Goodbye, Xiangyang Market!

As of this summer (2006), the infamous Xiangyang Fashion and Gift Market in Shanghai is no more. On prime real estate downtown, apparently developers finally got the better of the 100+ retailers of everything from fake Prada bags and pirated DVDs to Chinese souvenirs and trinkets. It is really quite unfortunate that the market was so well-known for the bad stuff -- it is dangerous business taking home illegally copied bags, watches and DVDs. We've heard of confiscation or worse -- fines upwards of $1,500. But the souvenirs and T-shirts were great, and there were bargains galore.

But if your Shanghai guidebook still directs you to Xiangyang Fashion and Gift Market, previously located on Xiang Yang and Huai Hai Zhong Roads, then cross it off. The gates are locked and the doors are closed! It's the end of an era in Shanghai shopping. But don't fret, there's still plenty of shopping left for you to do in China. Take a look at just a few of the offerings in this Shopping Photo Gallery. Surely you weren't going to buy a fake handbag, anyway, were you?