For some reason lost in the annals of history (perhaps because the the scribes were blissing out with a fat one themselves), April 20 is the international day for lighting up. In some parts of the world this is legal – and all power to them – but in Shanghai it most definitely is not. So stay safe, stay legal and check out our list of alternative ways of getting high in Shanghai this 4/20.
Go up the Shanghai Tower
Buildings don't get much higher than the Shanghai Tower - it's the second tallest building in the world, after all. Get out on the observation deck and use the beautiful views that the city has to offer as a firm reminder that you don't need substances to enjoy living here.
Bounce on some trampolines at Jump 360
Foam pits, obstacle courses, a parkour zone - a trip to Jump 360 will have you both bouncing high and buzzing. There's also a basketball area (think SlamBall) where you can go full Space Jam. It can be a pretty vigorous workout, so don't be surprised if your body takes a few days to recover.
Ride the rollercoasters at Happy Valley
Increased heart rate? Feeling light-headed? Dizzy? Yeah, you guessed it - these are all common side-effects of riding rollercoasters. Get down to Happy Valley and experience the Diving Coaster and the Gyro Swing. The log flume also hurtles you down a 26m drop causing splashes of up to five metres high.
Scale the Pearl Tower
Get high (on life) at Shanghai's most iconic building. The Oriental Pearl Tower has a sightseeing floor, a revolving restaurant and an incredible skywalk that's stationed a vertigo-inducing 259m off the ground. There's also a really cool virtual reality rollercoaster. The ride is short yet surprisingly thrilling (one for your Tinder bio) and on your way out you descend back down to earth in a glass elevator that'll have you feeling like a regular Charlie Bucket.
Brave the Jin Mao Skywalk
340.6m in the air, 1.2m wide, completely transparent and without any guardrails (you are securely tied to the building, though), the Skywalk at the Jin Mao Tower is not for the faint-hearted. You're so high up that on a clear day you can apparently see as far as Chongming Island.
Drink at one of the world's highest bars
Also found at the Jin Mao Tower (and considerably less terrifying) is Cloud 9. We've heard of setting the bar high, but the folks at Cloud 9 took it literally as the establishment was previously the highest bar in the world, before being overtaken by Ozone in Hong Kong. You get drunk quicker at altitude, too - or at least that's what you tell yourself as an excuse for getting inexcusably drunk after a couple of bottles.
Get the munchies
Why smoke when you can skip straight to the fast food? While you can't quite embrace your inner Harold and Kumar with a trip to White Castle, why not hit up Taco Bell? Pop down to the location right by Exit 2 of Lujiazui metro station and enjoy a 'double decker' taco or a Volcano Chicken Burrito. It even serves booze.
Get rubbed into nirvana
Possibly the best legal high around, there's nothing quite like a good old-fashioned massage. Whether it's cheap massages, foot massages or luxurious couples' spa treatments, Shanghai has got you covered. If you're feeling a bit adventurous (and don't mind having temporary marks all over your back for about a week), you could also try ba guan fa. More traditionally known as 'cupping', it's a treatment where heated suction cups of sorts are attached to your back, helping your qi flow freely and curing all sorts of ailments.