21 top things to do in Shanghai this week

The streets might be steaming, but don't let the heat hold you back this week – Shanghai is bursting with a load of awesome events for your radar. From FLY Society's first charity dinner at Colca to a special break-up edition of Savvy Exchanger's summer swap and free yoga sessions by Free Soul Yoga to the launch of ShanghaiPRIDE's annual Pride Art exhibit, here's the biggest and best things to do over the next seven days.

Flyers courtesy venues and promoters. Click to enlarge.

Savvy Exchanger: Break-up Swap

Get a fresh, sustainable start at the special summer edition of Savvy Exchanger's unwanted gift swap. Instead of throwing them away, exchange presents from your ex in return for items you'd like. 50RMB entry includes a complimentary 'love forgetting potion' and a hug. 

?205 Wulumuqi Lu, near Zhaojiabang Lu. Wed 5. 7-9pm. 50RMB.

Game Showcase Party

Are you interested in the future of storytelling? Discover the ins and outs of story-driven video games at this game showcase party, where you'll learn about interactive storytelling and play new games from local creatives. Spaces are limited, RSVP by scanning the QR code in the flyer.

?Pocho Social Club, 376 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Taiyuan Lu. Thu 6. 7.30-10pm. Free entry. 

Swap & Sip

Help save the planet while supporting children with congenital heart defects at Swap & Sip. Take clean clothes to either donate or swap (exchange clothes for swap tokens) and sip on happy hour drinks – a portion of sales from which will be donated to Heart to Heart Foundation.

?Real Shanghai Cafe & Bar, 429 Yanan Xi Lu, near Zhenning Lu. Sat 8. 2-6pm. Free entry.

Sister's Breathwork

Part of a new series, this women's only breathwork workshop consists of three parts: connecting to your emotions, connecting to your body and then connecting to the group by sharing experiences. An active form of meditation, breathwork helps you connect to yourself, reduce stress in the mind and relax emotional tension in the body. Scan the QR code in the flyer to sign up. (There are also upcoming plans for a men's workshop, find out more via WeChat). 

?RSVP for address details. Sat 8. 3.30-6.30pm. 350RMB.

Dancelife

Dance like nobody's watching at Dancelife's one-hour un-choreographed party. No worries if you have no dance experience, it's a judgement- and substance-free space set to a freshly curated playlist so dancers can let loose and express themselves. A not-for-profit initiative, Dancelife raises funds for Lifeline, an English-speaking mental health service available across China. 

?Flexspace, 376 Yanan Xi Lu, near Zhenning Lu. Sun 9. 5.30-6.30pm. 50RMB.

Free Soul Community Day

Unwind and recharge for free at Free Soul Yoga's community classes on Sunday. They're holding two sessions, one at Xiangyang Park (9-10.30am) and the other at the Maoming Lu studio (10.45am-12.15pm). Scan the QR code in the flyer to register. 

?Free Soul Yoga, First Floor, No 24, Lane 383, Julu Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu. Sun 9. 9am-12.15pm. Free entry. 

RAC Pop'Up Dinner No 7

Swipe left for the full menu

RAC's pop-up dinner is back for its seventh edition, this time bringing a special seven-course RAC dinner 'with an Asian twist' from their own chef Goh Shan Tze and Holly Lian (Wineapp, Chi Mi Do guest chef). Think matsutake egg custard with shiso and tobiko roe, a matsutake flower tart with Nordun ham and green peas and Yunnan winter melon pork ribs with ume plums and collybia mushroom rice – plus, 20 wines available by the glass.

?RAC Coffee, 322 Anfu Lu, near Wukang Lu. Mon 3-Tue 4. 6-10pm. 468RMB per person.

FLY Society Charity Dinner

New community group FLY Society pulls together some of the city’s top restaurateurs and chefs for charity dinners that are all about excellent food and drink while raising money for local organisations. The group's first fundraiser at Peruvian restaurant Colca will raise money for Heart to Heart Shanghai, with a buffet-style dinner featuring over a dozen dishes (like quinoa salad with seared tuna, Peruvian pork adobo, paprika halibut and a Latino-style shepherd's pie with plant-based meat). The bar will be stocked with wine, beer and mixed drinks at 30RMB each. There will also be laughter yoga, short stand-up comedy sets and live music from The Ukuladies.

?Colca (North Bund), Third Floor, Sinar Mas Plaza, 588 Dongchangzhi Lu, near Xinjian Lu. Wed 5. 7pm. 300RMB per person. 

UnTour's First Annual Jianbing Cook-Off

One of China's most popular street breakfasts, UnTour are hosting their first jianbing cook-off competition at Cages. Nine of Shanghai's well-known chefs and restaurant personalities will be competing to create new takes on this local hero, with Nat Alexander (Homeslice), Christine Asuncion (Spread the Bagel), Andrew Moo (Taste Collective) and Chris Zhu (formerly Bird) plus more in the lineup. Tickets include one drink, access to the jianbing station and various discounts throughout the evening. There will also be a charity raffle raising money to support Shanghai Young Bakers.

?Cages Bar and Sports, Third Floor, Jing'an Sports Centre 428 Jiangning Lu, near Wuding Lu. Sat 8. 11am-5pm. 100RMB (early-bird). 

Glam's Vegan Brunch

Go green at Glam's monthly plant-based brunch. M on the Bund and Glam's executive chef Hamish Waddel is serving up a six-course menu that's 100 percent vegan and gluten-free. Make a reservation at 6329 3751.

?Glam, Seventh Floor, Five on the Bund, 20 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu. Sun 9. Midday-3pm. 328RMB (plus 10 percent service charge).

Sky Garden Grand Opening at Gaden Terrazza

Cut loose and mingle over Xintiandi views at sunset at Gaden's rooftop opening party from MVP Events and Friends of Shanghai. Expect all the usual rooftop goodness from live DJs to summer cocktails and more. Entry includes a drink.

?Gaden, Third Floor, Infinitus Mall, 168 Hubin Lu, near Shunchang Lu. Sat 8. 4-10pm. 150RMB; 80RMB (presale). 

Gurrumul Film Screening + Charity Music Concert

Seeds of Change and OnAir Space are joining forces for a charity film screening followed by live music to offer a peek into the life of indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – widely recognised as one of the most important voices to come out of Australia. Funds raised from the event will be donated to the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation (Australia) and Hope Orphan School (Kenya), both of which support kids' education. Live music lineup: Inen Vai, Jordan, Ekram and Loic. 

?On Air Space, Third Floor, 174 Xietu Dong Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu. Sat 8. 6-9.30pm. 120RMB. 

Celeste

Continue your spiritual recovery and recharge from the trials of 2020 with live music, 'baby pools' and new friends at this afternoon rooftop party. Music lineup: Shambhala Warrior (midday-2pm), Thee Baron b2b Metermaid (2-4pm), Lev Zep (4-6pm), DJ Beardslap (6-8pm), Nanotech with Johannes on live drums (8-10pm). BYO cup for frozen margaritas and bring swimsuits/towels. Plus, free birthday cake for August babies.

?Fifth Floor, North Gate, 235 Moganshan Lu, near Changhua Lu. Sat 8. Midday-10pm. 30RMB (presale, entry before 4pm); 80RMB (presale, entry after 4pm); 50RMB (on the door, entry before 4pm); 100RMB (on the door, entry after 4pm).

Alter. Connect Ep. 8 – Garden

Expect the dancefloor to rock, the drinks to flow and the love to radiate at episode eight of Alter.'s Connect party series at the KEE Club's garden courtyard with a soundtrack from DJ Tobias Patrick and Alter. Soundsystem. Entry includes a drink.

?Kee Club, No 796, Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu. Sat 8. 3-10pm. 150RMB; 100RMB (presale).

Shanghai Secret Disco

The disco-funk mothership lands again. This night is not about the tables, it's about the dancefloor as resident DJs CFP, Bonzo and Lev Zep are joined by special guests DJ Bo and Sawam. On your discosmic adventure, hosts with the mosts Groove Queen Yi and Funkmaster C make sure you feel welcome.

?MAO Electronic Studio, 308 Chongqing Nan Lu, near Jianguo Zhong Lu. Sat 8. 9pm. Free entry.

Jojo Rabbit

A Nazi boy befriends a fantasy Führer in New Zealand’s Taika Waititi's (Thor: Ragnarok) audacious WWII comedy, which charts a tricky way into a tough subject. 

?On general release now. 

Gattaca

The latest in Green Steps and Agora Space's 'Impact of Technology on Society' film screening and discussion series addresses another big tech question: 'Shall we in the future distort technology for perfection?' They'll be showing Andrew Niccol's 1997 film Gattaca – a sci-fi thriller exploring of the future of eugenics – followed by discussion and drinks.

?Agora Space, Bldg 9, 1199 Panyu Lu , near Kaixuan Lu. Tue 4. 7pm. 40RMB. Extract the QR code above to register.

1917

Sam Mendes' stunning, sorta-single-take rollercoaster of a war movie, 1917 is a pure adrenaline hit of a movie set on the Western Front. It follows Lance Cpls Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), who are summoned into the trenches for a hurried briefing with Colin Firth’s General Erinmore. The entire German army, it turns out, has hit reverse to the tune of about eight miles, holing up behind the Hindenburg Line and waiting secretly for an unsuspecting British attack that will cost the lives of 1,600 men, including Blake’s brother. The mission? To deliver a message to stop the attack before morning.

?On general release from Fri 7. 

Wang Huangsheng: Breathe In/Out

Originally scheduled for mid-February, the postponing of Wang Huangsheng's exhibit due to the pandemic has made the show almost prophetic and metaphorical – the artist's works usually deal with human crisis. The recurring motifs – oxygen tanks and gauze – can be seen as something that keeps us safe from danger. Through the show, Wang wants the viewers to be vigilant about the superficial abundance brought by economic development and the danger hidden behind comforts.

?Gallery 2, Long Museum West Bund, 3398 Longteng Dadao, near Ruining Lu. Until Sun 27 Sep (closed Mondays). 60RMB.

Yi Shang: A Dialogue Between 20th Century Chinese Art and Fashion

Aligning in spirit with another exhibition about fashion, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, also at Long Museum West Bund, the museum’s Gallery 6 stages a show that showcases Chinese art and fashion through more than 40 paintings juxtaposed with qipaos, Chinese ceramics, photographs and other historical archives. The four-part exhibit captures major changes in Chinese fashion (mostly prompted by social and political changes) from the mid-19th century to the present day.

?Gallery 6, Long Museum West Bund, 3398 Longteng Dadao, near Ruining Lu. Until Sun 15 Nov (closed Mondays). 60RMB.

Pride Art: Perspectives from the Community and the Allies

ShanghaiPRIDE keeps the celebrations going strong with its annual Pride art exhibition. This year's theme, 'Perspectives: from the community and allies', represents a collective statement of the LGBTQ community, its allies and supporters, and brings together 17 emerging artists working in various mediums that include photography, printmaking, digital and mixed media. The opening ceremony will be held on August 9 from 4-6pm. Scan the QR code in the flyer to RSVP.

?ideaPod, 1 Yanan Dong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Er Lu. Sun 9 Aug-Sun 6 Sep. Midday-8pm. Free entry.