Nanjing Road

Known as China’s No.1 Shopping Street, Nanjing Road is a 3.4 mile long, east-west, road located in Shanghai. It starts at The Bund in the east and ends at Yan’an West Street at the Jing’an Temple intersection in the west. It is one of Shanghai’s most popular tourist stops.

A road has existed where the current Nanjing Road is for centuries. Known as Park Lane, in 1862, it was renamed Nanjing Road. After the Opium War, Nanjing Road became a British Concession. It was eventually transformed into and international settlement which imported a large amount of foreign goods, which were sold on the street. Nanjing road has been reinventing itself ever since. Today, it is one of the world’s busiest shopping streets and has over 600 businesses which offer something for everyone. The road is split into two main sections; Nanjing Road East and Nanjing Road West. The eastern section is the pedestrian street, on which vehicles are not allowed. The western section allows traffic and has more than just shopping. Generally, Nanjing Road refers to Nanjing Road East due to its popularity.

The road is home to every type of item imaginable at every price level. Famed for its high end fashion boutiques, the road also has luxury shops such as; Tiffany, Mont Blanc, and Dunhill. The road also has souvenir shops, art shops, and plenty of cuisine for every taste. Nanjing Road is lined with a mix of century-old buildings, and modern architecture. Popular during the day, it is at night when Nanjing Road really shines. The buildings are all lit and open-air bars, street musicians, and cafes come to life giving the road a lively atmosphere.