The Nanjing Road Shopping District, one of the city’s busiest shopping areas, has a history stretching back more than 100 years. The district is now a mix of towering department stores and colonial-era buildings along a pedestrian mall. Find luxury brands, international fast-food chains, and shops selling silk and jade.
The district began as the main road in the city’s International Settlement, serving as a hub for imported and Western products. It is now divided into two sections: Nanjing Dong Lu (Nanjing Road East) and Nanjing Xi Lu (Nanjing Road West), with People's Park (Renmin Gongyuan) marking the halfway point. Discover historic landmarks and sprawling new additions on the street’s pedestrian-only eastern half. The western half is distinctly more modern, catering toward high-end shoppers.
Don’t miss the district’s iconic “Big Four” department stores: the No. 1 Department Store, the No. 1 Provisions Store, the Shanghai Fashion Company and the Hualian Commercial Building. The Shanghai Fashion Company has a striking art deco exterior, while the square nearby to the Hualian Commercial Building occasionally hosts performances. Stop by this square in the morning and you’ll often see local residents practicing tai chi, traditional dances or ballroom steps.
Head to the Shanghai First Food Store found on the west end of the street to pick up gift-wrapped cakes, candy and other sweet treats. Check out a wonderful selection of Chinese pottery and porcelain at Shanghai Jingde Zhen Porcelain Artware. For more upscale products, visit Plaza 66 where you’ll find luxury brands ranging from Cartier to Versace.
Be sure to see Nanjing Dong Lu in the evening, when the street buzzes with lively open-air bars, street musicians and flashing neon signs. After a day of exploring, rest your feet by enjoying the atmosphere via the street’s sightseeing trolley, an electric train that runs up and down the pedestrian mall.
Nanjing Road Shopping District stretches across more than 3 miles (5 kilometres) of central Shanghai, from the the Bund in the east to the to the Jing’An Temple in the west. Travel here via the Shanghai Sightseeing bus or subway using the East or West Nanjing Road stops.
