Editor's note: Shanghai is promoting the development of the "youth economy", which encompasses products and services shaped by the lifestyles, preferences, and spending habits of younger consumers.

As part of this series, we showcase small and distinctive shops across the city that reflect how young people shop, socialize, and unwind today. This edition spotlights the Changshou Road shopping area in Putuo district.

Changshou Road shopping area

Located along a prime stretch of the Suzhou Creek waterfront, the Changshou Road shopping area is one of Putuo's earliest and most established commercial hubs. In recent years, it has undergone sustained urban renewal, combining preserved street layouts and historic facades with updated retail, dining, and leisure spaces.

Commercial complexes such as Hong Shou Fang and West Lane Tong Yi Li preserve the architectural character of older neighborhoods while introducing time-honored local brands, emerging labels, and new community-oriented businesses. Below is a selection of representative shops.

Kaiji Tea House

Inside Kaiji Tea House, the setting evokes a traditional Chinese tea space, yet young patrons raise glass bottles as if offering a toast. Its signature Yunnan Pu'er Tea is presented in bottles reminiscent of craft beer, transforming tea drinking from a formal ritual into a relaxed and convivial experience.

The menu includes hot-brewed teas, hot-steeped infusions, sparkling teas, tea-based cocktails, and other blended creations. Beverages are thoughtfully organized by aroma and flavor, accompanied by clear and accessible tasting notes.

Regional snacks such as Guangxi-style pickled fruit and Wenzhou duck tongue are also available, making tea feel more like part of everyday dining than a formal ritual.

Address: Room 110A, 1F, Building 2, Hong Shou Fang, Alley 236 Xinhui Road

Buna & Pate

In 2023, the spiral croissant roll, shaped like a vinyl record, emerged as one of Shanghai’s defining bakery trends. The layered pastry, coiled into a precise circular form and finished with inventive toppings or fillings that depart from the traditional croissant, quickly captured attention across social media platforms.

Buna & Pate was among the first shops to introduce this format to the domestic market, and at its peak, sold 700 to 800 pieces a day.

Founded in 2021, the brand places equal emphasis on bread and coffee. The founder approaches baking through structured recipe development and process control, cultivating proprietary natural starters and implementing meticulously defined standard operating procedures for production.

New items often respond directly to customer feedback, including matcha red bean mochi bread and rose-infused toast, while some recipes incorporate regional Chinese ingredients into French and Japanese baking techniques.

Address: 1F, Hong Shou Fang, No 1143 Xikang Road

Rice Brewing Factory of Jiangnan

Rice Brewing Factory of Jiangnan is a cultural beverage brand focusing on contemporary rice wine and plum wine. Drawing inspiration from Jiangnan cities such as Suzhou and Hangzhou, it connects product development with seasonal ingredients associated with Taihu Lake and West Lake.

Its rice and plum wines emphasize a light aroma and smooth texture. The products are presented not only as traditional alcoholic beverages, but also as part of a modern lifestyle that integrates travel, design, and regional culture.

Address: Room 0324, 1F, Building 1, Hong Shou Fang, Alley 236 Xinhui Road

Venque & Style Canada

Venque & Style Canada operates as a multicultural experience space supported by the Canadian Embassy in China. It is home to the first brick-and-mortar store in China of Canadian light outdoor backpack brand Venque, alongside a curated selection of North American niche brands.

The space combines retail and social functions. Visitors can browse the full product line, order coffee, and attend community salon events held in the industrial-style second-floor area.

Address: 1F-2F, Building 4, West Lane Tong Yi Li, No 162 Changshou Road

Wagtopia Pet Bakery & Grooming

Wagtopia is a community-based pet bakery and grooming shop founded by a team with diverse backgrounds. The name combines "wag" and "topia", suggesting a space where pets and their owners can spend time together, rather than dropping in for a service.

Pets receive grooming services and specialty baked treats, while owners use the shop as a venue to meet neighbors and exchange pet care experiences.

Address: 1F, West Lane Tong Yi Li, No 166 Changshou Road

Sources: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and venues mentioned above