The Brooklyn
of Shanghai is
Former French Concession.
The case for Former French Concession
The Former French Concession is Shanghai at its most walkable. Plane-tree blocks along Anfu Lu and Wukang Lu hold the deepest independent food and design scene in the city, and the lane-house architecture is the museum. Saturday afternoons mean pour-over coffee, natural wine, and quiet boutiques rather than spectacle.
The Anfu Lu and Wukang Lu corridor packs more than 60 independent cafes, bars, and design boutiques into roughly a one-square-kilometre stretch between Huaihai Lu and Yan'an Lu.
Close contenders
Other cool neighborhoods in Shanghai.
Jing'an
Jing'an runs the design hotels, the international galleries, and the high end of the indie food scene. Less plane-tree romance than the Former French Concession, more clean architecture and serious coffee. Fumin Lu and Julu Lu are the streets to walk.
Three sides of the neighborhood
Where to go in Former French Concession.
All 24 spots mapped out
Former French Concession, corner to corner.
Our 24 top picks
The Former French Concession guide.
Practical info
Good to know.
The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.
| Currency | CNY |
|---|---|
| Language | Mandarin |
| Cost level | $$$Moderate to expensive |
| Best months | Late October to early December, plus April |
| Local time | UTC+8 |
| Plug type | US, EU & Australian plugs · 220V/50Hz |
| Emergency | 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire |
Local tip
Skip the Bund at sunset. Walk Wukang Lu from the Wukang Mansion north to Tianping Lu around 6pm and you will see what Shanghai actually looks like at street level.
Asia · China
If you like Shanghai, try one of these.
Head to head
How does Shanghai stack up?
Common questions
Things to know about Former French Concession.
What is the Brooklyn of Shanghai?
The Brooklyn of Shanghai is Former French Concession. The Former French Concession is Shanghai at its most walkable. The Anfu Lu and Wukang Lu corridor packs more than 60 independent cafes, bars, and design boutiques into roughly a one-square-kilometre stretch between Huaihai Lu and Yan'an Lu.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Shanghai?
Former French Concession is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Shanghai. The Former French Concession is Shanghai at its most walkable. Plane-tree blocks along Anfu Lu and Wukang Lu hold the deepest independent food and design scene in the city, and the lane-house architecture is the museum. Saturday afternoons mean pour-over coffee, natural wine, and quiet boutiques rather than spectacle.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Shanghai?
Former French Concession is the hippest neighborhood in Shanghai. Plane-tree-shaded blocks along Anfu Lu hide the city's deepest bench of natural wine bars, independent design shops, and lane-house galleries you actually want to linger in.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Shanghai?
Former French Concession is Shanghai's trendiest neighborhood right now. Saturday afternoons here mean pour-over coffee and quiet boutique browsing, and the independent food and design openings on Wukang Lu set the pace for the rest of Shanghai.
Where do creatives live in Shanghai?
Creatives cluster in the Former French Concession, where design studios line Anfu Lu and independent galleries sit along Wuyuan Lu. The lane houses on Yongkang Lu and the plane-tree blocks between Huaihai Lu and Yan'an Lu hold the deepest food and design scene in Shanghai.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Shanghai?
The Former French Concession is Shanghai's most bohemian quarter. This is walking territory: pour-over coffee, natural wine, and quiet boutiques over spectacle. The lane-house architecture is the museum, and a half hour with a coffee outside the Wukang Mansion tells you more than most paid attractions.
Where should I stay in Former French Concession, Shanghai?
The best boutique hotels in Former French Concession include Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li, Alila Shanghai, and Upper House Shanghai. Fifty-five shikumen townhouses from the 1930s, restored as private villas with courtyards and rooftop terraces.
Is Former French Concession in Shanghai safe at night?
Former French Concession is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Shanghai expensive?
Shanghai rates $$$ on a global travel scale. Moderate to expensive, but Former French Concession's independent spots offer better value than tourist areas.
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
Late October through early December is the sweet spot in Shanghai: dry, 10-20C, with plane trees going gold across the old concession. Late March to mid-May is a solid backup before June's humid plum rains arrive. Avoid July and August, which push past 35C with heavy humidity, and the cold-damp stretch in February. National Day week in early October is pleasant but packed.
Last updated