The signature globe facade of Metro City. Geeks and techies of all degrees will find nirvana in several giant pc malls in Shanghai, notably Bai Nao Hui behind Times Square Pudong, and Metro City. You can't miss Metro City because its building facade is a gargantuan geodesic sphere of steel and glass. Inside are five stories chockfull of desktops, laptops, game machines, mobile phones, software, books and more. And when you're drained after all the browsing and bargaining, simply recharge yourself at the restaurants and cafes, or the food court in the basement. For those when only an Apple will do, there is the premier Apple Store at the IFC Mall. Entry is via a spectacular glass cylindrical tower sited in the centre of the mall plaza facing the Oriental Pearl Tower. Its translucent spiral staircase takes you down into the underground showroom packed with Apple fanboys touch-screening and swooning over the latest i-gadgets. The upper half of the Apple Store glass ...

No gloves to lose . The Chinese are masters of invention. Think paper money and gunpowder. Not surprising that they have a novel solution to that darn nuisance of losing your gloves on a wintry morning. Just tape that hand warmer onto your handle bars. Any tubular object like the sleeves of a suitably lined throwaway jacket will do. In busy Shanghai there are more important things to occupy your mind than "where did I leave my gloves".

Soak up the atmosphere on the sidewalk Cafes spilling onto the pavement and "five foot way" (or verandah) are commonplace all over Asia, and Shanghai is no exception. These shops provide quick meals all day for the proletariat, and is the perfect spot to catch the top-of-mind matters of the masses. Elsewhere the people chatter and chill in swanky international-branded joints like the Starbucks. And of course, the many local wannabe setups which serve their cuppas with more local flavour. All this cafe culture isn't quite Montmartre, but the bohemians are not complaining, and keep returning for their inspiration and caffeine fix. Unwinding on the sun drenched patio For your branded cuppa