundown of ten of our favorite markets in town so you can indulge in a budget blowout—armed with this and the China Travel Shanghai Markets Map you'd better be sure to pick up an extra suitcase for all the goodies and gifts you'll be hauling back home!

Check them out, after the jump...
View Shanghai's Best Markets in a larger map
1. Nanjing Lu Fake Market - Fenshine Fashion and Accessories Plaza

The most convenient of Shanghai's fake markets, there are several floors' worth of stalls crammed into this building. Watches, bags, suitcases, clothing, shoes, jewelry, DVDs computer software, it's all here. (See China Travel's Nanjing Lu Fake Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

2. Yatai Xinyang Fashion and Gift Market

Located under the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Metro station (line 2), this is an enormous warren of stalls selling all manner of replica designer fashion and accessories as well as all the usual China memorabilia. (See China Travel's Yatai Xinyang Fashion and Gift Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

3. Qipu Lu Fashion & Accessories Market

A mecca for local Chinese shoppers and bargain-hunting expats, Qipu Lu is not for the faint-hearted. This is where many of the small boutiques you see elsewhere get their stock and it is chock-full of clothing, bags, shoes, accessories and jewelry, all at rock bottom prices. (See China Travel's Qipu Lu Fashion & Accessories Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

4. The South Bund Fabric Market

The South Bund Fabric Market is the best known of Shanghai's cloth markets. There are three floors full of material to choose from, with most stalls also offering tailoring services. The tailoring can be hit and miss, especially when working from photos or images so it's best to come armed with something you want copied. They're used to foreigners here and many stallholders speak a smattering of English though you'll need to bargain hard for good prices—check out this handy guide to haggling in China. (See China Travel's South Bund Fabric Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

5. Shanghai Glasses Market

Head here for prescription glasses for a fraction of the price of the opticians back home. There are several different malls in this area with nothing but eyeglasses, meaning literally thousands of frames to choose from and plenty of designer knockoffs. (See China Travel's Shanghai Glasses Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

6. Nihong Kids Clothing Market

An underground maze of goodies for that special little person in your life, this mall has clothes, toys, shoes and all kinds of baby-related stuff to spoil your kids rotten. (See China Travel's Nihong Kids' Clothing Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

7. Dongtai Lu Antiques Market

Great for picking up souvenirs and gifts, this street is filled with knick-knacks, curios, and "antiques" of questionable authenticity. Bargain hard as prices will start sky high. (See China Travel's Dongtai Lu Antiques Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

8. Hongqiao New World Pearl Market

A great stop for pearl fiends though a little out of the way compared to the more central First Asia Jewelry Plaza. It makes up for this by being bigger and considerably calmer, though of course, stallholders are still enthusiastic about getting your business. Pearls come in all shapes, colors and sizes and are of various quality. Freshwater pearls are most common and tend to be the best value. Be sure to bargain hard here and in the mini fake market downstairs. (See the China Travel's Hongqiao New World Pearl Market listing for more details.)

9. Cybermart—Electronics Market

A one stop shop for all things electronic—you'll find all the laptops, printers, cameras and accessories you'll ever need. (See China Travel's Cybermart—Electronics Market for full listing, hours and directions.)

10. Tianshan Tea City

A must for both tea connoisseurs and those who don't know their Pu'er from their Longjing—this is the place to head to discover, taste and purchase some of China's finest cha. (See China Travel's Tianshan Tea City for full listing, hours and directions.)

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