Nanjing Road (Nanjing Lu)
The Basics
Nanjing Road is divided into Nanjing Road East, which includes the popular pedestrian strip and historical buildings, and Nanjing Road West, which has more modern structures. Though it’s possible to find anything on Nanjing Road, visitors often shop here for local products such as silk, paintings, calligraphy, handicrafts, and souvenirs.
Many half- and full-day Shanghai tours feature a stop at Nanjing Road. Choose a walking tour, bike tour, or bus tour and visit the popular shopping street in addition to other top Shanghai attractions, such as the Bund and Yuyuan Garden. Or opt for an evening Nanjing Road visit combined with a Huangpu River cruise.
Things to Know Before You Go
Nanjing Road is a must for first-time visitors to Shanghai and those who love to shop.
Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk the length of Nanjing Road.
If you get tired of walking, board the tram that runs down the eastern part of the road.
There are a lot of touts and hawkers on Nanjing Road, and some can be very aggressive. It’s best to ignore them or say no firmly and move away.
How to Get There
The eastern part of Nanjing Road runs from the Bund to People's Square, and the western part runs from People's Square to Jing'an Temple. You can start from the Bund and walk, or you can take metro line 2 or 10 to Nanjing Road East, the start of the pedestrian zone. To reach the center of Nanjing Road, take subway line 1, 2, or 8 to People’s Square, then walk east toward the Bund or west toward Jing’an Temple.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
Nanjing Road can be visited anytime, but shops tend to be open from about 10am to about 10pm. Visit during the day to admire the architecture and experience the crowds, and come back in the evening, when the street lights up in neon. Nanjing Road is very popular and becomes extremely crowded on weekends and holidays.
Historical Shops of Nanjing Road
Some shops on Nanjing Road date back to the Qing dynasty. They include Shanghai Laojiefu Department (1860), which sells clothes, fabrics, and silks; Duo Yun Xuan (1900), which sells calligraphy and painting; Heng De Li Clocks and Watches Co. (1864), which sells luxury watches and clocks; and Cai Tong De Pharmacy (1882), which specializes in traditional Chinese medicine.
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