Huaihai Road Commercial Street

Huaihai Road Commercial Street

Huaihai Road Commercial Street is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Stretching from Renmin Road in the east to Kaiming Road in the west, Huaihai Road is divided into eastern, central, and western sections, winding over ten li and is a famous commercial street in Shanghai. The most bustling part is Huaihai Middle Road, originally named Avenue Joffre, which was renamed in 1949. As early as the 1930s, it had already gained fame both at home and abroad for its elegance, vibrancy, and exotic charm.

Huaihai Road was formerly part of the French Concession, with French plane trees planted along the roadside, giving it a distinctly European atmosphere. The street showcases world-class brands, hosting over 400 shops such as Plaza 66, Isetan Huaihai, Time Square, Golden Bell Plaza, Shanghai Plaza, Hong Kong Plaza, Pacific Department Store Huaihai Branch, and Parkson. Here you can witness the forefront of fashion, and the young men and women walking along the street make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a living edition of “Elle.”

The buildings on Huaihai Road exude a strong urban cultural and leisure ambiance. At the intersection of Tibet South Road and Huaihai Road, there are numerous historic sites and classic architecture, such as the former residence of Sheng Xuanhuai (now the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai), built in 1900; the Dengyun Apartments constructed in 1910, featuring a typical French chateau style and being the first high-rise building on Huaihai Road; and the Wukang Mansion built in 1942, which is Shanghai’s earliest classical facade corridor-style apartment. In addition, the Cathay Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, and several consulates of other countries are also located here.

Huaihai Road is also a refined cultural boulevard. Famous sites such as the Former Residence of Sun Yat-sen, the Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling, the Zhou Enlai’s Former Residence (No. 7), and the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China are all situated on or adjacent to this road. At the end of 1996, the new Shanghai Library also opened on Huaihai Middle Road.

Transportation: Subway Line 1 – stations at Huangpi South Road, South Shaanxi Road, and Changshu Road; bus lines 42, 926, 24, 126, 320, 911, etc.

Address: From East Huaihai Road to West Huaihai Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Type: Street & Market

Business Hours:

The commercial street is open all day. Most shops are open approximately from 10:00 to 22:00.