Padel has landed in Shanghai and you can play today at a handful of glass-walled clubs, from about 100 RMB per person for a social session.
Padel has landed in Shanghai, and you can play it today at a handful of glass-walled clubs across the city. Expect to pay roughly 300 to 600 RMB to rent a court for an hour, or about 100 to 180 RMB per person for a 90-minute social session with a racket thrown in. The main clubs are IPC Padel Club in Yangpu, PadelX, and InLove Sports Club, and every one of them is booked through a WeChat mini-program rather than a phone call.
If you have never heard of padel, you are about a year behind half of your group chat. It is the racket sport that took over Madrid and Dubai, and Shanghai has caught it fast enough that the professional FIP tour brought a Gold-level tournament to the city in 2026. I went in expecting tennis and got something friendlier, sweatier and far easier to be bad at in public.
What is padel, and is it hard to start?
Padel is doubles-only, played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, with glass walls you are allowed to play off, like squash. The racket is a solid, stringless bat, and the balls are a touch softer than tennis balls. You serve underarm. That combination is the whole reason it spread so quickly: the rules are simple, rallies last, and a complete beginner can keep a point going in the first hour.
If you play any tennis, badminton or squash, you will feel at home in twenty minutes. If you play none of them, padel is still the gentlest racket sport to walk into, because the walls keep the ball in play and the court is small enough that you are never sprinting corner to corner.
Where can I play padel in Shanghai?
Four spots cover most of the city, and all of them rent rackets so you can turn up empty-handed the first time.
IPC Padel Club, Yangpu
The largest indoor padel venue in China, inside Jiangwan Stadium at 28 Guoxiang Road in Yangpu, with six indoor courts and two outdoor. Indoor courts matter more than they sound in a city with Shanghai's summers and rain, so this is the one that keeps running when the weather does not. It has the busiest social scene, it is pet-friendly, and it runs open-play sessions for people without a full group of four.
PadelX
One of the first commercial padel clubs to open in the city, and a good place to take a lesson before you commit to buying gear. Coaching is the draw here, so it suits a genuine beginner who wants an hour of instruction rather than four friends flailing at each other.
InLove Sports Club
A multi-sport club that runs padel alongside pickleball and tennis, which is handy if your group cannot agree on one racket sport. Book the court type you want inside the same mini-program.
Rooftop Padel at Global Harbor, Putuo
Courts on top of the Global Harbor mall in Putuo, with a city view thrown in. It is more of an occasion than a weekly habit, but it photographs well and it is the easiest sell for talking a reluctant friend into their first game. You can reach it on 021-52971078.
How much does padel cost, and how do I book?
Booking is almost always through each club's WeChat mini-program or official account, not by phone and not through a Western app. Search the club name in WeChat, or scan the code on their account, and you will see live court slots and session times.
On price, plan for one of two models. Renting a whole court runs about 300 to 600 RMB an hour depending on the club and whether it is peak evening or a quiet weekday morning; split four ways that is roughly 80 to 150 RMB each. Open-play or social sessions, where the club puts you in with other players, tend to land around 100 to 180 RMB per person for 90 minutes, racket included. A private coaching hour costs more, often 400 RMB and up. Prices move, so confirm the exact number inside the club's mini-program before you go rather than trusting any single figure, including mine.
What do I need to bring as a beginner?
Almost nothing. Every club above rents rackets, and balls come with the court. Wear flat court or running shoes with grip, bring water, and that is the whole list for a first session. Buy your own racket only once you know you like the sport, because a decent padel bat is a 700 RMB-and-up decision you do not need to make on day one.
Padel is doubles, so the one thing worth sorting in advance is people. If you cannot field four, book an open-play session instead of a court, or use the club's WeChat group, where players post looking to fill a game most evenings.
Which club is for you
If you want the liveliest scene and reliable indoor courts, start at IPC Padel Club in Yangpu.
If you are a complete beginner who wants to be taught properly, book a coaching hour at PadelX first.
If your group is split between padel, pickleball and tennis, InLove keeps everyone happy under one roof.
If it is a one-off with a view and a photo, take them to Rooftop Padel at Global Harbor.
If padel turns out not to be your sport, the same energy goes a long way in a Shanghai gym with day passes, or a lane at one of the city's public swimming pools.
Common questions
How much does padel cost in Shanghai?
Renting a court runs about 300 to 600 RMB an hour, which is roughly 80 to 150 RMB per person split four ways. Social open-play sessions are around 100 to 180 RMB per person for 90 minutes with a racket included. Confirm the current price in the club's WeChat mini-program before booking.
Do I need my own racket to play padel?
No. Every major Shanghai club rents rackets and provides balls with the court, so you can play your first few games empty-handed and only buy a bat once you are sure you enjoy it.
How do I book a padel court in Shanghai?
Through each club's WeChat mini-program or official account. Search the club name in WeChat to see live court slots and session times, since none of the clubs take bookings through a Western app.
Is padel good for beginners?
Yes. The court is small, the walls keep the ball in play, and the serve is underarm, so most first-timers can hold a rally within the first hour. It is widely considered the easiest racket sport to start.
Where is the biggest padel club in Shanghai?
IPC Padel Club inside Jiangwan Stadium in Yangpu is the largest indoor padel venue in China, with six indoor courts and two outdoor ones, plus regular open-play sessions.
