METAL
Metal marks the autumn, when energy consolidates inward, yet metal's cutting properties symbolize clarity, direction, and goals.

Lilli's Shanghai
"Shanghai is full of opportunities," says Lilli Makinson, whose eponymous shop evolved from a linens business into one of Shanghai's swankiest jewelry boutiques. Designer Tony Cui is a master at precious metals, turning out gold, silver, and platinum pieces paired with gems and power stones or stamped with Chinese symbols for fortune and longevity - both of which this shop has enjoyed. Suite 1D, Maosheng Mansion, 1051 Xinzha Lu, 011-8621-6215-5031, www.asia-­pakowa.com.

Oriental Pearl
TV Tower
From its pad in Pudong (the eastern side of the Huangpu River), the rocketlike Oriental Pearl TV Tower looks poised for takeoff. Most tourists come for a skyline view from one of the three glittering metal-and-glass observation decks. But the Shanghai Municipal History Museum at the base of the tower is also worth a stop for its look back at the city's complex and storied history. 1 Shiji Dadao, Pudong, 011-8621-5879-1888.

Shintori Null II
The industrial-chic dining room of this Japanese restaurant draws frequent comparisons to the film Blade Runner. A gleaming stainless steel open kitchen lies center stage, while Ginsus fly at the sushi bars flanking the airplane-hangar-size room. The pan-Asian menu is representative of the fusion fetish among Shanghai's restaurants; Peking duck rolls served Vietnamese style vie with nigiri sushi and foie gras. 803 Julu Lu, 011-8621-5404-5252.

Grand Hyatt Shanghai
The 88-story Jin Mao Tower, China's tallest skyscraper, is a shimmering glass-and-steel exclamation point on the Pudong skyline. Symbolic of Shanghai's push ever farther, ever higher, the futuristic tower is home to the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, the highest hotel in the world. The 56th floor is a conduit for international commerce, as executives wine and dine over steaks at the Grill and close deals over drinks in the Patio Lounge, which provides a vertiginous view through the hotel's 33-story atrium. Jin Mao Dasha, 88 Shiji Dadao, Pudong, 011-8621-5049-1234,
www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com.

Fabrique
Along with its sister properties in Paris and Tokyo, Shanghai's Fabrique is a prime stop on the international DJ circuit. The chrome-and-aluminum bar and decor reflect the neon and video projections at play on the dance floor, as well as the stunning silhouettes of the models and media moguls sipping Shanghaitinis. 8 Jian Guo Zhong Lu, 011-8621-6415-0700, www.fabrique.com.cn.