There's a Huge Pink Barbie Pop-Up Downtown... Is It Worth It?

Do you like pink? Are you a fan of the 90s, early 2000s plastic nostalgia? Do you enjoy a cooling beverage? Well, you're in luck; the most famous doll named Barbara Millicent Roberts (yes, that's her full name) has stopped in Shanghai's newly renovated Zhangyuan Garden to bring you a piece of history, capitalist joy in the form of blind boxes and a tasty collaboration with a coffee chain.

Before we talk about the overly pink pop-up, let's get familiar with the area first, because it can take a while to navigate that labyrinth.

So, what is Zhangyuan 张园? It is the popular photogenic street right as you exit the Nanjing Road W. Metro station, often a host to many brand events and cultural celebrations. Some of the popular stores you might have seen are Onitsuka Tiger, Carhartt and Blue Bottle Coffee. However, that's just the outside street; the real deal is inside Zhangyuan. Something is constantly happening there, from random pop-ups to street performances; besides that, the area is just breathtakingly photogenic. Like, if you think "I need people to know I've been to Shanghai," besides posing in front of the Oriental Pearl Tower, I think the aesthetic of Nanjing Road W. is uniquely Shanghainese.

Now, the Zhangyuan can be a bit tough to navigate if you're unfamiliar with the area. Actually, I was completely unaware of that new pathway into the area where the Barbie pop-up is situated. To get there from the main Zhangyuan entrance, you need to walk through that "passageway" area, where there are only two mini stores, Matcha Tokyo and Arabica% Coffee. It almost had an airport feeling to me, I don't know… But anyways, once you exit that purgatorio, you will find yourself in some sort of plaza right behind Zhangyuan. The Barbie store will be to your right; you won't miss it, giant pink balloons and palm trees will grab your attention.

My 22nd birthday was spent at a Barbie pop-up store, followed by the screening of the marvelous Margot Robbie performance as the blonde pink icon. So, visiting this store gave me the dopamine boost, especially amidst the recent gloomy Shanghai weather.

The pop-up is cute, compact and very pink. There is a photo booth with accessories provided, like pink glasses and bows, plus the whole place is very photogenic; though I do recommend taking your pictures with flash on, unless you want to look like you have pink skin. Then, of course, there is no lack of merch and silly memorabilia for you to purchase. Perhaps somewhat of a local equivalent to Mattel, Pop Mart came up with their infamous blind boxes, now featuring small Barbies from different decades; very fun.

But my favorite little trinket there has to be those Barbies that are made to look like those recently viral Chinese printed-on dummy toys, I'm not sure if that's the right description (those soft stick-like figure toys that Chinese netizens would print their own photos on and then place them into compromising positions). Anyways, now they also come in Barbie flavor. Oh, and it's also a blind box, so good luck.

But the main point of the pop-up is the display of the historical, retro Barbies, some from over 50-year-old releases, others from collaborations with famous designers like Oscar de la Renta. But besides those rare collectibles, there are also dolls for purchase. Though I must say, the modern dolls aren't as striking as the retro ones; like, some of them are literally called "basic Barbie," but I digress.

Now, in case you suddenly get thirsty or develop a craving for pink ice cream, you're once again in luck. Lavazza coffee is offering some exclusive drinks which, you guessed it, are featuring the color pink. The "Pink Barbie Lemon Series" (Google translation) includes lemon and guava coffee beverages, as well as a latte with a scoop of strawberry ice cream on top. Now, I haven't personally tried it; my lactose intolerant self would be set into a coma, but it does sound very good… There are also some gifts with purchase, like a Barbie-themed coffee pot and a limited quantity Barbie pink tote bag, though I'm not sure if those are still available.

So, is it worth a visit? I'd say so, yes. The outside decorations are comically large, the inside is super pink and the merch is actually interesting and fun. This store apparently runs until October, which seems surprisingly long for a pop-up. Perhaps there will be different events and collections somewhere along the line, but we shall see.

If you go

Address: 上海张园E42, which doesn't tell you much, so just follow the description I've provided earlier.