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Central Shanghai
Huangpu District
Central Huangpu District, home to some of Shanghai's crown jewels, including the Bund, the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, People's Square and Yuyuan Garden, is surging ahead with plans to evolve into a four-in-one entity: a central business district, a shopping mecca, a tourism site as well as a modern international residential area.
As the oldest district in Shanghai, the Huangpu District is the center of administration, culture and trades, as well as the most extravagant area in Shanghai. It has some of the most historical places in the city. The picturesque Bund area along the Huangpu River, boasts more than 50 major buildings of classic European architectural styles, is an important component of Shanghai's central business district. More than 180 financial institutes and half of the city's accounting and auditing firms are located here. On the opposite side of the Huangpu River, the spectacular view of the new Shanghai building boom including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Jin Mao Tower can be easily seen.
The Bund, the famous waterfront area along the HuangPu River, has been long been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai. Recently, a number of restaurants and retail shops have opened in this area and the Bund has now become a major attraction for local residents, expatriates and flocks of tourists alike.
Huangpu District is an old traditional area with Nanjing Road, the "shopper's street", running down its center. Before the building of modern department stores around other districts of Shanghai, this was the only place to be on a Sunday and tens of thousands of people would cram the streets and floors of places like the No.1 Shanghai Department Store and the Hua Lian Department Store. The area also boasts the Peace Hotel, People's Park and People's Square, surrounded by the impressive modern architecture of the Shanghai Municipal Office, the Grand Theater and the Shanghai Museum.
Because the Huangpu District is considered a tourist and commercial area, expatriate accommodations are limited but available.
Jing An District
Jing An District, in the center of Shanghai, has an area of 7.62 square kilometers and is by far the most populated area of downtown Shanghai. A portion of the beautiful old French Concession area, one of the most prestigious sections of the city is in the Jing’An District (the remainder of the French Concession area is in the bordering Luwan and Xuhui districts).
Jing An is the main business district of Shanghai and many of the city's biggest office towers are located along this district's main street, Nanjing Road. This road connects the district to Luwan District in the East and Changning District in the West. Along Nanjing Xi Road can be found a number of high-end international brand shopping malls and shops like CITIC Square, Plaza 66 and Westgate Mall, as well as the highest concentration of 4 and 5 star hotels and high grade offices in the city such as the Kerry Centre, One Park Ave., and the Shanghai Centre. In Jing An, you'll find the Ritz Carlton, inside the Shanghai Centre, the Hilton and the JC Mandarin Hotels.
The Shanghai Center dominates the central area with its entertainment and eating places such as the Hard Rock Cafe', Tony Roams and the celebrated Long Bar. Stores like Watson's and The Market cater to western needs. Opposite the Shanghai Center stands the grand Shanghai Exhibition Center and not far away are the charming Jing An and Jade Buddha temples.
Living in JingAn offers an easy and comfortable lifestyle with easy access to the rest of Shanghai and many of the best restaurant and bars. Its easy access to transportation and western conveniences make it a popular place for expatriates to live. This is the area to be seen in as the upper class tend to hang out here.
Luwan District
Luwan district is located in the center of Shanghai, directly south of People's Square. It covers 8.02 square kilometers . A large portion of the beautiful old French Concession area, one of the most prestigious sections of the city is in Luwan (the remainder of the French Concession area is in the bordering Xuhui and Jing’An districts).
The northern part of Luwan includes one of the best sections of Huaihai road, famous for its shops, boutiques, restaurants and department stores. International brand stores, bars and restaurants line the street for miles in both directions and give plenty of opportunities for dining and entertainment . Huaihai road also houses one of the cities largest central business districts. Off Huaihai road is the Xiang Yang Nan Lu street market where you'll find cheaply priced clothes and bags. On Julu Road there is a string of small "all night" expatriate bars featuring "The Manhattan", one of the oldest in Shanghai.
Although located close to the elevated highway, the traffic in the area is terrible, especially at rush hour. To move around the city easily from here, it is recommended that you leave the car behind and use the subway system.
Luwan has plenty of apartments to choose from and a few villa compounds within a variety of budget levels.
Xuhui District
Xuhui District is located to the southwest of central Shanghai. Xuhui District, together with Luwan District is what is commonly referred to as 'downtown' Shanghai. This district is considered the safest part of Shanghai and most embassies and consulates are located here. A large portion of the beautiful old French Concession area, one of the most prestigious sections of the city is in Xuhui District (the remainder of the French Concession area is in the bordering Luwan and Jing’An districts).
Xuhui District is one of the most prestigious and popular residential areas in all of Shanghai. I t has the lowest population density of all the downtown districts. It also has the highest concentration of cultural and scientific institutions. It currently has more than 100 research institutes and 10 full-time institutions of higher education such as Shanghai Normal University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which is known as one of the four elite universities of China (the other three are Xinhua, Beijing, and Fudan).
Xuhui has traditionally been an upper class residential area and recent development has born that out. It is one of the most prestigious living areas of the city with many luxurious villas and apartments being developed. The district is now home to more than one quarter of the city's entire foreign (expatriate) population. The area is extremely charming with its many tree lined streets and interesting architecture and still has many beautiful old villas from the colonial days, most in rough shape but some currently being renovated as single family homes.
In the northern part of the district is Shanghai's famous boulevard, Hengshan Road, with over thirty restaurants of diverse cuisine tempting passers-by as they stroll down the tree-lined street. This area is the old French Concession and Consular area with many charming vintage villas tucked behind high walls.
The convergence of 5 main roads (including Huai Hai Road) in Xujiahui represents the main center in the district . Here you will find a thriving commercial area of department stores where you'll find a number of reasonably priced high rise apartment developments. The Shanghai Catholic Cathedral, Longhua Temple and Shanghai Olympic Stadium are some of the main features of this area. You can also find the Huating Hotel and Regal East Asia Hotels right by the stadium.
West Shanghai
Located to the west of cental Shanghai, the Changning District covers 37.19 square kilometers. Also called the Hongqiao district, this is a large area with Hongqiao Road as the main thoroughfare from the airport to downtown. Hongqiao is actually a special economic zone within the Changning District and is best know for it's airport, the zoo and it’s many expatriate communities.
Hongqiao International Airport for many years was the only airport in the city, but in recent years it has been relegated primarily to domestic flights while the international traffic has been assigned to Pudong International Airport. Hongqiao Economic and Technologic Developing Zone, and the Gubei New Area, which is the biggest high-grade dwelling area for foreigners in Shanghai, are both located in the district.
Changning ( Hongqiao) offers many western style residential compounds, both apartments and villas, with gardens, pools, tennis courts and gyms, and is an excellent choice for families with small children since this is where you will find most of the international schools and kindergartens in Shanghai.
There are plenty of high grade apartment/office complexes and luxurious villa compounds and the shopping and services cater heavily to foreigners. Lots of shopping markets. Western supermarkets and stores with western goods are located here . Recently, however, the opening of the new international airport in Pudong has effectively removed one of the main geographic advantages enjoyed by the district, but it remains a favorite area for foreigners to live in.
The majority of the housing is comprised of garden villas in compounds, of varying sizes and prices. Several compounds now have apartments within them, enabling residents on smaller budgets to enjoy the facilities and amenities of compound living -- playgrounds, pools, activities and English-speaking staff. Housing is significantly cheaper than living downtown and, as it is the case with Pudong as well, if your priorities are focused on quiet living, recreational facilities and green surroundings, the Changning District ( Hongqiao) still has a lot to offer. However if you are interested in nightlife and dining downtown is your best bet.
Sights in the area include the Shanghai Zoo, the Xi Jiao Guest House and Sassoon Park Gardens. The Westin Tai Ping Yang and Yangtze River Hotels as well as the Friendship Store and Shanghai Mart are also found in this area.
Inside the Changning district, the Gubei New Area is a thriving mini-metropolis with medium and high rise apartment towers and charming villa compounds which focus on security and facilities and which are geared to cater to the everyday needs of a busy family. Here you will find the large Carrefour supermarket and many western shops and restaurants.
Gubei is close to all forms of public transportation. The elevated highway is nearby and is very convenient to get to just about any other part of the city.
North of Suzhou Creek ( Wusong River)
The Yang Pu District is in the northeast area of Shanghai. It is home to the YangPu Bridge, one of the two main bridges spanning the Huang Pu River.
The YangPu District has over 100 research institutes. It also boasts 25 colleges and universities including such well known institutions as Fudan University, Tongji University and the Shanghai Foreign Language University.
HongKou District
Bordering both the Huang Pu River and Suzhou Creek , in the northern Shanghai , the HongKou District enjoys a great geographical location . The district is the home to famous universities such as Shanghai International Studies and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
Hongkou Football Stadium, is the largest, most modern soccer stadium in the city. It is the only football stadium that is for football matches only in China at present.
There are numerous tourist attractions in the district such as the former residences of modern prominent literature figures and memorials and parks. Duolun Road, with many colonial buildings built under various styles standing on both sides, is a street famous for prominent intellectuals who once lived or worked there. Chinese philosopher and writer Lu Xun lived and wrote near HongKou Park.
North Sichuan Road , which is 3.7km long, has long been one of the most prosperous shopping centers and entertainment sites of Shanghai.
Zhabei District ( Everbright City)
Located in the northern portion of Shanghai, the Zhabei District does not have much western standard accommodation, shopping or entertainment. On the other hand, many foreign students prefer to live in this area because the inexpensive apartments here are quite easy to find, and the metro makes it easy to go to just about everywhere else in the city.
The Shanghai Railway Station with train connections to just about all parts of China is located in Zhabei. To understand why the area has gained the nickname “ Everbright City”, you must visit the area surrounding the Shanghai Railway Station at night. This area may seem dull and grey in daylight but after dark, it lights up like a carnival. The activity level is very high with nightclubs and restaurants attracting thousands of young Shanghainese to enjoy the brightly lit entertainment spots.
outskirts of Shanghai (nearby suburbs)
Minhang District
Near the outskirts of Shanghai in the southwest, Minhang District covers 372 square kilometers. It’s proximity to Hongqiao Airport and Huangpu River, which runs through the area from north to south, contribute to the convenience of the transportation of the area. Three modern industrial zones such as Shanghai Xinzhuang Industrial Zone enhance the economic development of Minhang District, which has attracted the investment of more than 40 countries.
Minhang District has recently become a new housing alternative to the Hongqiao District. It has a number of large villa compounds that are well finished and reasonably priced , and there are plenty of others in the pipeline . With the completion of the subway and easy access via the expressway, this district has grown significantly in the past few years. You will find a blend of old and new China with easy access to downtown Shanghai. The area still has a semi-rural feel, with lots of open space and green surroundings.
There are a number of villa compounds and townhouses in the district, which are within a few minutes drive of the Shanghai American School and the Shanghai International School. Because it is further away, the prices are cheaper than villas closer to downtown.
Pudong District
On the east of Huangpu River and west of the mouth of Yangtze River, Pudong District is a fast growing area of 556 square kilometers. Access to the area from downtown Shanghai includes a number of bridges, tunnels, ferries and the new Number 2 Shanghai Metro line.
The Pudong District has seen massive growth in the past ten years. Between the Huang Pu River on the west and the airport in the far east, lie a vast multitude of multinational & Joint Venture high-tech industries and factories producing some of the world's top brand names. The foreign community continues to grow as new factories open in Pudong's tax free zones. Large luxury expatriate housing is continually being built to keep up with the demand for residential property suitable for foreigners. In addition, 65% of the site area of the Shanghai Exposition of 2010 will be set in Pudong.
The Lu Jia Zui Business District, directly across the Huang Pu River from the Bund, is home to the two most popular buildings in Shanghai: the Jin Mao Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower. The high-tech Jin Mao tower holds the Grand Hyatt Hotel. With its lobby on the 55 th floor, the Grand Hyatt is the highest hotel in the world. Also located here are many banking and financial institutions and many new grade ‘A’ office buildings. Because of its rapid growth, many people speculate that more than half of the office buildings in Pudong remain empty. There are a number of popular residential areas within a 10 minute drive of the Business District.
The JinQiao Export Processing Zone, is a big area which the government offers companies tax incentives to station their offices there. Many high end villas offer first-class living and are home to many expatriate families. JinQiao is also very convenient to the Airport. Jinqiao has its own Carrefour and OBI supermarkets.
In the far east (about 45 minutes from downtown Shanghai) is the Pudong International Airport. All of Shanghai 's international flights are now routed through the Pudong International Airport and this area has also become home to some or the largest compounds and villas in Shanghai. Many golf courses are situated here. Right on the edge of Pudong, by the East China Sea, is a huge Western-style villa compound built around a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Pudong has seen a residential real estate boom in the past few years, due in part to the growth of new schools here. The older high-end villas (built around a golf course) are now being joined by many new villa compounds. You can find excellent villas and inexpensive apartments here for about half the price compared to downtown Shanghai.
Pudong is an excellent place to live for people who work in the area and those with families. The many mainstream shopping malls and supermarkets in Pudong make daily life convenient and easy and the wide-open spaces with quiet green surroundings provide quiet comfort compared to downtown.
Outskirts of Shanghai (farther out, but still inside the city limits)
On the outskirts of Shanghai in the east, Nanhui District, has a land area of 687 square kilometers and a population of 700,000.
Nanhui District is an important industrial and agricultural area as well as a port city and a tourist attraction. The development of Pudong brings a good opportunity to the economic development of Nanhui, which has become a hot investment spot of the century. Nanhui enjoys three unique advantages: the desirable location and policy, the convenient land, water and air communication and the rich natural resources.
Fengxian District
On the outskirts of Shanghai in the southeast, Fengxian District, a new promising industrial zone in the south of Shanghai City, covers 688 square kilometers with a population of 545,000. It lies near to Hangzhou Bay to the south and Huangpu River to the north.
Fengxian District was first settled 3,000 years ago. There was a Yanyan temple set up in commemoration of Yanyan, one of the Confucius's favorite pupils, who gave lectures here in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.) according to the legend. In 751 A. D. (the 10th year under reign of Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty) Huating County was established, from which, Baisha and Yunjian were separated and named as Fengxian County in 1726 (the 4th year under reign of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty).
Jinshan District
On the outskirts of Shanghai in the south, Jinshan District, the southwest gate of Shanghai, has a land area of 586 square kilometers and a population of 550,000.
Jinshan District enjoys convenient transportation. The Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway, the Tingwei Road and Xinwei Road run through the district from north to south and the State Highway 320 runs through the district from west to east while the Shanghai-Ningbo Wharf makes it possible for passengers to have a journey between Shanghai and Ningbo on the sea.
Currently under construction in the district are five major highway projects ( Xinfengjin Highway and Tingfeng Highway running from west to east, and the Shanghai-Hangzhou Highway, Tongsan State Highway and Jiajing Highway running from north to south. Construction is expected to be completed sometime in 2005. It is expected that this district, will become the “bridgehead” on the way from Shanghai to Zhejiang after the construction of the planned Hanzhou Bay Bridge over the sea.
Songjiang District
Located on the outskirts of Shanghai in the southwest, Songjiang District covers 605 square kilometers with a registered population of 550,000.
Sonjiang was the political, economic and cultural center of shanghai before Shanghai was opened as a port to foreign countries.
Shanghai-Hangzhou Highway serves as the vertical axis of the New Songjiang City, which consists of two parts with the northern part built under the European style and the southern part constructed in the style of the constructions of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Songjiang Universities City is located in the district.
Qingpu District
Located on the outskirts of Shanghai in the west, Qingpu District District covers 675 square kilometers with a registered population of 500,000. It adjoins Minhang District in the east, borders on Songjiang District, Jinshan District and Zhejiang Province in the south, joins the two cities of Wujiang and Kunshan of Jiangsu Province in the west, and connects with Jiading District in the north.
Qingpu District has 12 towns and 1 industrial zone with Qingpu Town as the political, economic and cultural center and the location of Qingpu government.
Qinglpu District is famous for its long history and beautiful scenery. Qingpu District contains the largest lake in Shanghai, Dianshan Hu Lake, which is the source of the Huangpu River which flows through downtown Shanghai. Around the lake are a number of tourist scenic areas, all with complete in tourist facilities. Among the tourist areas is the famous waterside town Zhujiajiao. Through several years of planned construction and investment Zhujiajiao has become a hot spot for tourism and has gradually developed into a major tourist destination in Shanghai and its neighboring areas.
Beside Dianshan Lake also stands the Dianshan Lake Tourism Resort, which is rich in the historic sites such as the ancient pagoda of the Tang Dynasty, the ancient bridge of the Song Dynasty, the ancient temple of the Ming Dynasty and the ancient town of the Qing Dynasty. In addition, there are other scenic spots such as Daguanyuan Garden, Qushui Garden and the former residence of Chenyun and so on.
Jiading District
Located on the outskirts of Shanghai in the northwest, Jiading District covers an area of 459 square kilometers with a population of about 500,000 in 14 towns, 3 neighborhoods and 1 industrial zone.
The manufacturing of autos and auto fittings is a mainstay of the economy of Jiading District and the high development of auto industry has won the district the fame as the “ Auto City”. The fist car of Shanghai Make and the first Santana made in China were manufactured in Anting Town of Jiading District.
The district is rich in tourist attractions of both modern entertainment centers such as Shanghai Golf Club and ancient constructions such as Guyi Garden that are famous at home and abroad. Zhouqiao Traditional Street and two famous ancient towns, Nanxiang Town and Anting Town, attract a lot of tourists for their historic relics as well as their modern amenities and services.
Boashan District
Located on the outskirts of Shanghai in the north, Boashan District covers 425 square kilometers with a registered population of 750,000. It stands as the gate of Shanghai on the sea for it lies in the meeting site of Yangtze River and Huangpu River.
It is the biggest container base for the three container docks in the district contributes the 70% of the throughput of the Shanghai Port. It enjoys a convenient transportation and it is 10-minute driving away from Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and 20 minutes driving away from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Boashan New City, a relatively independent dwelling of middle and high grade housing, is being constructed in the district and it consists of two parts—East and West New City. In addition, the newly built Shanghai University City based on Shanghai University will be made into a university city installed with full facilities, embraced by good environment and embedded with rich cultural atmosphere.
