Shanghai has a lot to do. More than you could ever possibly do in one week, one month, and given how fast the city is changing.. even one year.  Normally a night out encompasses  drinks, dinner and perhaps some dancing or other entertainment. Depending on your budget, you have some tough decisions to make.

There are several neighborhood spots that you could explore and find just about everything you want within walking distance. You might seek an upscale evening of fine dining and dancing with lots of choices for dinner and entertainment. Visit the East end of Huaihai Rd around the Huangpi Rd metro station.  Within walking distance, you could have a good dinner every night for a month and not try the same place twice.  Xintiandi is two blocks from here, Hong Kong Plaza is  across the street, and a whole strip of neon-lit store fronts, restaurants, and upscale shopping await you.  

On another evening you might try the area around People's Square. From Nanjing Rd to Yan An Rd, again you have enough choices to keep you busy for several nights worth of exploration.You can also start from People's square, walk up Xizang (Tibet) Rd for a of couple blocks to Nanjing Rd where the pedestrian area begins. Restaurants, galleries, and shopping malls line Nanjing Rd all the way to the Bund. This is one of the best people-watching stretches.  

There are always cultural activities at the Grand Theater or museum. You can take a stroll through several art galleries on Nanjing Rd.  You might want to seek some of the more local culinary delights on the restaurant street, Yunnan Rd.  Even if you don't eat there, its worth a walk just to get the flavor of the city in your eyes, ears, and nostrils. Further west on Nanjing Rd the area from Shimen Rd up to Tongren Rd has a lot of possibilities for coffee houses, shopping, and great eats.  Tongren Rd, just a a block off of Nanjing Rd, has a strip of good international places to eat (Malones, Irenes, and TacoPopo to name a few)  Wujiang Rd pedestrian area (one block over from Nanjing Rd off Shimen Yi Rd- near the Shimen Yi Rd metro station)

For the more hardy partiers, once you have had your bite to eat at your favorite bistro you may want to head to Maoming Rd (near Fuxing Rd) . Clubs with a techno beat pound out an invitation to the dance floor. Maoming is a club hopper's Mecca.  Everyone has their favorite, of course. More often than not is a matter of finding a place with a seat.  You can find a cozy corner at the Blue Frog or finish with a midnight taco at Taco Popo.  

If all this is too much and you just want something small, cozy, funky and friendly, you need to go to Time Passages on Caojiayan Rd near Huashan Rd.  Bring your favorite friends for witty conversation and a beer. Eats are not very expensive. There is live music often after ten.

There are more choices, so many more, this is just a start. Other neighborhoods have their own flavor and possibilities. You will need to check out  Lujiazui, -- dinner choices abound around the Pearl TV Tower and in the Super Brand Mall. Eat with a view of the Bund or stunning sci-fi architecture.  Hengshan Rd is a favorite of many foreigners. Music, dancing food and hotel choices open lots of doors to an evening’s entertainment .

The shopping Mecca of Xujiahui presents other possibilities for food, movies, and shopping So to recap: here are the major areas with intersections that you might want to check out:

• Huaihai Rd around the Huangpi metro station (at Huangpi Rd)
• Xintiandi (Taicang Rd and Madang Rd)
• Nanjing Rd pedestrian area (starting around Xizang Rd, continuing to Henan Rd)
• Nanjing West Rd from Shimen Rd to Tongren Rd, including Wujiang pedestrian area
• People's Square area, over to Xizang Rd and Yan’an Rd
• Maoming Rd (near Fuxing Rd)
• Lujiazui  around the Pearl Tower and SuperBrand Mall (Pudong)
• Hengshan Rd (starting around Wulumuqi Rd)
• Xujiahui (at Huashan Rd)

Each offers so many choices.  However, that is the beauty of this great city.