Some Popular Shopping Streets

Naning Lu, the main shopping street of Shanghai, is a pedestrian mall between Xizang Lu and Henan Lu. East and west of the mall, it stretches for nearly ten kilometers (six miles) from the Bund to Jiangsu Lu. Few of the original pre-war department stores buildings have changed since the 1930s except in name. For the Chinese, Shanghai Offers the best shopping in the country, so this street is constantly jammed with out of towers as well as local shoppers. Nanjing Lu passes People¡¯s Park and the Shanghai Art Museum, formerly the Municipal Library and before that the Shanghai Race Course Club. English-speaking Shanghainese gather here, especially on Sunday mornings, to practise among them.

Another important shopping street was Huaihai Lu, which was the main street of the French Concession, then called Avenue Jeffrey. The famous Huating Street Market was closed down in 2000 and moved to a new location at Xian yang Lu and Huaihai Lu, near the Shanxi Nan Lu metro station. It is a popular place but not quite as colorful as the old one.

Just one block away from Xizang Nan Lu and bisecting Fuxing Lu, is Dongtai Lu Antique Market still the main antique market in the city, lined with three blocks of shops and stalls. Beware cheap fakes but a few remarkable genuine items can be found, including original posters of Sun Zhongshan flanked by the Guomindang state and party flags or stone Buddha heads.

Book stores--antiquarian and modern--are a specialty of Fuzhou Lu, as well as stationery and calligraphy accoutrements; though in earlier times it was a red-light district.

As a word of caution, protect your wallet and avoid the male and female touts who hover around the main streets traveled by visiting foreigners (Lao Wei) such as Rui jin Lu where it runs beside the Garden Hotel, Huai Hai Zhong Lu in front of Isetan Department Store, Nanjing Lu near the Peace Hotel, and Hengshan Lu. They will approach foreign men in particular and chant "Shanghai Ladies, Shanghai Ladies.' They may physically grab your arm and try to steer you in their chosen direction. Lf you go with them, you will be 'entertained' at your expense but not with your prior consent! You will have to pay the bill.