This venue has closed.
Selling antiques (in the most liberal sense of the word), Dongtai Lu Market is an open market just a couple of minutes away from Laoximen station. Barter away and pick up knickknacks and mementos of Shanghai, ranging from watches to Communist-era posters and more.
While we love the Mao ramekins (20RMB), old printed biscuit tins (around 30RMB), Chinese
Tintin comics from the 1970s (20RMB) and other ephemera you’ll find in most stalls, there are more interesting gems to be found.
At the south end of the street, 24 Dongtai Lu is worth a look for two-metre tall replica Terracotta Warriors(1,600RMB) and, inside, a spectacular full set of Qing dynasty body armour (7,500RMB).
Also seek out Jia Sheng at 61 Liuhe Lu, around 20 metres west off Dongtai Lu, who has a lovingly collected selection of over 80 old Chinese suitcases from the 1930s-1970s from the very reasonable price of 200RMB. The cases come in beautifully earthy and careworn browns and reds, with fabric lining the insides, and many bear the logos of old Shanghai brands such as Shanghai Nanhui.
