The influence that Shanghai’s history has had on East Nanjing Road make it a unique experience that goes beyond just shopping.
Fifth Avenue, Via Montenapoleone, and Oxford Street. What do all three of these streets have in common? They are major shopping streets. East Nanjing Road unquestionably accompanies these prestige streets. Aside from shopping, East Nanjing Road offers travelers a lot for discovery. You just have to know where to go and what to do.
1. The Bund
If there is one thing that these other world-renowned streets don’t offer, it’s views of The Bund. Along the Huangpu River, just at the entrance of East Nanjing Road, is the beautiful boardwalk known as The Bund. The Bund means an embankment. The walkway stretches for 1.6 miles. As you walk the Huangpu River, it’s hard to miss The Bund. The juxtaposition of the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Classical, Beaux-Arts and Art Deco buildings that begin to appear are starkly separated by the river. The Bund’s historical buildings were once banks and trading houses for the UK, US, France, Italy, Russia, Germany and many other European countries. Facing The Bund are the modern skyscrapers of the Pudong district which during the day and at night will remain etched in your memory forever.
2. Bund Food Terminal
4 Things to Eat at Bund Food Terminal on East Nanjing
Not less than 100 feet into East Nanjing Road you’ll be spellbound by neon lights and sweet and savory smells. A big sign will read Food City. The Bund Food Terminal recently opened February 2018 and has attracted many locals and tourists. The two-floor food court offers everything from quick traditional snacks to sit-down dinners. Whether you’re craving Cong You Bin or juices, burgers and popcorn, they have got it.
3. Shopping
East Nanjing Road is known for it’s lavish stores and large and expansive department store that feature high-low options. But the true gems are the small souvenir shops and random local stores you find in the streets branching off of East Nanjing Road. Here you have the opportunity to purchase all things from Jade jewelry, pocket mirrors with Shanghai drawings, notebooks, souvenirs and more. Now I know pocket mirrors with Shanghai drawings seem like a really specific mention. But I was in desperate need of a pocket mirror since mine had cracked so decided to purchase one from a vendor. I still have it to this day as a memory.
4. Walk and Wander
Once you’ve snapped that Instagram-worthy picture at The Bund, satisfied your belly at Bund Food Terminal, and shopped and bargained for clothes and souvenirs, there’s nothing left to do but wander East Nanjing Road. This may be the best part. The pedestrian street is enormous and no cars are allowed on the it, unlike other shopping streets in the world. My favorite time to walk East Nanjing Road is at night when I can marvel at the architecture, be dazzled by the flashing lights and signs, and be allured into different side streets.
The influence that Shanghai’s history has had on East Nanjing Road make it a unique melting pot. As I walk down I am pulled left and right. I turn into one street allured by the French architecture and balconies that make me feel like I’m being transported back to Paris. I’m charmed by another street with Chinese lanterns hanging from modern light poles with street vendors selling souvenirs. I stop by a piazza with coffee shops and restaurant that reminds me of the Italy at the heart of East Nanjing Road. The list goes on.
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4 comments
Great post. I enjoyed reading it and the pics are great.
thank you! 🙂 hope you get to visit some day!