Shanghai Silk Market 2027: Where to Buy Real Silk

Shanghai's silk shops range from tourist-market stalls selling "pure silk" at impossible prices to workshops that can make a qipao or shirt to your measurements. The difference is not just price. It is fiber, construction, and whether anyone will still be there when the seams give way.

This guide explains where to buy silk in Shanghai, how to tell real from fake, what to pay, and how to order custom clothing without losing a deposit.

The short version

• Best all-round stop: South Bund Soft-Spinning Material Market (South Bund Fabric Market), No 399 Lujiabang Road.
• Best for fixed prices: department stores and established silk brands on Nanjing Road and in major malls.
• Best for design: Tianzifang and museum shops for scarves and small accessories.
• Real silk: look for 100% mulberry silk and a fiber-content label. Be skeptical of unusually low prices.
• Custom clothing: allow at least a week, a fitting, and a deposit you are comfortable losing if the garment cannot be fixed.
• Payments: Alipay, WeChat Pay, and cards are widely accepted, but small stalls may prefer cash or a transfer.

Where to buy silk in Shanghai

South Bund Fabric Market

The South Bund Soft-Spinning Material Market is the city's best-known fabric and tailoring market. It has 285 tailor shops, mostly selling fabric and made-to-measure clothing rather than finished retail garments.

• Address: No 399 Lujiabang Road, Huangpu District.
• Hours: daily, 9am–6pm.
• Metro: about a five-minute walk from Exit 3 of Nanpu Bridge Station, Line 4.
• What it sells: silk fabric, scarves, qipao, shirts, suits, coats, dresses, bedding, and custom clothing.
• Language: many shop owners speak basic English and are used to international customers.
• Turnaround: standard production takes about six to seven days; express service can be as fast as two days but is not guaranteed during busy periods.
• Price guide: a tailored suit typically costs 2,000–4,000 yuan, depending on fabric and workmanship.
• Shipping: China Post has operated a service point inside the market, with delivery to more than 170 countries and regions. Confirm the service is running before you rely on it; many shops can also arrange overseas shipping.

The market is busy and the stalls are dense. Walk the upper floors before choosing a shop, compare fabric quality, and ask to see finished garments, not just swatches.

Department stores and brands

Nanjing Road and major shopping malls have established silk and cashmere brands with fixed prices, printed labels, and receipts. You will pay more than at the market, but you get a clear return policy and less haggling.

This is the safer choice for a gift scarf, especially if you do not know how to judge silk.

Tianzifang and design shops

Tianzifang has small boutiques selling silk scarves, embroidered accessories, and contemporary qipao-inspired clothing. Quality varies. Ask about the fiber content, where the piece was made, and whether it can be returned.

What to skip

• Street stalls with no shop name, no label, and no receipt.
• "Pure silk" sold at a fraction of the market price.
• Pressure to buy before you have compared at least two shops.
• Anyone who refuses to let you check the seams and label.

Types of silk

Mulberry silk

The highest-quality silk for most clothing and bedding. Silkworms are fed mulberry leaves, and the fibers are long, fine, and smooth. Look for 100% mulberry silk (sang can si) on the label.

Tussah silk

From wild silkworms, with a more textured, irregular surface and a slightly darker natural color. It is durable and has a distinctive look, but it is not the same as smooth mulberry silk.

Silk blends

Mixed with cotton, viscose, polyester, or elastane. Blends can be practical and affordable, but they should be labeled. If a seller calls a blend "pure silk", walk away.

Weight and weave

Silk is also sold by weight and weave. Heavier silk drapes differently from lightweight chiffon; neither is automatically better. For bedding and shirts, ask about the weight and care instructions. For scarves, feel the hand of the fabric and check the hem.

How to tell real silk from fake

No single test is conclusive, especially in a market. Use several signals.

• Label: look for 100% mulberry silk and a fiber-content tag. A label can be faked, but a missing label is a warning.
• Touch: real silk feels smooth, slightly warm, and substantial between your fingers. Polyester feels cooler and slicker.
• Luster: real silk has a soft, pearl-like sheen, not a mirror-like shine.
• Irregularity: natural silk has slight variations in the weave. Perfectly uniform, glassy fabric is often synthetic.
• Burn test: a loose thread of real silk smells like burning hair and leaves a crushable ash; synthetic melts into a hard bead. Ask before burning anything, and use a loose thread, not the garment.
• Price: if the price is far below similar pieces in department stores, assume it is a blend until proven otherwise.
• Receipt: a legitimate shop can provide one. Keep it.

Do not rely on the burn test alone. A seller can hand you a silk thread while the garment is polyester.

What to buy

• Silk scarves: the best gift. Light, packable, and available at every price point.
• Qipao: a fitted traditional dress, best made to measure.
• Silk shirts and blouses: useful, but check the seams and whether the fabric is washable.
• Bedding: duvet covers and pillowcases are luxurious but bulky. Check the size and return policy.
• Fabric by the meter: for sewing projects. Ask for the width and care instructions.
• Small accessories: hair ties, pouches, and fan covers make inexpensive gifts.

Custom clothing: how it works

1. Choose a shop. Compare samples, fabric, and finished garments. Avoid the first stall that greets you.
2. Bring references. Photos, a favorite garment, or a clear description of the cut and length.
3. Select fabric. Ask whether the price includes lining, buttons, and alterations.
4. Get measured. A good tailor measures more than once and asks how you want the garment to fit.
5. Pay a deposit. Keep the receipt and the shop's contact details. Do not pay the full amount upfront.
6. Return for a fitting. Leave enough days for adjustments.
7. Inspect the finished piece before paying the balance: seams, hem, collar, buttons, and movement.

For a qipao, the fit is unforgiving. If the shop cannot schedule a fitting before you leave, consider a simpler garment or buy off the rack.

Sizes and fit

Chinese sizes often run smaller than US or European sizes. Do not assume your usual size fits. Bring a tape measure or your measurements: bust, waist, hips, shoulder width, sleeve length, and garment length.

For men's shirts and suits, ask for the collar size, sleeve length, and whether the jacket will be half-canvassed or fused. For women's qipao, the waist and hip measurements matter more than the label size.

Bargaining, payment, and tax refunds

• Bargaining is normal at the market, not in department stores. Compare prices, make a polite counteroffer, and agree before the work begins.
• Deposits are standard for custom orders. Pay by Alipay, WeChat Pay, or card if possible; keep a record.
• Tax refunds are available at participating stores for eligible visitors. The minimum spend and airport process can change; see the Shanghai shopping guide.
• Shipping should be priced and documented. Ask for tracking and who handles customs.

Care and packing

• Dry clean tailored silk garments unless the label says otherwise.
• Hand wash scarves in cool water with a mild detergent; do not wring.
• Dry flat, away from direct sun. Silk fades and weakens with heat.
• Store folded in cloth, away from rough surfaces and strong perfume.
• Pack in carry-on if possible. Silk is light and compresses well.
• Keep the receipt for customs and refunds.

The bottom line

For most visitors, the South Bund Fabric Market is the best place to see silk, compare prices, and order custom clothing in one trip. Buy scarves and gifts from established shops if you do not want to negotiate. Check the label, feel the fabric, compare prices, and leave time for a fitting. Real silk is worth paying for; a fake is not worth the bargain.

Stall line-ups, prices, and tax-refund rules change. Confirm with the official sources below before you rely on them.