Gift guide part 4: For Shanghai-lovers

'Shanghai and Environs: The 1934-35 Standard Guide Book'

While your friends and loved ones might know all that is current in Shanghai, this book (RMB 140) will take them on a tour of the city as it was in its heyday in the 1930s. These were the good time. Give the gift of a unique perspective of the Strumpt of the Orient as told by first-hand accounts by guides who truly loved this city in all its gilded glory.
Buy online at www.earnshawbooks.com or at Chaterhouse, Shop 104, Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu 南京西路1376号上海商城104号店, 近铜仁路, +86 21 6279 7633

Expo tickets

In case you haven't noticed Haibao frolicking all over town for the past year or so, Shanghai is hosting the 2010 Expo, a get-together of the entire world beginning next May. Buy your Shanghai-loving friend a single day-pass (RMB 160), but with 70 million expected visitors, buy another one for yourself as well and offer to fend off the crowds together. Buyer beware: be sure to buy your ticket from an authorized ticketing agent.
Shanghai 2010 Expo, +86 21 962010, en.expo2010.cn

Hand-cut Shanghai Scene

Local artist Li Shou Bai is known as “Mr. Shikumen” for his paper-cut renderings of the famous Shanghai houses. In this attractive red box display (RMB 280) the artist depicts a traditional Shanghai beauty, complete with the city’s signature qi pao dress. Bonus: You don’t have to wrap this gift as it folds up nicely into a red box.
ShouBai, No. 4-2, Lane 210, Taikang Lu, near Sinan Lu 泰康路210弄4-2号 , 近思南路 +86 21 6467 7607

Six Shanghai walks books

These locally published books (RMB 150 each) take readers on walking tours through the city’s historic streets and charming alleyways. As a gift, it’s not only an interesting read, but also provides the reader with a fun way to spend a relaxing afternoon, wandering and rediscovering the local neighborhoods.
Old China Reading Room, 27 Shaoxing Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu 绍兴路27号, 近陕西南路, +86 21 6473 2526

Shanghai Memory Game

This is just like the childhood game where you memorize and match tiles, but this version (RMB 180) has tiles covered with photographs of Shanghai scenes. Think everything from winter’s sweet hawthorne sticks to those charming old ladies that walk outside in their curlers, nothing is forgotten. It’s the perfect gift for someone who loves Shanghai, and wants to keep the city in their, well, their memory.
Platane, 127 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu 永福路127号, 近复兴西路, +86 21 6433 6387