Shanghai Animation Guide
One of the cities with the highest concentration of anime culture in China
Shanghai has become one of the cities with the highest concentration of anime culture in China. Some anime fans travel to Shanghai just to visit the conventions. The city often hosts major events like Bilibili World and ChinaJoy, drawing in huge crowds of fans. For instance, Bilibili World 2024 attracted over 250,000 visitors in just three days!
Moreover, Shanghai’s public spaces and shopping areas are packed with anime elements, like giant statues of EVA Unit-01 and Freedom Gundam, along with themed malls and restaurants. You’ll find pop-up stores and blind box shops everywhere, and anime merchandise sells like crazy. If you’re an anime fan, traveling to Shanghai is definitely a must!
Popular Anime Merchandise Hub in Shanghai
Bailian ZX Creative Space (Nanjing East Road Store) 百联ZX创趣场(南京东路店)
Bailian ZX, called “China’s Akihabara,” is not just an anime landmark in Shanghai; it’s a hotspot for anime fans. As soon as you walk in, the amazing array of anime merchandise grabs your attention. From classics like “One Piece” and “Naruto” to trendy hits like “Genshin Impact” and “Love and Producer,” the shops cover almost every anime and game IP you can imagine. Plus, Bailian ZX often hosts themed cafe events, letting fans really dive into the charm of the anime world.
Address:
340-372 Nanjing East Road
南京东路340-372号
Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Hundred Meter Fragrance Avenue Shopping Street (Guangxi North Road Store) 百米香榭商业街(广西北路店)
This place mainly focuses on figures and anime merchandise. The second floor has a few second-hand toy shops, while the third floor features card shops and game arcades. The variety of figures is impressive, and prices are pretty affordable, making it a great spot for visitors with time to explore. The overall atmosphere of the area is average, with dimly lit aisles, but most shop owners are friendly and not pushy at all.
Address:
Intersection of Zhejiang Middle Road and Hankou Road
浙江中路与汉口路交汇处
Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
First Department Store Commercial Center (Nanjing East Road Store), Building C 第一百货商业中心(南京东路店)C馆
In the C building of the First Department Store, anime shopping is mainly on the fourth floor. You’ll find a bunch of anime shops like Baomoon, Tamamo’s shop, Goodslove, Gu’s Time, and XW Model. These stores offer all kinds of anime merchandise, figures, and models, including but not limited to “Attack on Titan” figures, “One Piece” products, and “Naruto” figures, catering to different fans’ needs.
Address:
830 Nanjing East Road
南京东路830号
Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Shanghai MiHoYo Network Technology Co., Ltd. 上海米哈游网络科技股份有限公司
MiHoYo’s Shanghai headquarters is now open to the public for free, and it’s become a hotspot for anime fans. Outside, there’s a huge 2-meter-tall slime hot air balloon and a big MiHoYo logo that draws a lot of visitors for photos. Inside, there’s a dedicated exhibition area showcasing figures of classic game characters from MiHoYo. You’ll also find a towering 3-meter statue of the Geo Archon and a life-sized bust of the Anemo Archon, making it feel like a big figure exhibit right out of the Genshin Museum!
Address:
Building 1, Phase 4, Guangqi Garden, 519 Cangwu Road
苍梧路519号光启园四期1号楼
Hours:
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Jing'an Joy City 静安大悦城
Jing’an Joy City is a popular spot for anime culture, often hosting various pop-up stores and exhibitions. They hold around 300 pop-up events each year, with over 30 featuring major international IPs making their first stops here. For example, they’ve had a pop-up for the 20th anniversary of “Gintama” and a themed exhibition for “Naruto.”
Address:
198 Xizang North Road
西藏北路198号
Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
