Clothing wholesale, buy cheap clothes, bags. Yes,this is a good place, Shanghai Qi Pu Road Clothing Wholesale City.
Is also calles Qi Pu Lu Clothing City.
Qipu lu (Qipu Road) is probably the closest one can get to a wholesale clothes market in Shanghai other than going to the factories themselves. The closest station is Nanjing Road E. on Metro line No.2. You can take a taxi (only 11rmb) or walk from there if you have time, just to experience all the wheeling and dealing happening on the footpath along the way.
Qipu lu is famous for its clothes, shoes, accessories, bags, swimwear and jewelry which are all very affordable. There are three shopping malls, on each corner of an intersection of Qipu lu, each with about 4-5 stories of shops, all filled with trendy and fashionable made-in-China clothing.
If you are looking for footwear, do check out Xing Wang Fu Shi Shi change Market at No.168 Qipu Road. You know you are in the right shopping mall because the entire floor of the basement sells shoes. Do go early however as it closes at 5.30pm. Also, after you go through one mall, you will find that the other malls sell similar goods.
The building is structured as follows:
Basement: Shoes and replicas of branded wallets and bags
1st level: Very messy level full of clothes, accessories and cosmetics. On this level you can bargain to slash up to 70% off the original price.
2nd level: Clothes are a little more presentable on this level and a little more unique. As a result, one's bargaining power decreases a little though you can still slash 50% off the original price. This level also retails a lot more local designer wear. You can tell by the neater and more elaborate shop decorations; some even with black chandeliers and floor rugs.
3rd & 4th level: On this level you can find the best replicas of Japanese brands and other brands. The quality of the clothes here on the 3rd and 4th levels is usually better than those on the lower levels. Bargaining power however decreases to the least on this level. Slash 30% off the original price.
This is a little known fact- A lot of little shops you see along the streets of Shanghai obtain most of their products from Qipu Road. What they do is trim the loose threads off nicely and then attach their own labels. If you know how to bargain, this wholesale market is a treasure trove and one of the cheapest places to buy clothes, accessories and shoes.
Beside one of the shopping malls is a small crowded lane at the ground floor catering mostly to ladies, with shops selling all sorts of accessories and clothes. You can even do a manicure and hair extensions. Opposite this lane is a food street.
Tips
Show maximum disinterest in the product you are asking for. If you look very keen, they know that you want it and will not hesitate to raise the price.
Bargaining is a must, and you should be prepared to bargain hard. The fact is whatever price you give at the start will still be rejected as too low, so start low (e.g. how much you think it is really worth). Remember, the higher your starting price, the more you have to pay eventually!
As a general rule of thumb, one should start bargaining at 1/4 of the price quoted and try to walk away if they are picky with the prices. If your quoted price is not too far off the mark, they usually will beckon you back. If they ignore you, it means the price quoted is too low (loss-making). If you really like the piece, walk back and add 10/20RMB to your original price. But fret not, the shops carry more or less the same items so if you are diligent enough you can find it in another shop.
Honor the price if you do win the bargain.
How to get there
Qipu Road is by Henan Road and not far off from the Bund. You can take Metro Line No.2 to Nanjing Road E. metro station then travel by foot from exit 3 of Nanjing Road E. station (approx. 15 mins) or take a taxi for a minimum of 11RMB from the station.
