Top City Walk Routes in Shanghai
Walking through the buildings and alleys in Shanghai provides an opportunity to get the "feel" for the city, its culture, and its history. Shanghai is made for walking that is unlike other Chinese cities, so while you’re there take the opportunity to explore some of Shanghai’s secrets which are best discovered on foot.
Route 1: Walking into Old-Time Memory of Shanghai French Concession
Highlights: Revisit Old Shanghai and the colonial-era Shanghai French Concession in Luwan District and Xuhui District.
Time: 4 hours
Stop 1: Okura Garden Hotel
Okura Garden Hotel is an old building in the Baroque style with a new 33-story annex. Built in 1926, the original hotel truly reflects the life and characteristics of that time. Wandering around its 30,000 sq meters garden is a good experience.
Address: NO.58 Maoming Nan Lu, Huangpu District
Stop 2: The Cathay Theatre
Built in 1930 The Cathay Theatre opened to the public in 1932 and was principally used for English movies. The exterior design is classic Art Deco which matches the style of its surroundings with Lyceum Theatre, the Grosvenor House, and Sassoon House.
Address: NO 870, Huaihai Zhong Lu, Luwan District
Stop 3: Huaihai Lu
Huaihai Lu consists of 3 sections. They are Huaihai Dong Lu and Huaihai Xi Lu, which are quiet and less-famous parts of the road. The other part is Huaihai Zhong Lu from Shaanxi Nan Lu to Xizang Nan Lu which is 2.2 km long.
Huaihai Zhong Lu is considered as the Champs Elysees Street of the East. It was called Xia Fei Lu before the liberation and was part of French Concessions. The street has European characteristics with big parasol trees and western-style buildings.
Address: NO 1850, Huaihai Zhong Lu, Xuhui District
Stop 4: Sinan Lu
Sinan Lu was originally called Rue Massenet when established in 1912. It was named to commemorate Massenet, a notable French musician who died that year in Paris. Different from other roads in the French Concession, Sinan Lu is unique because of 20 elegant garden villas reflecting the style of almost all house styles of Old Shanghai. They are considered a living specimen of this city. Walking between Ben Lan Lu and Jianguo Lu will take you back in time.
Address: Floor 1, the Grand Theater, NO 300, Renmin Dadao, Huangpu District
Stop 5: Fuxing Park
Fuxing Park is the only French-style Park in Shanghai. Fuxing Park was once called French Park. It is one of the earliest parks in Shanghai and was opened to the public in 1909. The local people use the park in the early in the morning for many activities.
Address: NO 2 Jia, Benlan Lu, Luwan District
Stop 6: Tianzifang
Tianzifang is an old alley located in Taikang Lu, which is part of the French Concession. Tianzifang stands out as a traditional old residential which is still used for that purpose. Antique stores and other interesting shops provide attractions for visitors. It is also a great place for photography.
Address: Alley 210, Taikang Lu, Luwan District
Route 2: Xintiandi to Hengshan Road
Highlights: This one-day walk is a leisurely walk through two of the best areas from Xintiandi to Hengshan Road and combines the best of the old and new.
Time: 8 hours. As there are many cafes and restaurants along the road, there is no need to bring lunch but packing a drink would be good.
Stop 1: Xintiandi
Xintiandi is a new area based on Shikumen Buildings, which were present in the old Shanghai-style buildings and now house clubs, bars, shops, cafes, and restaurants. A highlight could be Wu Li Xiang which is a display showing the daily life of the Shanghai people in the old days. 2-3 hours is recommended.
Address: Alley 181, Taicang Lu, Luwan District
Stop 2: Hengshan Lu
Fuxing Zhong Lu connects Xuhui District and Luwan District. It was once the main road in the French Concession and was called Route Lafayette. It has many French-style buildings with small gardens. It is a quiet spot in the noisy city.
Hengshan Lu has a history of over 80 years and is 2.3 km long. Built in 1922, it was known as Bei Dang Lu and was also a part of the French Concession. It was renamed Hengshan Lu in 1943. European-style buildings and pedestrian streets under tall parasol trees make the street very photogenic.
Address: Hengshan Lu, Xuhui District
Route 3: Historic Hongkou Walking Route
Highlights: Walk on a less-traveled path to get a deeper insight into Shanghai’s history.
Time: 4 hours
Stop 1: Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is the former site of Moses Hall which was a private house. It was renamed the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum in 1992 and has received many celebrities. It is the most important site to commemorate Jewish history in Shanghai.
Before and during World War 2, many Jewish refugees fled to Shanghai and gathered in Hongkou Area. An estimated 15,000 people lived there. In 1927 the house was converted for use in worship and meetings for Russian Jews and Central European Jews who lived in the area.
Address: NO 62, Changyang Lu, Hongkou District
Stop 2: Shanghai Postal Museum
The Shanghai Postal Museum was commenced in 1922 and completed in 1924 and was listed as one of the Main Ten Buildings in Shanghai at that time. It was then the Shanghai Postal Administration. The exterior of the building is in classical English style.
Floor 1 is the museum showing the history of Chinese and some foreign postal services including the South Pole. Valuable relics and stamps are on display. Floor 2 is a very big hall once for business and once was well-known as the First Hall in the Far East.
Address: NO 395, Tiantong Lu, Hongkou District(Near Sichuan Bei Lu)
Stop 3: Duolun Lu
Duolun Lu is 510 yards long. It was unique as the home of many writers including Luxun, Maodun, and Guomoruo. It is considered as a cultural hot spot from 1920-1930. No wonder there are so many celebrity sculptures along the street. The street has many small private museums with collections of ancient money, books, clocks porcelain.
Address: NO 146, Dongjiangwan Lu, Hongkou District
Stop 4: Luxun Park
Luxun Park was once called Hongkou Park and was built in 1896 during the Qing Dynasty. It was the first sports park in China. The park was designed as an English garden. Though it is located in the busy city center, it is quite tranquil. Both Luxun Tomb and Luxun Memorial Hall are situated in the park. For about 2 years during the 1920s the International Business Group, a paramilitary organization, often did morning and evening drills in the park. This was a time when foreign powers controlled Shanghai vied for control of Shanghai.
Address: NO 280, Tianai, Hongkou District
Stop 5 Luxun Memorial Hall in Shanghai
Shanghai Luxun Memorial Hall was built to commemorate Luxun who was a very important cultural master in Chinese history. The memorial shows the cultural achievements during Luxun’s life by using high-tech means, including videos and scene models. The Interaction Area is also very popular with visitors.
Add: NO 100, Tianai Lu, Hongkou District
Route 4: Explore Jewish History in Shanghai
Highlights: The Jewish history in Shanghai has come into prominence in recent years in China and other parts of the world.
Time: 4 hours
Stop 1: Huoshan Park
Huoshan Park, built in 1917, was used as a burial ground for Jews during World War 2. The parents of Mr Labin, premier of Israel, are buried in the park. During World War 2, many Jews who lived in Shanghai often gathered in this place. A house used for Jewish refugees is maintained in the park. The park is free to the public and there are many vendors selling street food at the gate.
Address: NO 118, Huoshan Lu, Hongkou District
Stop 2: The Former Site of The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Shanghai
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is a worldwide Jewish Relief organization that was established in 1914 and whose headquarters is in New York. The Shanghai office was located in Huoshan Lu. Many Jews fleeing from Europe got help from the JDC. The house is now a private residence.
Address: NO 119 and 121, Huoshan Lu, Hongkou District
Stop 3: The Former Site of Jewish Refugee Camp
Jewish Refugee Camp was the biggest of the 7 Jewish Refugee Camps. Previously it was the Belarusian barracks for the International Business Group. It accepted over 1,000 refugees.
Address: Alley 138, Changyang Lu, Hongkou District
Stop 4: Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum
The last stop in this walking route is the highlight. The Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum is on the former site of Moses Hall. It has 2 exhibition halls. In 1927, Russian Jews bought this building as a place to pray, worship and meet. The building is 3-stories with Jewish-style decoration at the entrance. It became a spiritual anchor for Jews in Shanghai during World War 2. It is the best place to revisit Jewish history and see artifacts of the Jewish period in Shanghai.
Add: NO 62, Changyang Lu, Hongkou District
Route 5: Three Itineraries on the Chongming Island
How to get to Chongming Island from Shanghai: You can take a ferry from Baoyang Port. It takes 40 minutes and costs you 20 RMB.
Itinerary 1: Nanmen Port-Aoshan Road-Gulangyu Road-Gangdong Road-Beiyan Road-Dongping National Forest Park
Time and Length: 5 hours; 19 kilometers
Highlights: Almost every part of the itinerary is covered by thick trees. You will feel like walking in a forest. Neither summer heat nor winter chill can hurt you!
Itinerary 2: Nanmen Embankment-Sanshahong, Gelonggang, and Miaogang Water Gates-Xisha Wetland
Time and Length: 6 hours; 21 kilometers
Highlights: Walking along the embankment, you will see the surging Yangtze River and enjoy the incredible scenery of Xisha Wetland.
Itinerary 3: Baozhen Gang Port- Nanmen Sightseeing Embankment- Nanmen Port
Time and Length: 10 hours; 30 kilometers
Highlights: You can walk on the embankment at your own pace and enjoy the view of Chongming Island. It will be a good idea to spend one night on the island if you don’t want to be too tired.