The '''French Concession''' is the area of Shanghai once designated for the French. Today, the area's central '''Huaihai Rd''' is a busy shopping street, but the tree-lined avenues and their many Tudor mansions still retain an air of the "Paris of the East".
Get in
Metro Line 1 runs along Huaihai and Hengshan Roads. Most useful stops are probably the Shan Xi Nan Lu station, which is fairly central, and Xujiahui station, which is one of the biggest metro stations in Shanghai and connects most, if not all, big shopping malls in the Xujiahui commercial circle and contains an underground market all the way along the station from Hongqiao Road to Nandan Road.
See
Xintiandi. V_V_n. ear Metro Huangpi South Road. Xintiandi is a popular spot for young people, particularly well-heeled yuppies. It is a place where you can find a lot of restaurants and clubs. Besides these pubs you can also see some traditional Shanghai-style lodgings (''Shikumen'') which are a unique blend of European and Chinese design. There is a nice miniature museum, showing the configuration and interior of a recreated 1930s shikumen house.
Old French Concession Streets. Get away from the busy streets and explore the area between Julu Lu to the north and Huai Hai Lu running through the center, plus Mao Ming Lu and surrounding area to the south of Huai Hai Lu. Pleasant tree-lined streets and local Shanghainese bustle, combined with a growing number of trendy boutiques and restaurants. Chang Le Lu and Xin Le Lu are rapidly becoming the places to find small designer clothing shops. Interesting architecture built with French and Belgian money and showing mixed Chinese-European styles.
Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence. Xiangshan Road.. 86 21 64372954. 0RMB. The house was the residence of Sun Yat-sen and his wife Soong Ching Ling from 1918 to 1937. It was converted into a musium in 1961 and tells the story of Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary father of China's republic.
Zhou Enlai's Residence. 3 Sinan Road.. 86 21 64730420. ree entry.. This was the former Shanghai Office of the Delegation of the Communist Party in China from June 1946. It is now a museum telling the story of the Communist revolution in China and particularly Shanghai.
Do
Fuxing Road. ?_H. Walk along Fuxing Road to see classical old buildings and enjoy the neatness of the road.
Shanghai Xintiandi. V_V_n. ane 181, Taicang Road. Enter this small pedestrianised area of the city featuring rebuilt traditional shikumen [stone gate] houses. Housing a cinema complex, mall, numerous bars, cafes and art galleries marketed towards foreign visitors and the more affluent locals. Close to where the Communist party headquarters were located.
Sylvan streets. Explore the Sylvan streets and admire Shanghai's Art Deco residential architecture, reputedly the world's largest (although not the most well-kept). Most historic buildings have a bronze plaque that details their original use. The area sandwiched between Fuxing Road and Huaihai Road is particularly interesting with a sprinkling of tucked-away shops and discreet cafes, a refreshing alternative to the city's generally megalomaniac streetscape.
Bar and club districts. Experience the nightlife in one of the many bar and club districts: Julu Road, Hengshan Raod or Xintiandi.
Buy
All these streets and the connecting north-south streets are worth a stroll, and something new seems to open every week. This is also the area to see Shanghai style Deco architecture that has been getting a lot of press lately:
Ruijin Second Road. ______H. This is a tree-lined boulevard in the heart of the French Concession, where you can experience the real Shanghai ''longtang'' (a narrow alley from house to house, which is a distinctive Shanghai architecture style).
Diva Life Nail & Beauty Lounge. uijin Erlu. ear Jianguoxi. A 2,700-square-foot-house, mixed with Chinese and European style, is located on Rui Jin Er Road. Established in 1933, this three story complex was once the home of the Jewish wine merchant H.L. Menken.
Huaihai Road. __C_H; Huaih?ilu. The main commercial street, with mainly international brand stores.
Xujiahui. ___?. ou can get here by metro. Enormous shopping malls are found here.
Julu Lu, Chang Le Lu and Xin Le Lu. These two parallel east-west streets and the surrounding neighbourhood are gradually acquiring some outstanding boutiques and shops.
An Fu Lu. Interesting boutiques (and bars and restaurants) both in the eastern and western ends of this street.
Garden Books. ear to the junction of Chang Le Lu and Shanxi Nan Lu. ttp://www.gardenbooks.cn. Good selection of Chinese travel guides, as well as aromatic coffee and flavorful ice cream. Their monthly bric-a-brac sales are a popular local social event.
Torana House. Formerly in Shan Xi Nan Lu, now at #164 An Fu Lu (just west of Wu Lu Mu Qi Lu). Has Tibetan and Chinese carpets and Tibetan furniture in a contemporary gallery.
Spin Ceramics. Designer ceramics by Chinese artists but with a Japanese flavor, in a stylish minimalist space off Julu Lu. Bit difficult to spot since it is set back off the street: it is next to Mesa restaurant (known to many expats for its excellent Sunday brunch).
Silk QiPao shops. A row of shops along Chang Le Lu, between Mao Ming Lu and Shan Xi Nan Lu specializes in silk Qi Paos (traditional Shanghai-style silk dresses), which can be made to measure. The shops are especially popular with Japanese visitors staying at the nearby Okura Garden Hotel.
eno. 39-23 Changle Lu. etween Ruijin Lu and Chengdu Lu. ttp://www.eno.cn. Two storey shop featuring t-shirts, sweatshirts, bags and shoes designed in conjunction with China's hottest up and coming artists. Also has a cafe with Illy coffee.
Mme Mao's Dowry. u Min Lu. Cultural Revolution nostalgia.
Ferguson Lane. n a narrow alley off Wu Kang Lu in the western end of the French Concession. A '30s building filled with restaurants and boutique shops.
Other nearby areas:
Posh Shopping. long Mao Ming Nan Lu, by the Jin Jiang Hotel. Designer shops and art galleries. Don't forget your platinum Amex card.
Electronical articles:
Xujiahui. If you're looking for anything electronic, Xujiahui is the place to start. Pacific Digital Plaza Phase 2 is the place to start, conveniently connected to exit number 10 of the Metro station. There are more electronics markets nearby, such as Pacific Digital Plaza Phase 1 and Buynow. Popular game consoles such as Wii, PS3, and Xbox360 are abundantly available as are laptops, MP3 players, memory cards, and computer accessories. The metro station exits at the intersection of 5 roads. There's at least one shopping mall on each of the 5 corners. Grand Gateway is the most upscale of them, and also the best-air conditioned in the summertime (you'll find that info useful if you visit in July or August). The 5th and 6th floors of Grand Gateway offer a good selection of restaurants.
Eat
Budget
Vegetarian Lifestyle. 7 Song Shan Road . In a fabulously decorated alleyway just south of Huai Hai Road. 1-6384-8000. Every day until 10PM. eer ¥30, ¥18 lunch special. A beautifully appointed modern restaurant where everything is vegetarian. You will not find much in the way of fake meat that pervades most of the other vegetarian places. Instead, you will enjoy beautifully cooked dishes from all over the country, and juices from the juice bar. They serve beer as well, but careful, one bottle will double your bill.
Xintiandi . t the southeast corner of Huaihai Park. Four dumplings are ¥1.50. This is not in a trendy district, but a small 24 hour coffee/dumpling shop just next to the park. They sell steamed-and-fried soup-filled dumplings that are famous for squirting across the room if you do not suck out the juice beforehand.
Mid-range
Shanghai Uncle . 11 Tianyaoqiao Road. 86 21 6464 6430. A famous chain of three restaurants known for the Shanghai flair with some Western accents. Known for their spare ribs, smoked fish and fatty pork with garlic.
Hailaogui . C_V_T; H?il?og?i . 1 Yandang Road (_____H41__) . Milk pudding with ginger is ¥10. Cafe specialising in sweet Chinese desserts claimed to have all sorts of beneficial effects for your health, particularly dishes made with turtle. No English menu.
Saleya. Changle Road. etween Xiangyang Road and Shanxi South Road. By Chinese standards the prices would be in the splurge category, but for a foreign restaurant the prices are very reasonable. Neighborhood French Restaurant. Unpretentious and you can close your eyes and imagine you are on the Isle de la Cite.
Secret Garden. hangle Road. short distance west from Garden Books. serving Cantonese food in pleasant surroundings. The veranda-like space near to Secret Garden has been home to a succession of restaurants, the latest incarnation being a Greek restaurant.
Di Shui Dong . H____. 6 Mao Ming Road. ear Changle Road, Metro Shaanxi South Road. 86 21 6253 2689. Fiery cuisine from
Mid range
Splurge
Jin Jiang Hotel . 9 Maoming Road South, Luwan District. http://www.jinjianghotel-shanghai.com/. 4-star business hotel offering cozy and luxurious accommodations with world-class amenities and services.
Anting Villa Hotel. 6 Anting Road, Xuhui District . km away from the Xujiahui Business District and close to The Bund and Xintiandi. http://www.antingvillahotel-shanghai.com. 4-star hotel. Expect stately accommodations, conference spaces and restaurants.
Jin Jiang Tower Hotel. 61 Changle Road, Luwan District. http://www.jinjiangtowerhotel-shanghai.com. Sister hotel to Jin Jiang Hotel. This premiere hotel has played host to dignitaries and famous personalities since it opened in 1988.
Pine City Hotel Jin Jiang. 77 Zhao Jia Bang Road, Xuhui District. http://www.pinecityhotel-shanghai.com. An elegant hotel inspired by traditional Chinese flair combined with the functionality of the modern 21st century. It offers world-class facilities and superb services.
Hengshan Picardie Hotel. 34 Hengshan Road, Xuhui District. 86 21 6122 6688. tprsvns@hubs1.net. A classic Art Deco-inspired hotel in the heart of French Concession. The hotel offers 254 aptly furnished rooms and a wealth of dining and leisure facilities. Business amenities include a fully-equipped business center and flexible venues such as Kaixuan Palace and Blossom Hall.
'Jin Jiang Tian Cheng Hotel. 85 Xujiahui Road, The East Building, Jin Yu Lan Square. This four-star business hotel houses 148 guestrooms furnished with modern amenities. Business and event facilities include a business center and event and conference venues of varying sizes. Leisure offerings include indoor swimming pool, disco and karaoke center.
Skyway Hotel Shanghai. 5 Dapu Road, Luwan District. http://www.skywayhotelshanghai.com. 5-star luxury hotel with 653 rooms and suites that offer opulence and comfort to traveling executives or families on vacation. With first-class ballrooms, conference halls and a business center, plus a host of in-house restaurants, a swimming pool, spa, gym, and health club.
Royal Court Hotel Shanghai . Lane 622, 7 Middle Huaihai Road, Luwan District. http://www.royalcourthotel-shanghai.com. A business hotel offering five-star comforts to traveling executives and holidaymakers. With air-conditioned rooms, conference halls, restaurant and bar, gym and sauna. Its location is very accessible from the railway station, South Shanxi Road Station and Nanjing Road.
Garden Avenue Hotel. 89 Old Humin Road, Xuhui District. http://www.gardenavenuehotel-shanghai.com. 5-star business hotel near Shanghai_fs central business district. It has 218 beautifully furnished rooms, fully-equipped banquet halls, and dining and recreational facilities.
Shanghai New-Westlake Hotel. Mao Ming South Road, Luwan District. http://www.shanghainewwestlakehotel.com . It is 5 km from the railway station, 12 km from Hongqiao Airport, and 43 km from Pudong Airport. The Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. It offers 20 air-conditioned rooms, all of which have cable TV, a private toilet, and room safe.
To be moved to the correct price range
Old House Inn. o 16, Lane 351, Huashan Rd, French Concession. 21 6248 6118. With only a dozen rooms, its advisable to book ahead to secure one of these charming rooms, furnished in traditional Chinese style. All rooms have internet access and breakfast, which is included, is served in a lovely outdoor courtyard.
Mason Hotel. 35 Central Huaihai Rd, Luwan, French Concession. 21 6466 2020. This boutique hotel is cozy and comfortable and great for quiet nights sleep. All rooms have internet access and there's a 2nd floor lounge, a rooftop beer garden, a variety of restaurants and a Starbucks on the ground floor.
Hilton Shanghai. 50 Huashan Lu, French Concession. 021 6248 0000. While still popular with business travellers for its recognizable name, the Hilton Shanghai has lost some of its lustre, although its still considered a top end hotel in this area. Rooms are spacious and modern, and the staff are friendly, but the Hilton needs to step up its game.
Hengshan Moller Villa. o 30 Shanxi Road South Jing. Housed in a 1936 stunning piece of architecture, the Hegnshan impresses all with its brilliant facade that continues with its impeccable stylings inside. Rooms are frequently booked out so be sure to try and get one of the main rooms which contain wood panelling or business rooms that are much larger and come with a huge balcony that overlooks the garden.
Letour Traveler's Rest Youth Hostel. _r______?___N___q. Building 30, 319 Jiaozhou Road, Jingan District . 86 21 6267 1912. http://www.letourshanghai.com. Normal season: Private double ¥200, private twin ¥210, private triple ¥270. YHA bed and breakfast hostel in downtown, and 10 minuntes walk to Subway Jingan Temple/Airport City Terminal. The building was built in 1930s as a towel factory and is deliberately refurbished to maintain its unique details: narrow lane, Stone-frame, packing case etc. They have double rooms, twin rooms, apartment rooms and shared single-sex dormitory. Cafe and bar, free internet, bike hire, laundry, luggage lockers.
Asset Hotel Shanghai . 90 South Wanping Road, Xuhui District. http://www.assethotelshanghai.com. The hotel is located close to well-known places such as Xujiahui and Zhaojiabang Road. All rooms are air conditioned and have their own private bathroom. Helpful services include 24-hour front desk and room services, and free shuttle bus is offered to guests who want to explore the rest of the district. Online reservations are accepted.
Jianguo Hotel. 39 North Caoxi Road, Xuhui District. http://www.jianguohotelshanghai.com/. 4-star hotel just 11km away from Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport.
Hua Ting Hotel. 200 North Caoxi Road. lose to Shanghai Stadium Metro Station (line 1). http://www.huatinghotel-shanghai.com/. 5-star hotel.
Contact