Nanjing Road

Shanghai's most famous thoroughfare, Nanjing Road spills from its eastern terminus on the Bund and past the People's Square to its western extreme by the newly remodeled Jing an Temple. Divided into East, Middle and West sections, it is at times a pedestrian shopping street, a winding tree-lined road, and a modern thoroughfare cutting between some of Shanghai's most posh hotels.

Once known as the premier shopping street in China and Asia, colonial Nanjing Road stood in stark contrast to the rest of agrarian China. The hottest fashions from Italy were imported regularly and the road was full of shops selling some of finest silks in China. Massive department stores were built, the most famous being the Great World and Wing-On, where shopping was only one of the activities enjoyed amongst gambling and sing-song halls, game parlors, bars and freak shows.

Originally named Bubbling Well Road after a small stream that once ran beneath it, Nanjing Road became China's most famous strip and may now regain this crown. Modern department stores, though not as gay as the old ones, still line the street and exert a tremendous tourist draw over Chinese and foreign visitors alike. During holidays, it is common to see people jostling to have their photo taken in front of the Nanjing Road sculpture at the two ends of the pedestrian street.

Modern Nanjing Road

Nanjing Road starts from the Bund in the east and ends at Jing an Temple in the west, totaling 5.5 kilometers long. Enjoying its reputation as No. 1 commercial street in China, Nanjing Road is becoming a must – see destination for travelers both at home and aboard. The vogue commercial area is now home to some of the city's most expensive buildings including Shanghai Center, CITIC Square and Plaza 66. The CITIC Square and Plaza 66 are two luxury shopping complexes, both run by Hong Kong investors. They focus on young and fashionable brands that are more attractive to the local young fashion fans. Therefore both of them are promising to add more vibrancy to the neighborhood.

To increase the sales, now it has been built into a Shanghai special pedestrian mall. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall runs from Xizang Road (M) in the west and ends at Henan Road (M) in the east, with a total length of 1033 meters, It is a 24 – hour pedestrian walkway, blending sightseeing, shopping, business, exhibition and culture into a harmonious whole. In the pedestrian mall are placed flowerbeds, telephone booths, street lamps, sculptures as well as unimpeded lanes for the handicapped.

In the middle of the mall, there is a 880  square meters square – the Century Square, where visitors can see a music fountain, an oriental tripod, an extra large electronic screen and a stage erected for fashion shows and performances, forming an enchanting integration of Chinese and Western art.

Nanjing Road Tour

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall is by all means a symbol of Shanghai's vigor and vitality.  At night, travelers can watch brilliant neon lights in a riot of colors on Nanjing Road.