Pub Crawls in Shanghai
Shanghai has more pub crawl Viator products than any other Chinese city and a nightlife structure that actually supports the format. The French Concession is the operating district: tree-lined streets, colonial-era buildings converted into bars, and a density of venues that makes a walking circuit work.
The French Concession runs between Huaihai Road in the north and Fuxing Road in the south, a walkable rectangle containing most of Shanghai's expat-facing bar scene. Yongkang Road is the centre of gravity: a short pedestrian lane lined with bars that fills from 7pm and runs until the early hours without formal closing times. Jing'an, immediately to the north-west, handles the club end of the night: more upscale venues, higher entry prices, and a crowd that tilts younger and more domestic Chinese rather than expat. The Bund riverfront is for cocktail bars at hotel prices. Eight qualifying Viator products exist for Shanghai; the market is established.
The Shanghai Nightlife Scene
The French Concession is where Shanghai's backpacker and expat nightlife concentrates. Yongkang Road, a short lane off Dongping Road, is the densest bar street in the neighbourhood: outdoor seating, beer at street-side prices, and a crowd that stays from early evening into the small hours. Jing'an handles clubs. The Bund is for expensive cocktails and not much else at budget.
What you'll pay
French Concession beer prices run 30 to 60 CNY outdoors, 50 to 80 CNY indoors. Cocktails at mid-tier bars run 60 to 120 CNY. Jing'an club entry is 100 to 200 CNY on weekends, sometimes with a drink included. A complete evening from 8pm to 2am, French Concession bars to a Jing'an club, with five drinks, totals 500 to 800 CNY, roughly £55 to £88. Shanghai is not a cheap nightlife city by Asian standards. Prices verified April 2026.
Best nights to go
Friday in the French Concession. Yongkang Road is full, the crawl groups are largest, and the expat presence is highest. Thursday runs drink promotions across most Concession bars and is the pick for solo travellers who want conversation over noise. Saturday skews to a younger domestic Chinese crowd at Jing'an clubs, which changes the character of the night noticeably.
Top Pub Crawls in Shanghai
Pub crawl listings for Shanghai are being updated. Check back soon.
What You Will Pay
Crawl tickets in Shanghai run 150 to 300 CNY, roughly £17 to £33. The higher-price options include drink vouchers and club entry with queue-skip. Beer at French Concession bars runs 30 to 60 CNY on the street-facing patios; 50 to 80 CNY inside. Cocktails run 60 to 120 CNY at mid-range venues. Jing'an club entry is 100 to 200 CNY on weekends. A realistic evening including a mid-tier crawl and four additional drinks totals 400 to 700 CNY, around £44 to £77. Prices verified April 2026.
Best Night to Go
Friday in the French Concession. Yongkang Road is at full capacity by 9pm, the expat and backpacker crowd overlaps well with the local after-work crowd, and Jing'an clubs are accessible without needing a 2am taxi budget. Saturday draws larger groups and higher club entry prices. Thursday is the value pick: French Concession bars run drink promotions, groups are smaller, and the neighbourhood feels less like a guided experience and more like discovering it independently.
Events and Festivals in Shanghai
Upcoming events worth timing your trip around.
Where to Stay in Shanghai
Looking for a place to sleep after the crawl? See our pick of the best party hostels in Shanghai.
