Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road), Shanghai

Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road), Shanghai (must see)

Nanjing Road in Shanghai has long been the city's top shopping destination, attracting more than a million visitors daily. This famous street is divided into two sections: Nanjing East Road and Nanjing West Road. In total, they stretch for nearly 10 kilometers (about 6 miles), making it the world's longest and busiest pedestrian thoroughfare.

Nanjing East Road has held the reputation of being a shopper's paradise since the 1950s or even earlier. Its main attraction is the Shanghai No. 1 Department Store, famous for its eye-catching window displays. Some say it's a great place to browse, but not necessarily the best for finding bargains.

Once the sun sets, Nanjing East Road becomes especially lively, with various malls competing for shoppers' attention through elaborate lighting and countless advertising screens. It seems like they spare no expense when it comes to electricity bills.

Many of the buildings along this road have been standing for over a century, showcasing a unique fusion of Eastern and Western architectural styles that first gained prominence in the 1930s, establishing Shanghai as a significant intermediary between the two civilizations. The newer malls cater to the modern tastes of China's millennials, who are keen on luxury brands.

Unlike other parts of Shanghai, you won't find street vendors or markets on Nanjing Road. Everything here is on a grand scale, including Starbucks. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which happens to be the world's largest outlet, spans three floors and serves up to 7,000 customers a day, with seating for up to 1,000 people at once.

Tip:
For ease of travel, mini-trains run up and down half the length of Nanjing Road during day hours – convenient for those wanting to see the area, especially if tired of walking or with kids in tow.
On a foodie note, try the food court in the New World City Plaza. Huge, pretty, and clean, with numerous stores, and good prices. And the LEGO shop on its ground floor is a haven for LEGO lovers.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Shanghai. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road) on Map

Sight Name: Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road)
Sight Location: Shanghai, China (See walking tours in Shanghai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Shanghai, China

Create Your Own Walk in Shanghai

Create Your Own Walk in Shanghai

Creating your own self-guided walk in Shanghai is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Souvenirs Shopping Walk

Souvenirs Shopping Walk

Leaving Shanghai without calling local shops and procuring something truly original to bring home as a souvenir would be a pity. Indeed, souvenir shopping in Shanghai is an exciting experience.

Nanjing Road, commonly known as Nanjing Lu – Asia's longest and perhaps most famous thoroughfare – is a popular destination in Shanghai. Here, you can find a plethora of shops and boutiques...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

The Old Town of Shanghai, historically the heart of the city, is a part of Shanghai's urban core. Shanghai's importance as a trade hub led to its elevation to county status in 1292. In 1554, during the Ming Dynasty, the area was surrounded by protective walls to safeguard against Japanese pirate raids and remained so until 1912, when the walls were dismantled.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund is a waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. The term "bund" was borrowed into English from Hindi and originally referred to a dyke or embankment. The Chinese name for the Bund is unrelated in origin: it literally means "outer bank", and distinguishes this part of the riverfront from the "inner bank" adjacent to the Old Town...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Perhaps more than any other Chinese city, Shanghai deserves to be called the “face of modern China.” Despite modern look, the city emerged on a map as far back as 751 AD. Shanghai County was established under the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, although the city character, as we know it today, began to take shape in the aftermath of the first Opium War in 1842. The post-war treaty opened...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.2 Km or 3.9 Miles

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