AP Plaza in Shanghai – A Shopping Guide

Many visitors hear about AP Plaza before they come to Shanghai, and it’s especially popular with overseas tourists. One of the reasons it became so well known is its association with counterfeit goods.

The market is large, with hundreds of small stalls selling clothes, toys, watches, bags, and small electronics. It’s also a good place to buy ordinary souvenirs and other small items that are easy to bring home. In the past, it was particularly known for knockoff designer products and other counterfeit branded goods. 

The appeal of AP Plaza lies in both its variety and its prices. There is a lot to browse, and shoppers can take their time comparing products and negotiating. It is not unusual to see tourists leave with several bags after a visit.

If you decide to shop at a specific shop, bargaining is a key skill to have. Fortunately, language is usually not a major problem. Many sellers can speak basic English, which is often enough for shopping and price negotiation. And successful shopping at AP Plaza depends less on language and more on staying calm, bargaining confidently, and knowing roughly what you are willing to pay.

Location and How to Get There

AP Plaza is located underground at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station on Metro Line 2, making it easy to reach by metro. Once you arrive and head down to the B1 level, you are in the market.

Hours:

10:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

How AP Plaza Has Changed

AP Plaza used to be known for the sheer number of counterfeit branded goods  available, and some of them were surprisingly well made. Over the last few years, though, the Shanghai government has increased pressure on sellers dealing in counterfeit branded goods, so the best items are no longer as easy to find in public view.

Today, replica goods are still widely available, but most sellers don’t want to risk using the logos of the brands they’re copying. While some replica pieces may resemble the originals, the quality is often less convincing, and the flaws are usually easier to spot. If you want the best version available, make sure you tell the seller that from the start. Otherwise, they might show you the mid-range options first, which aren’t always bad, but they often have some visible imperfections.

Some vendors keep selected replica items stored in less obvious places inside their shops, such as on the ceiling, and only bring them out occasionally. Since space is limited, however, most sellers only keep a small amount at the market.

If you’re serious about buying and want to see better-quality replicas, the seller might take you to a more less-public place, like a warehouse outside the main market. That’s usually where the better replica goods are, the ones that look much more like the real thing.

Is it Safe to Go to an Off-Site Warehouse?

Generally speaking, yes, it’s safe. Sellers usually take shoppers to these more hidden locations because of increased enforcement in the main market. Visiting one of these warehouses is not typically dangerous, whether you decide to buy something or not. That said, I would still recommend going with a friend. It can help make you feel more comfortable, and it is often easier to negotiate when you have someone there with you.

Prices of Replica Goods

Based on my own experience shopping in China, I’ve gotten a rough idea of what to expect in terms of price.

For a top-tier fake handbag, the kind that’s really hard to tell apart from the real thing, sellers may start by quoting more than 6000 RMB (nearly 1000 U.S. dollars). Don’t let that alarm you, and be prepared to negotiate firmly. A reasonable target might be around 1000-1700 RMB (150-250 U.S. dollars), and in many cases, sellers are willing to come down to that range.

If the bag has some flaws, the price should be lower. And no matter what the initial price is, you should expect to negotiate. In some cases, you may be able to buy one for around 100 dollars.

AP Plaza also sells knockoff luxury watches, and the setup is similar, with the better-quality replicas often hidden in warehouses as well. With a bag, you can usually judge the quality by looking at it. With a luxury watch, however, the internal mechanics are much more complex. Unless you really know what to look for, it can be difficult to tell whether a watch is actually good quality. I personally would not recommend buying a watch, but that’s just my personal opinion.

Other Things to Check Out at AP Plaza

AP Plaza is not just about counterfeit goods. There are plenty of other items worth looking at, including toys, luggage, sports jerseys, and custom clothing. As long as you are willing to haggle a little, you can often get some pretty good deals.

For example, there is usually a wide selection of sportswear. You may find items for leagues such as the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, as well as soccer jerseys from European and South American teams. Many of these items are stitched instead of printed, so they often look better than you might expect.

No matter what price the seller gives you at first, try to negotiate it down to around 150 to 170 RMB, which is about 20 to 25 U.S. dollars. If you can get it within that range, you are probably getting a fair deal.

Custom dress shirts are another popular option. The prices are usually reasonable, and the tailoring is fairly good for the price.

A lot of the products at AP Plaza are not from major brands, but the overall quality is usually acceptable. If the price is not much more than average prices for similar items online, you are probably getting a good deal. Here are typical online price ranges for items commonly purchased at the market, which you can reference to confirm whether the price a vendor is offering is comparable:

• Luggage: around 100 to 150 RMB
• Backpacks: around 50 to 100 RMB
• Dress shirts: around 50 RMB
• T-shirts: around 50 RMB 

Haggling Tips for AP Plaza

AP Plaza gets a lot of foreign tourists, so it’s common for sellers to start with very high prices. If you are planning to buy something, do not accept the first price right away. Bargaining is expected and is part of the shopping experience.

Here are a few tips that can help you haggle more successfully:

1. Don’t buy from the first stall you visit.

Take some time to look around first. Ask at a few different stalls and compare prices. Once you get a sense of the general price range, it will be easier to tell when someone is quoting too high.

2. Be confident, and be ready to walk away.

When you make a counter-offer, don’t be afraid to start low. For some items, the final price may end up being only 20% (sometimes even less) of the original asking price.

For example, if a seller offers a shirt for 250 RMB, you could try offering 50 RMB. The seller may say no at first. At that point, instead of continuing to negotiate, politely say you want to keep looking and start to walk away. Typically, the seller will call you back with a lower price.

If they do not stop you, your offer was probably too low, which is fine. There are always plenty of other stalls selling similar items. The next time, you can try offering 60 RMB and see how they respond.

A typical exchange might look like this:

Seller: “200 is the lowest I can go.”
You: “Okay, thanks. I’m going to look around a bit more.”

Then the seller might say:
Seller: “Okay, 100.”

If you keep walking, they may lower it again:
Seller: “Okay, 50.”

Many sellers would rather lower the price than lose a customer, especially if they think you may buy more than one item.

3. Show that you understand how shopping works here.

It helps if the seller thinks you have some experience in this setting. You can casually mention that you have spent time in China, or say something like, “I can probably find this online too.” Once the seller realizes you have some idea of the market price, they are often more willing to give you a more reasonable offer.

4. Check prices on Taobao in advance.

If you aren’t sure what something should cost, Taobao can be a useful reference. You can use the photo search function in the app to look up similar items and see prices online.

The quality of the item you find online may not be exactly the same as the one in front of you, but Taobao can give you a rough idea of what is reasonable. A good rule of thumb is to start with the Taobao price and add around 10%, using that as your reference price.

Again, the key is to start with a confident offer, be willing to walk away, and watch how the seller reacts. That will usually tell you whether you are getting close to their real bottom price. If you also have a general idea of the market price, you will be in a much better position to negotiate.

A Few Other Tips for AP Plaza

1. Skip the shops near the entrance and walk further in.

The stalls closest to the entrance usually pay higher rent, so sellers there are often less flexible on price. If you walk a little deeper into the market, you may have a better chance of getting a fair deal.

2. If someone approaches you outside the subway, don’t feel pressured to follow them.

When you first come out of the subway, some sellers may try to lead you to their shop. There is no need to commit. Take a little time to walk around on your own first. It can also be helpful to watch other people bargain to give you a better sense of typical prices and what a reasonable offer looks like.

3. Check items carefully before you buy.

Before paying for anything, inspect it closely and make sure there are no obvious problems. For example:

• Electronics: try to test it on the spot if possible. It’s much better than finding out later that it does not work.
• Watches: Check that they are running properly.
• Clothes: Look for tears, stains, or other flaws, and make sure it’s the right size.
• Bags or luggage: Test the zippers, clasps, and handles to make sure everything works.

4. Be ready with a convenient payment method.

It’s a good idea to set up Alipay or WeChat Pay in advance, since this is the easiest way to pay. Cash is also widely accepted. It’s best not to rely only on a foreign credit card, because many stalls do not have card machines that accept international cards.

5. Use a calculator to communicate prices.

Many visitors worry about the language barrier, but when bargaining, the most important thing is communicating the price clearly. In that situation, a calculator is often more useful than words.Sellers may hand you a calculator or type a number into their phone for you to see. You can do the same: type in the price you are willing to pay and show it to them. It is often the simplest and clearest way to negotiate, especially if you do not speak Chinese.

Is AP Plaza Worth Visiting?

For many people, yes. If you know how to bargain and have a rough idea of what things should cost, you can often find decent deals, especially if you’re curious about the higher-end replicas. For many foreign visitors, shopping at AP Plaza is also part of the experience of visiting Shanghai. It’s not just what you buy, but the fun of the negotiation and the satisfaction of walking away with a good deal.

Happy shopping, and enjoy your visit!

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