English Board Game Store in Shanghai?

English speakers living in China are a small niche market, and it would be difficult to support the expenses of a brick-and-mortar store by catering only to a small niche, especially when Taobao exists.

Pops Gaming Shanghai might be able to tell you where to look

Also to add, even though most board game are made in China, there is a strange import law that has them exported out of country before they are imported back. It makes board games even more expensive and hard to get than they would normally be.

Some games are even pirated if they are simple enough. I think only Kickstarters and Gamefound projects can ship direct in China as they work with local fullfillment centers.

I think the biggest factor however, is what ABinSH has mentioned So many things are purchased online now, board games being one of them. You can find most things online, or a store willing to 代购 (Dai Gou) which means purchasing from aborad and bringing it back.

This obviously will be more expensive, take a lot of time and require a trusted store.

The other thing I can suggest is the used board game market. I am in 2-3 2nd hand board game wechat groups where I have bought a few games and also sell every now and again.

You might find what you are looking for there. If you are interested, PM me and I will add you and pull you into the groups.

i bought my copy of Wingspan on Xianyu lol

I'm selling some board games, completely brand new. Monopoly and Cluedo (Harry Potter) if you're interested\~

if there’s any physical stores selling English Board games with a wider selection

With a wider selection than Taobao? lol no

Even back in the days before Taobao completely took over (like 2013-2015) I could barely find brick-and-mortar Chinese board game stores with any decent selection.

Any reason you're opposed to Taobao? Most stuff arrives in 1-3 days. I have a very good board game collection in Chinese and English (and a little bit of German and Spanish) that I mostly assembled through Taobao.

If you font mind reproductions/fakes i buy mine from AP Plaza at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station Sibway Line 2

I used to own a store, I still have a stock of games, what u looking for?

I tried a few months ago and got these recs:

https://www.reddit.com/r/shanghai/s/AEIvhVYZGi

很少有人玩吧