Cutting right through the centre of Shanghai, from the Bund to People’s Square, Nanjing Road is the citys primary shopping street. A kilometre long and completely closed off to traffic (except during major events), it’s an unapologetically commercial area that’s loud, busy, and; despite all that; totally worth exploring on foot. From heritage jewellers to fast-fashion chains; from street food carts to century-old department stores, it’s all here, packed into one neon-lit strip that come alive at night like a carnival.
Come for the people-watching, the souvenir-hunting, or simply to soak in the energy of downtown Shanghai: This is where it’s at. Here’s what to expect as you go.
What to See and Buy on Nanjing Road
Nanjing Road Shanghai
If possible, visit at night. When the sun go down, the entire street comes alive. Giant screens cycle through animated ads.
Neon signs is stacked floor-to-ceiling on each building. Storefronts glow in all directions. After dark, the crowds gets thicker as tourists and locals mix in the center of the pedestrian area.
The volume increases as pop music spill out of doorways and hawkers call for customers.
Further east towards People’s Square, the area is dominated by pharmacies, jewellery shops and old-line department stores. Most are early-20th-century constructions that has been restored with their facades lit up to display the original details. One of the most recognizable corners is taken up by Lao Feng Xiang, the old jeweller, whose vertical neon sign and domed roof make it impossible to miss.
If you get hungry, check out shanghai first foodhall. The ground floor have a selection of packaged sweets and snacks that are OK for sampling local brands or picking up as souvenirs. The food court on the upper level serve quick eats at reasonable prices.
Nothing fancy here, but dependable.
In between the chain stores, there will be toy shops and novelty stores. Some will be targeted directly at children (with a giant mascot placed out front to entice the family inside), while others will carry the kinds of cheap trinkets and gadgets that appeals to impulse buyers. Expect to see lots of both.
The pedestrian area is lined with street food stalls (although not quite as many as you’d think). Expect grilled skewers, steamed buns, and fried snacks. It is convenient if you’re in the area, but be prepared for overpriced dishes compared to local haunts.
On most days of the week, there are just enough people on the street to fill it up; on holidays or weekends, it get crowded. At the corners, double-deck tour buses roar by, while the buildings change suddenly from glass-fronted moddern towers to heritage structures. It doesn’t make for a coherent scene, but it somehow works.
At key festival times like Chinese New Year, it all dresses up in lanterns draped between the trees. Massive decorations hang over the pavement. Photo op-themed displays attracts hordes of people to snap selfies.
The giant LED screens features dragons, horses, and zodiac animals spinning around in a loop for weeks at a time.
Neon! Sure, you can say there isn’t anything special about the shopping, most of it’s international brands you might find anywhere else in a major city, but it’s the number of them, and how bright they are, that makes it different. Everything glows.
There’s KFC, McDonald’s, and Starbucks all claiming prime real estate along the way, fighting for your attention with local shops. The Chinese fashion brand PEACEBIRD has taken over whole storefronts, filling the windows from top to bottom.
Some buildings has Korean barbecue restaurants up on the higher floors, whose signs protrude above the pavement. And there are little kiosks and decorative pillars dotted down the road, some of which serve a purpose, others existing only as eye candy.
There’s Shanghai Super Chocolate Company, a little chocolate shop chain that sells confectionery and boxed chocolates. If you need a last-minute gift, it’s not bad, although the selection skews sweet, and the price reflect the area.
As you continue walking west towards the Bund, things quieten down. The storefronts begin to stretch out, the crowds thin slightly, and the neon becomes a little less intense. It’s still busy, just not so overwhelming.
Big-screen ads for Pepsi and cosmetics take center stage. Brands compete for space in a market that never sleeps. Giant watch faces and lipstick tubes spins above them.
You’re not going to find any secret nooks or quiet beauty on Nanjing Road. It’s a commercial area built to sell stuff, it’s loud, and it’s commercial. However, if you’d like to get the full-on Shanghai experience, crowds pushing, neon blazing, and all, then this is the place to do it.
Wear comfy shoes, bring some cash for street snacks, and make sure your phone is charged up for photos. You should of brought a camera too. Have you been down Nanjing Road yet?
Is there another shopping street that you love? Tell us about it in the comments.
