Before you buy this app, PLEASE PLEASE read the description to avoid disappointment: This is NOT an iPad version of SmartShanghai's iPhone app. This app features a small selection of recommendations for Restaurants, Bars, Shopping and Activities in Shanghai, picked by our editors. It does NOT feature a full list of venues in Shanghai (hence the name "SmartShanghai Select"). There is NO search, no browse option etc. It does NOT feature a full list of events etc. If you want all that, just use the website.

So what's this app then ?

Ideal for newcomers to Shanghai, tourists and travelers about to begin their adventures in Shanghai, the SmartShanghai iPad add cuts through the thousands of restaurants, bars, shops and sites to bring you simply the essential list of things to do, places to see and where to have the finest experiences in the city. SmartShanghai.com is the premier English-language website in the city, and the website offers a comprehensive guide to everything that's going on here. For this app, we've distilled the essentials into a gorgeous-looking app, updated every week with one new venue.


Again, before you write comments saying this app is missing all the content of the website. YES WE KNOW. That's exactly the concept. The beauty of this app is in simplicity. If you need to have the address of every restaurant in town, just visit the website, it's all there, all free, updated daily. No need for an app. But if you want to get some recommendations for interesting places in Shanghai, picked by people who know the city very well, buy this app.

Features:

The app currently presents about 50 venues in Shanghai, all with beautiful, high-res pictures especially shot for the retina display. Through an update feature you can download one new listing every week, so that's a great way to know about newly opened places in Shanghai.

The "Essentials" section has basic listings for Hospitals, Consulates, Media and Services - all things a tourist visiting Shanghai might need. Again, it's no complete list but rather a short selection of places we think are most useful. The Essentials section also features a small list of upcoming events in Shanghai. Again - this is no complete list of upcoming events in Shanghai - it just shows what we call "tourist friendly" events such bigger concerts, major shows, major art exhibitions.