Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour

Welcome to follow the Shanghai French Concession walking tour to find the city’s hidden gems in its tree-lined historical streets. Take in the city’s old charming vibe from the age-old stone-gate architecture to exquisite boutiques, cozy cafes and tea houses, European-style mansions, and Art Deco buildings. 

► Duration: 4 to 5 hours
► Start Time: Flexible. 9:00 or 14:00 are most recommended. Discuss custom times with your travel consultant in advance.
► Walking Distance: 5-6 km (3.1-3.7 mi)

At the agreed time, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and then take a taxi or metro to Xintiandi Neighborhood. Here, you’ll admire the stone-gate (Shikumen) buildings, which retain classic elements outside, such as mottled exposed brick walls, symmetrical lintel carvings, and black lacquered doors with copper rings, while their old interiors have been transformed into trendy shops, art spaces, and specialty restaurants, achieving a coexistence of the old and the new and a fusion of Chinese and Western styles. Walk along the smooth, weathered stone paths, and appreciate alleyways that carry the everyday charm of old Shanghai. The red walls and gray tiles of the stone gate houses, bathed in light and shadow, bear the wrinkles of bygone days; just a few steps away, the lights in the floor-to-ceiling shop windows shimmer with modern brilliance. We’ll also drop by the unassuming architecture, the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a meaningful landmark, engraved with the deep history of the country’s past.The guided walking tour continues to the 120-year-old Fuxing Park, a calming green space designed in a French-style in 1900. Here stands a century-old sycamore tree, known as the "second oldest in Shanghai," and to the north stands a double statue of Marx and Engels. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and take in the serene ambience.

After that, start your Sinan Road exploration. The pedestrian-only street is designated as a historical preservation road that will never be widened or used by public transportation, and is hailed as a "living history book of the city." Strolling along it, you can directly experience the architectural panorama of Shanghai-style buildings and garden villas from the 1920s and 1930s. There are 51 garden villas of different styles, including Spanish, English, French, Art Deco and Sino-Western fusion architectural styles, lining the 1.4-km-long (0.87-mi) Sinan Road, shaded by dense Platane trees. The elegant cluster of buildings is called Sinan Mansions, and each carries its own unique story, with some concerning the rise and fall of a notable family, and others the changing eras. You can drop by anyone you like, such as the former residences of China’s first Premier Zhou Enlai (1898-1976 AD) and the legendary Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang (1894-1961 AD). The retro-style three-story Sinan Bookstore, transformed from warlord Feng Yuxiang (1882-1948 AD)’s former residence, is also worth lingering over, and it collaborates with the 15-year-old London Review Bookshop, offering a dedicated section for new English books.

Afterward, walk north to Nanchang Road, a large residential area with many old alleys tucked away. Every corner holds unexpected surprises as the entire street is filled with an artistic and pleasant atmosphere, thanks to a pretty mix of creative boutiques, including niche crystal shops, clothing stores, leather goods stores, and vintage jewelry shops. Feel free to browse at your own pace.

Next, we’ll head to the beating heart of the district, Middle Huaihai Road, a vibrant, trendy commercial hub, home to many trendy brands and artistically designed storefronts. Capture a stunning picture with the giant robot face at the Gentle Monster to hoover up Instagram likes, explore the world's first FARM BOB flagship store, famous for its scarecrow rock figurine wall packed with brightly colored toys and vinyl figures, and experience Japanese lifestyle design at MUJI, which sells high-quality cups, stickers, kitchenware, and more. The used bookstore hidden on the street corner houses a collection of Hong Kong and Taiwan editions and other rare books. The quiet and pleasant atmosphere makes it a perfect place to stop and read, enjoying a moment of peace.

★ Special Treat: Coffee Break at Anfu Road

Continue west to Anfu Road, which offers a vivid snapshot of local young people chatting over coffee outdoors, or you can see fashion lovers get in and around the trendy shops. The area is paired with a growing number of cafes and tea houses, and we’ll include one especially for you! Linger over a morning coffee or an afternoon tea, and savor the century-old taste along with the modern fashion of Shanghai. 

Walk till the end of Anfu Road, and turn onto Wukang Road. Time and space shift instantly. This is not only the heart of Shanghai's trendsetters but also a serene outdoor museum of European architecture. Your guide will point out “Romeo’s Balcony” to you, which refers to the semicircular cantilevered balcony on the second floor of a Spanish-style villa with a red-tiled roof and exquisite cast-iron decorative railing. Locals romantically called it Romeo's Balcony, and the name borrows from the classic balcony scene in Shakespeare's play “Romeo and Juliet”. Stop by the cozy Ferguson Lane, home to award-winning restaurants, galleries, designer boutiques, florists, beauty salons, wineries, and vegetarian restaurants. Also, drop by the Old House Art Center, which showcases the history of the century-old buildings and you can observe the pictures, mini models, and paintings to get a deep insight into the details. From the outside, admire the Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling (1893-1981 AD), honorary president of the People's Republic of China and the wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925 AD), the founder of modern China. Glimpse this elegant Western-style courtyard, featuring a unique red-tiled, ship-shaped main building nestled in a garden of century-old camphor trees.

Today’s final stop is the landmark building, Wukang Mansion, located at the intersection of five streets. Designed by a Hungarian architect in the 1920s, the giant ship-shaped building in French Renaissance style is unique for its triangular shape, due to the triangular terrain. Look at its facade clad in yellowish-brown bricks and continuous arched corridors, and don’t miss capturing a memorable photo with it. The middle area at the corner of the intersection diagonally opposite the Wukang Building is widely recognized as the best vantage point to snap a photo while crossing the street.

Your guided Shanghai walking tour to Former French Concession just comes to an end here, and your guide will escort you back to your hotel by taxi. If you’d like to further explore the Wukang Road area on your own, just enjoy your time and finally return by yourself. Wish you a pleasant journey!