• Shanghai's Bund waterfrontShanghai by night (The Bund) image by jorisvo from Fotolia.com
  
  Situated on the Huangpu River near the mouth of the Yangtze River, Shanghai is a famous port city with a notorious past. The very name Shanghai evokes images of the dark and mysterious Orient. Once a small fishing village, it rose into prominence after the end of the Opium Wars in 1842 when Western powers established "concession" zones and developed Shanghai to become one of the most important ports and cultural centers in Asia. Curiously, it was also a haven of blues and jazz music until the music was banned after the Communist takeover in May 1949. With the opening of China to the West, Shanghai is once again one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia and the strains of jazz streaming through the tree-lined streets each evening shows that it has rediscovered its strong connection to jazz music.
  
  

House of Blues & Jazz

• A pioneer of modern Shanghai jazz.harmonicas image by Claudio Calcagno from Fotolia.com
  
  Founded in 1995, the House of Blues & Jazz was the first new jazz bar in modern Shanghai. In its fourth reincarnation, the club has found a home near the historic Bund, the Huangpu River waterfront area. This location is spacious yet maintains an intimate atmosphere with simple décor. A kitchen offers food throughout the day, but what keeps the house full is the daily billing of bands from around the world.
  
  House of Blues & Jazz
  60 Fuzhou Road
  Shanghai, China 200001
  +86 21-6323-8326
  
  

Brown Sugar

• Brown Sugar mixes jazz and wine.red wine pouring down from a wine bottle image by mashe from Fotolia.com
  
  Brown Sugar offers an upscale experience in the trendy tourist mecca known as Xintiandi, which is a complex of high-end bars and restaurants. Brown Sugar started in Taiwan, and Shanghai is its second location offering international-style to the expat, tourist and chic local crowd. The club promotes itself as a wine bar and offers a selection of Western-style food. Frequently attracting international headline events, the club features its own Brown Sugar All Stars.
  
  Brown Sugar
  Building 15,Lane 181,Taicang Rd.
  North Block, Xintiandi Plaza
  Shanghai , China
  +86 21-5382-8998
  brownsugarlive.com/
  
  

CJW

• A trinity: cigars, jazz and wine.cigar close up 2 image by Bradlee Mauer from Fotolia.com
  
  Cigars, jazz and wine make up the trinity upon which CJW is based. Founded in Taipei, this concept came to Shanghai's high-end night spot Xintiandi in 2002. It features a house band that provides the jazz feel, but this club is all about the atmosphere and decor and fine cigars. It offers a surprising selection of imported wines as well. A dining experience with Italian flair completes this premium nightlife experience.
  
  CJW
  Xintiandi, House 2
  Lane 123 Xinye Road
  Shanghai, China 200001
  +86 21-6385-6677
  
  

Cotton Club

• Music fills this tight-packed pub.Jazz Night 2 image by UFOFABRIK from Fotolia.com
  
  Cotton Club is one of the longest-running venues for Shanghai blues and jazz. Simple in decor, this tight-packed pub offers a good value for live music. Often the spirited live music fills the house and leaves standing room only. It's a dark, smoky and informal setting where you can get close and personal with the performers.
  
  Cotton Club
  1416 Huaihai Middle Rd.
  Shanghai, China 200001
  +86 21-6437-7110
  
  

Peace Hotel Old Jazz Bar

• A jazz icon in Shanghai.jazz estate image by UFOFABRIK from Fotolia.com
  
  After Deng Xiaoping officially rolled back the restrictions on many cultural freedoms, including jazz, in 1978, the Peace Hotel refurbished its Old Jazz Bar to kick off the jazz movement in Communist China. Six veteran musicians from the pre-communist days formed the Old Jazz Band in 1980, and pianist Gao Ping released perhaps the first Chinese jazz recording in the Peoples Republic of China. Located on the top floor of the hotel, this bar draws a mainly tourist crowd seeking the nostalgia of old Shanghai.
  
  Peace Hotel Old Jazz Bar
  20 East Nanjing Rd.
  Shanghai 200001
  +86 21-6321-6888
  
  

JZ Club

• JZ Club features big band sound.trumpet image by saied shahinkiya from Fotolia.com
  
  Opened in 2004, JZ Club has become a fixture among jazz clubs in Shanghai. JZ has several house bands and acts from around the world. Weekends feature the JZ Latino and JZ All Star Big Bands. This two-floor venue features an upstairs balcony for a better view of the performers and the downstairs by the stage. Both are often packed with music aficionados, but there is also a lounge in back with comfortable seating.
  
  JZ Club
  46 West Fuxing Rd.
  +86 21-643-0269
  jzclub.cn