Last time I visited Shanghai, I visited the fake market in West Nanjing. Four floors of everything from bags, to shoes, to jewelry. Four years later and that market has been shut down. But it hasn't completely disappeared. After all we are in China's fashion capital. It's just been moved to Pudong. The minute we touched down all my mom could talk about was how she wanted to visit the fake market at AP Plaza fake market. Last time I was there I had come back with a ton of beautiful goodies including my Louis Vuitton duffel bag.

Within 24 hours of being in Shanghai, the first stop on our itinerary was AP Plaza fake market in Pudong, the biggest most famous fake market in Shanghai. You can get there via the metro line 2 or take a cab and be asked to be dropped off at the Science & Technology Museum Center. The hardest part of navigating the AP Plaza fake market is that every store looks the same. They're all selling the same fake shirts, shoes, handbags, tech, and jewelry. But just because they look the same doesn't mean that they sell the same quality.

Shop A2-18 — Mary's Shop Scarf & Bags

Item: Hermès Birkin Togo

Retail price: $29,000
Mary's price: $250

The store with the best quality products in all of AP Plaza fake market is Mary's Shop Scarf & Bags. It's run by Lin and his wife, Mary. My mom and I bought several of the highest quality bags, the third level, from Mary's Shop Scarf & Bags and for a great price. Lin is the main seller at the store. He knows his stuff and is a real friendly salesman. Not only is Lin friendly, but he puts up a good bargain as well. If you see a super cute little girl running around his store, it's his daughter who occasionally stays with him when his wife is working. I was looking for a Hermès Birkin Togo. I wanted it to be as close to authentic as possible. I had a similar Hermès knockoff before, but after seeing a real Hermès Birkin up close, I wanted to buy a better quality handbag. Lin had the best Hermès Birkin Togo bag I saw in all of AP Plaza fake market. I walked away with this bag for a little over $250. It's great leather and says Hermès on it (which is really hard to find), and the lock is identical to the real one.

Item: Louis Vuitton Keepall

Retail price: $2,500
Mary's price: $200

My mom was jealous of my Louis Vuitton duffel bag and was on a mission to buy the same one. She ended up buying the same Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere Damier Graphite, but in black. She also got that for about $200. If you're looking for the best quality handbags and wallets in all of AP Plaza fake market, with high-quality leather, then save your money and shop at Mary's Shop Scarf & Bags. If you're in the need for eyeglasses and sunglasses as well, his wife Mary sells them in a store nearby for a similar price and good quality. If you're looking for high-quality, custom tailoring, then visit theSouth Bund Fabric Market.

Item: Gucci Ophidia Small Shoulder Bag Dark Grey

Retail price: $1,490

So this item is actually for men and I didn't know that till I looked it up! Now a days everything is unisex, so I don't think it matters. It's a great shoulder bag because it looks small and compact, but actually has a ton of space inside. It's perfect for rainy gray days when I don't want to get any of my leather bags wet.

Item: Goyard Saint Louis GM Bag

Retail price: $1,500

This item was actually very kindly gifted to me from Mary when I had my first baby, Sibby! This is the perfect mom bag, especially in the winter when I need to stuff it with bottles, formula, carriers, hats, gloves, toys etc. I use it as a substitute for a diaper bag when I want to look a bit fancier. The bag is on the stiffer end, but most Goyard's are. It's the look.

Item: Hermès Taurillon Clemence Evelyne TPM Black

Retail price: $5,000

This is one of those subtle crossbody bags that you don't think look like much at first glance, but the amount of compliments I've gotten on it are insane. When I'm travelling, people will turn to their friends and say I want that bag, where do you think it's from? And friends of mine openly tell me they want the same bag. It's so simple, yet so multi-purpose. It's go to be my number one go-to bag in the last year. And the quality of this one is absolutely incredible. I've never purchased leather this soft to be quite honest!

Want to master the art of the find without the stress? Shanghai is a city of layers, literally. Whether you're hunting for the "hidden ceiling" leather at AP Plaza or looking for the best soup dumplings in the French Concession, I can help. I offer full-service travel planning where I build out your entire itinerary, including my personal "Black Book" of local contacts like Mary and Lin. Let’s make your China trip personal.