I wouldn't feel so negative about it, but yes, there's still grimy parts that are mainly full of people from less civilised backgrounds. Many people make the mistakes of judging it solely based upon Lujiazui or Xujiahui; which would be like judging London based upon Westminster rather than E3, or New York based upon central Manhattan rather than the rougher parts of Brooklyn.

One person even joked that if you want a real Shanghainese partying experience, don't go to those fancy cocktail bars. Go and drink baijiu and REEB beer together with the workers at the barbecues outside the Toyota factory.