10 Best Cultural Streets in Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the world’s most modern and sophisticated cities, with a rich historical past. Of course, we’re all familiar with The Bund, but here are 10 other streets in Shanghai that represent some of its rich cultural heritage and unique history this city has to offer.

Fuzhou Lu

Fuzhou Lu is one of the best places purchase art supplies. There are also plenty of stores that specialize in traditional styles of framing, printing, canvases and rice-paper calligraphy.

Back in the day, the eastern side of Fuzhou Lu had many foreign banks. And, in 1912, many of the large publishing houses called Fuzhou Lu home.

Foreign Language Bookstore

Address: 390 Fuzhou Lu

Tel: [phone]

Currently, Fuzhou Lu is home to the Foreign Language Bookstore where you can find a mass collection of current titles as well as a comprehensive section on Chinese learning books.

Moganshan Lu

M50 Art Space

Address: 50 Moganshan Lu

Nothing screams culture more than the art district of M50 located at 50 Moganshan lu. Welcoming you to the art district is a long wall of street art painted by local and international graffiti artists.

Before 50 Moganshan Lu housed galleries, it used to be a factory area owned by Shangtex for their offices, warehouse and factory up until 1999. Although it is still owned by them, they profit largely from rental space, mainly from the galleries.

Shaoxing Lu

This street used to be home to small publishing houses and the Elite Club, which was home to infamous Shanghai gangster Big Eared Du and  his family at 54 Shaoxing Lu. It is without a doubt a street with a split personality: publishing nerd and gangster bad boy.

Now known as one of the more picturesque streets of Shanghai, bustling with funky little tea houses and café’s, Shaoxing Lu was originally built in 1926 and was originally named Route Victor Emmanuel III, after the Italian King.

Former Elite Club of Du Yue Sheng at 54 Shaoxing Lu

The Elite Club was, once owned by gangster Du Yuesheng, considered by many to be the most powerful man in Shanghai of the 1930s.

Old China Hand Reading Room

Address: 27 Shaoxing Lu

This vintage style coffee shop and bookstore offers a variety of books documenting the history of Shanghai along with the drastic change the city has gone through. It is also worth noting this was the former home of famous gangster Du Yusheng’s mistress.

Nanjing East Road

When one thinks of scenic Shanghai, you can count on Nanjing East Road. Although this street is most famous for it’s long Pedestrian walkway that stretches towards the Bund, it is also packed full of history.

It is estimated that Nanjing East Road has 1.7million visitors daily. Stretching between Xizang Middle Rd to He’nan Middle Rd, it is one of the most bustling streets with shopping varieties and famous Shanghainese eateries on both sides of the street.

This street has a history going back over 100 years. It used to be called Parker Lane before it was renammed in 1862 to Nanking Rd. After World War II in the 1930’s, the government renamed the road to East Nanjing Rd.  

When one thinks of Nanjing East Road, one cannot forget the origins of Shanghai’s Bund.

Photo source: Fairmont Peace Hotel

The Fairmont Peace Hotel

Address:  20 East Nanjing Road

Photo source: Fairmont Peace Hotel

The famous Fairmont Peace Hotel represents high-society’s opulent lifestyle in the pre-war era. The North Tower of the Peace Hotel was formerly known as the Sassoon house, built by businessman Sir Victor Sassoon in 1929. The 4th to 9th floor housed the Cathay Hotel. During Shanghai’s pre-war heyday, the Cathay House was where Shanghai elites would socialize and host impressive gatherings.  

This is considered one of the first modern high rises to emerge in Shanghai during the time.

Cathay hotel in 1933

Another site packed with history and heritage is Great World, which is worth checking out as it is considered to be the world’s first entertainment complex.

Great World

Address: 433 Yan'an Dong Lu, near Yunnan Nan Lu

Built in 1917 at the corner of Avenue Edward VII (now Xizang Middle Road) and Yu Ya Ching Road  (now Ya’an Rd,) it was the first entertainment complex of its time.

From Vaudeville shows to Chinese opera and Chinese Folk Art, plus 12 distorting mirrors imported from the Netherlands, they also had sing-song girls, acrobats, massage parlors, mahjong parlors…

When one of the owners, Shanghai gangster Huang Jing Rong, had his downfall he was stripped of all his wealth and properties. As a final kick in the teeth, he was featured in a newspaper sweeping the grounds of the Great World Entertainment Center in Dashijie, a property he used to own. 

Huang Jinrong sweeping the streets

This complex had briefly closed during the Cultural Revolution, and it was permanently shut down in 2003 during the SARS epidemic. But after restorations and renovations, they reopened this year to mark their centennial celebration.

Fang Bang Zhong Lu

If you are looking to understand the culture of Shanghai, Fang Bang Zhong Lu is the place for you. Located in the back alley of Yu Gardens, this area is packed with curios stores that contains small knick nacks and antiques from Shanghai’s past.

The street hasn’t changed all that much from the past. The shop-lined streets are still narrow as they were back in the day. One of the landmarks in this area is Yu Garden.

Yu Garden

Address: 218 Anren St, Huangpu Qu

Hours: Daily, 8:30am to 5pm

This classical garden was completed in 1559 in the Ming dynasty by a government officer named Pan Yunduan.

Yu Garden now

Hailed as one of the most prestigious gardens in its time, the cost of maintaining the garden proved to be too expensive, driving the Pan family into financial decline.

Yu Garden, photo from 1870-1890

The garden was severely damaged during the Opium war, and the garden you see today is the result of a 5-year restoration project that took place from 1956 to 1961.

Wukang Lu

The original name of Wukang Lu was ‘Route Ferguson.’ It was built in 1907 and named after American missionary John Ferguson. It stretches from Huaihai Middle Road to Huashan Lu and has a high concentration of art deco buildings and concession styled houses.

One of the most famous landmarks on Wukang Lu is Wukang Mansion. This is one of Hudec’s famous architectural landmarks that is similar to New York’s Flatiron Building. Another famous landmark on this road is Ferguson Lane, which is famous for their high-end restaurants and concession styled houses.

Address: Wukang Mansion, 1850 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Wukang Lu, Xuhui district

Tel:  [phone]

Originally built as “Normandie Apartments” in 1924, it was exclusive only to foreign tenants. 18 years later, when the building changed ownership, Chinese were allowed to reside in the building. Many socialites have lived in this building. But not all is glamorous.

During the Cultural Revolution it was renamed "Anti-Revisionist Tower" by the Red Guards, but the locals called it "The Diving Tower" due to the number of suicides from the top. It was finally named "Wukang Mansion" after the street it's on.

Address: Ferguson Lane, 378 Wukang Lu

Fergueson Lane is also one of the gems on Wukang Lu. Housing galleries,  and well as restaurants like Las Tapas, it was also the known assassination site of former prime minister Tang Xiao Yi  in the late 1920’s.

Fuxing Lu

The original name was Route Lafayette and in the heyday of Shanghai’s pre World War II era, is where most of the city’s French population resided, preferring a quieter lifestyle away from the bustling commerce centers of Nanjing Road and The Bund.

Sinan Rd in the 1930’s

One of the famous highlights of Fuxing Lu nowadays is a small area called Sinan Mansions. Originally built in 1920, to preserve 51 garden villa homes in downtown Shanghai. 

Sinan Mansion

Address: 55 Sinan Lu

Zhou Enlai’s Residence

Address: 73 Sinan Lu

Tel:  [phone]

Hours: Daily, 9:07 am - 4:33 pm

Sinan Mansions is where some of Shanghai’s most famous used to reside. Zhou Enlai used to live here, and his home is still preserved as a museum on 73 Sinan Lu.  

Fuxing Park

Address: 2 Gaolan Lu (also entrance on Fuxing Lu and Chongqing S. Road)

Hours: 24 hours

Another famous icon on Fuxing Lu is Fuxing Park. Originally built in 1909, it is designed in French style with statues, lakes, pavilions and flowerbeds. Throughout the day visitors can see locals practicing dance and martial arts, plus a lively scene of families and children frolicking around.

Yuyuan Lu

Built in the late 19th century, Yuyuan Lu connects Jing’an Temple to Zhongshan Park.

Originally built with a lot of Garden Villas, it was considered a neighborhood for social elites and upper middle class.

Shanghai Children’s Palace

Address: Number 31, Lane 1136, Yuyuan Rd

One of the most famous mansions on Yuyuan Lu is the Wang Mansion. Built in 1934 in the Victorian Gothic style, it was the home of former Kuomintang minister of transport. With a sprawling garden space and lush trees, it has 30 rooms and is currently the Shanghai Changning Children’s Palace.

Jing’an Temple

Address: No.1686 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai, China

Hours： Daily 7:30 am- 5:00 pm

One of the famous sites on Yuyuan Lu (and perhaps all of Puxi) is Jing’an Temple. Built in 247AD, it was originally located near Suzhou Creek .

Jing’an temple, 1880

Jing’an Temple, 1905

During the Song dynasty it was moved to the current location in 1216. During the cultural revoltuion the temple was converted into a plastics factory. By 1983, the temple returned back to being a place of worship.

Maoming Nan Lu

Maoming Nan Lu is one Shanghai’s peaceful streets, famous for their exquisite Qipao tailors and dense art deco landmarks. But not long ago, it was the center of Shanghai society’s happening events.

Formerly known as Route Cardinal Mercier it was home to the Cathay Theater,  French Club (present day Okura Garden Hotel), Lyceum theater, Grosvenor house and Cathay Mansion (present day Jinjiang Hotel) and a dog racing track.

Garden Okura Hotel, formerly French Club

Okura Garden hotel (former French Club)

Address: 58 Maoming Lu

Tel: [phone]

Built in 1926, it was the center of many social activities from the annual French Ball to weekend events that often included bowling or tennis. To date, the hotel maintains the art deco motifs that era is so heavily associated with.

Photo source: Shanghaitours.com

The original colorful stained glass ceiling with boat bottom is still gracing the ballroom.

Cathay Theater

Address: 870 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Maoming Lu, Xuhui District

Tel: [phone]

Cathay Theatre was built in 1930 on Huaihai Lu by Czech architect C.H. Gonda, who also designed the Capitol Theatre and The Bund's Bank of Communications Building. Opened on January 1st, 1932 with the American film A Free Soul starring Norma Shearer, it was declared an "excellent historic building" by the city government in 1994, then renovated for three months in 2003.

Lyceum Theater

Address: 57 Maoming S. Lu

Tel: [phone]

Photo source: Eastday

Lyceum Theater was first opened in 1930’. In 1949 the name of the theater was renamed to Shanghai Arts Theater. At the time it was an amateur performance theater, where they sometimes show feature films. Under the rule of the communist party, the theater received many equipment upgrades, which allowed the theater to thrive. In 1991, the theater reverted back to its old name, the Lyceum Theater. Today it seats over 600 and has hosted many international acts and well-known celebrities.

SAIC Culture Square

Address: 597 Fuxing lu

Today, Maoming Lu’s most famous building is the Shanghai Cultural Square. At the intersection of Maoming Lu and Fuxing Lu, it opened in 2011. Shining like a UFO in the heart of the French Concession, its international acts including Wicked, Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera among many others.

Outside the Canidrome in the 1930’s

Originally a greyhound racing track, it was turned into a mass execution facility from 1949 to 1951. During the Cultural Revolution era, it was turned into an auditorium where it was a venue for public meetings and denouncements. Again, the Canidrome was transformed in the 80’s to be a center for films and public theater. In the late 90’s it became a flower market. And today, it is a park that is part of the SAIC Cultural Square.

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