Nanjing Road.

Tracing its origins back to 1851, Nanjing Road is Shanghai’s definitive commercial corridor, famously slicing through the heart of the city toward the Bund. The street effectively offers two distinct personalities. Nanjing East Road is a high-energy, neon-lit pedestrian promenade stretching from People's Square, famed for its historic Chinese department stores and bustling evening crowds. A major design extension has made this entire walk to the waterfront seamless and highly walkable. Meanwhile, Nanjing West Road shifts the tone toward premier global luxury, lined with high-end malls and flagship designer boutiques. For travelers, the real draw isn't just the shopping, but walking a historic trade route that mirrors Shanghai’s rapid evolution from a 19th-century port to a global metropolis.