Shanghai Neighbourhoods

Shanghai is an incredibly diverse city with wide variety of options for living. If you are coming to Shanghai with a family you may prefer living in the suburbs where life is quieter. If you crave living near the action you may choose to live downtown. There are also options that will give you the best of both worlds. The following section should help you begin the decision making process.

Former French Concession

Shanghai's former French Concession is defined by tree-lined streets, quiet neighbourhoods, European-style housing and a central location. The attractive area includes many of the city's historic buildings and is the first choice for many foreigners, housing almost one third of Shanghai’s expat population. Most of the buildings that define the area today were built with European money in the 1920s-40s. The vibe is international, blending European influence with Chinese living habits. Broadly speaking, the most interesting part of the former French Concession for visitors is the area on either side of Huaihai Lu, though the area ranges from Zhaojiabang Lu to its south up to the Yan’an Lu Elevated Highway to its north. Huaihai Lu is now a major shopping street running east to west, with plenty of brand names but little character.

Housing

Gorgeous historic apartments, lane houses and garden homes line beautiful streets like Wukang Lu, Hunan Lu, Gaoyou Lu and Jinxian Lu. Because of the area’s popularity, rental prices for colonial properties from the twenties and thirties have been rising steadily. For two-bedroom renovated apartments, expect rents to start at RMB 25,000. The lane houses and garden homes here represent the highest downtown rents, from RMB 50,000 and up.

Health Care

With its central location, people in the former French Concession have a lot of quality health care options. The New Pioneer Medical Centre on 910 Hengshan Lu has a foreign-friendly medical and maternity clinic, as does Ruijin Hospital on 197 Ruijin Er Lu. Huashan Hospital on 2 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu has a 24-hour foreign clinic on the 19th floor. The Sino-American OB-GYN clinic (www.americanobgyn.com) is on the 14th floor of Huashan Hospital, and the out-patient facility is a few blocks away on 800 Huashan Lu.

Positives

There are many positives to living in the former French Concession. First and foremost is its mix of European and Chinese charm. The architecture and housing is varied and interesting. There are an endless number of nice coffee houses, restaurants and boutiques, and it’s an easy area in which to meet expats and enjoy a truly cosmopolitan international neighbourhood. Expats generally buy food at wet markets or at one of the City Shops, and there are trendy bars throughout the area.

 

Negatives

Traffic can be an annoyance. The streets of the former French Concession were not designed for modern Shanghai traffic. There are a few Metro line 1 stops in the area, although most people depend on cars and taxis here. The international schools are a long commute.

Xuhui

Xuhui is a booming area that is increasingly popular with expats. Its heart is Xujiahui, which is essentially a cluster of large shopping malls. The area spreads out from there, housing foreigners attracted to the shopping and transportation conveniences. The northwest area includes some of the city's best preserved lane houses and garden villas. The southern part of Xuhui is a newer neighbourhood with wide streets, high-rise apartment complexes and lots of neon lights.

Housing

The areas outside of Xujiahui mostly consist of older apartment buildings, although there are newer developments off Nandan Lu. Expect lower rents in older housing complexes, starting from RMB 7,000. Foreigners pay around RMB 12-15,000 for a decent three bedroom flat in a centrally located high-rise. In the southern end of the area on the other end of Shanghai Stadium, housing is cheap but often in poorer condition.

Health care

Expats in Xuhui can go to the New Pioneer Medical Centre or the International Peach Maternity Hospital, both in the Gure Building on 910 Hengshan Lu. There’s also convenient access to the adjacent former French Concession or nearby Jing’an for health care facilities.

Positives

The biggest draws in Xuhui are the shopping and access to the Metro. A few of the biggest malls in Shanghai are just above Metro line 1: Grand Gateway, the Oriental Department Store and Metro City. There’s also access to Metro lines 3 and 4, making for a quick commute to northern Puxi and Pudong. There are plenty of Chinese and Western restaurants inside the malls and on the surrounding streets.

Negatives

The area is somewhat crowded and noisy, even once you leave Xujiahui. Despite its relatively central location, Xuhui lacks a vibrant nightlife for foreigners, although a few new spots are popping up as the area becomes more popular.

Luwan / Xintiandi

Nestled in the western part of the former French Concession, Luwan District is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Shanghai and retains much of its original architecture.  Xintiandi, in the eastern half of the district, offers lively and cosmopolitan downtown living, with some of the city’s best shopping, entertainment and dining. The central location, tree-lined streets and elegant promenades make Luwan very appealing to expats.  On the downside, rents are high and open green space is limited to a couple of botanical parks. The Luwan area described here runs from the Chengdu Lu Elevated Highway in the west to Xizang Lu in the east, with the Xintiandi complex at its centre. The lifeline of Luwan is Huaihai Lu, renowned for both its boutiques and department stores. Shanghai residents pack the streets on weekends to window shop and people-watch.

Housing

Luwan’s housing options are varied. It consists of new high-rises, a few old houses, older art-deco buildings near Huaihai Lu and exclusive complexes surrounding trendy Xintiandi. The southern part of the district still has old Chinese housing complexes, although old communities are being flattened to make room for newer high-rises. The closer you are to Xintiandi, the higher the rent. Rent varies greatly, but generally expect to pay anywhere from RMB 15-40,000.

Health care

World Link Medical Centre has a Specialty and Inpatient Care Centre on Danshui Lu (right next to Xintiandi). Huashan Hospital (19th floor) at 2 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, in neighbouring Jing’an, has an expat clinic on the 8th floor. The CanAm International Medical Center Shanghai at 966 Huaihai Zhong Lu and the Guangci Memorial Hospital (Ruijin Hospital Foreigners’ Clinic) at 197 Ruijin Er Lu are also convenient for expats in Luwan.

Positives

Living in Luwan is a mixed bag, with glaring positives and negatives. On the plus side, Luwan contains Shanghai’s most interesting architecture and arguably the best shopping and nightlife in the city. Although traffic is congested in Luwan, Metro line 1 runs through the district and connects with several other lines at nearby People’s Square. For childless expats wanting to live it up, Luwan could be ideal. On the other hand, families face many inconveniences.

Negatives

Luwan is a very safe area, although the tourist sites attract street vendors and a few pickpockets. The call of “watch, bag, shoes” is an all-too-familiar greeting for the foreigners who choose to live in this downtown area. The international schools are far from Luwan, and retail shopping overwhelms supermarkets.

Jing’an

Central Jing'an is a primary business and entertainment district. The area runs from the Yan’an Lu highway in the south up to Changping Lu in the north, and stretches to Zhengning Lu in the west and the elevated NS Chengdu Lu highway in the east. This downtown district includes dense residential areas, high-end business and shopping centres, several bar streets and access to the city’s major Metro and bus lines. In short, this neighbourhood is extremely convenient, yet extremely busy and crowded.

Housing

Central Jing'an has fewer residential options than other areas and neighbourhoods tend to maintain a hectic pace—even late into the evening. Most of the expats live in modern high-rise complexes with doormen. These new, multi-room apartments begin at about RMB 8,000 per month. The remainder of central Jing'an is home to older Chinese residential neighbourhoods which increase in density as you move north towards Suzhou creek. Accommodation is cheaper than in the complexes mentioned above and foreigner-friendly, with 24-hour security and convenient access to Western supermarkets. Colonial buildings from the former British Concession are found in the western half of the area.

Health care

ParkwayHealth has a medical and dental facility in the City Centre on 1376 Nanjing Lu. A quick walk over Yan’an Lu to the former French Concession area brings central Jing’an residents to Huashan Hospital on 2 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, which has a 24-hour foreign clinic on the 19th floor. The Sino-American OB-GYN clinic is on the 14th floor of Huashan Hospital.

Positives

Residents praise Jing’an for its convenient access to public transportation, including Metro line 2, buses and abundant taxis, and close proximity to the former French Concession, the Bund and Pudong driving tunnels. Jing’an is popular among young expats who enjoy a busy nightlife scene, and professionals who value convenience.

Negatives

If you have children, there are the issues of crowded streets and lack of green space. Additionally, the international schools in Hongqiao are a substantial commute away.

Hongqiao

Hongqiao has evolved from a far-flung industrial zone into a lively and convenient suburban community, renowned for its luxurious villa compounds with gardens, pools and tennis courts. Located in Changning District, east of Beihong Lu and Hongxu Lu, it is an extremely popular place for expats and emerging Chinese middle-class families. As the main thoroughfare, Hongqiao Lu connects travellers from the airport to downtown every day. City planners have pegged the greater Hongqiao area as Shanghai’s third principle urban centre, along with the districts on either side of the Huangpu River. The recently completed Hongqiao transportation hub is the core of a massive new power centre that will serve as the city’s gateway to the Yangtze River Delta region and beyond.

Accommodation

Large self-contained villa communities dominate Hongqiao’s housing market. These expansive villas offer private gardens and well-equipped facilities with pools, sports facilities and community activities. Many of these complexes are within walking distance or a short drive from shopping centres, cafes and clinics. Although rents are higher here than in other suburban areas like Minhang or Qingpu, families receive a lot more floor and green space for their money than in downtown areas. Expect villa rents to start from RMB 30,000. High-end apartments can be found from RMB 18,000.

Health care

There are several quality health care facilities in Hongqiao, including a World Link medical and dental branch on 2258 Hongqiao Lu, the Hongqiao Clinic in Mandarine City on 788 Hongxu Lu, the Sun-Tec Medical Center on 2281 Hongqiao Lu and the Shanghai United Family Hospital, which offers 24-hour care.

Positives

Almost everything you need is a short ride away in Hongqiao. There’s Carrefour in Gubei on 268 Shuicheng Nan Lu, and Hongqiao also has many of its own Western markets, like City Supermarket on 3211 Hongmei Lu, as well as bakeries and international clothing stores. The pedestrian section of Hongmei Lu in Hongqiao has developed into a popular restaurant and bar street among expats.  

Negatives

For now, most residents depend on cars and taxis. However, the city plans to open a Metro stop at Hongqiao Railway Station by mid-2010. Commutes into the city are simple enough, thanks to easy access to the Yan’an Lu Elevated highway. Simple doesn’t mean fast, however, as rides downtown can take more than an hour during rush hour. Large construction and development projects can be an annoyance if you live near them or if they interfere with your commute.

Gubei New Area

Located in Changning District, east of Hongqiao, Gubei New Area is a thriving mini-metropolis dominated by high-rise towers and interspersed with small green areas and modern conveniences. The area tends to cater to Asian expats, specifically Korean and Japanese. However the residential area is a convenient option for any expat family with offices downtown and children in Hongqiao schools.

Accommodation

Unlike in neighbouring Hongqiao, there are few villas in Gubei. The most common form of expat housing comes in the form of high-rise apartment complexes. Rent is cheaper in this pocket of the suburbs – expect a big range, from RMB 4-8,000, for comfortable apartment flats. The few high-end options are within larger gated complexes, usually with European-inspired names like Vienna Plaza and Marseilles Mansion. Rents there will be several times higher.

Health care

It’s a short drive to many of the international medical facilities in Hongqiao. The new Mandarine City Medical Center at 788 Hongxu Lu, run by ParkwayHealth, is a convenient option.

Positives

Right off the Yan’an Lu Elevated Highway, Gubei is a straight shot into the city, and Metro line 3 has a stop on Hongqiao Lu. The rents are cheaper than downtown, yet it has many of the shopping conveniences. The city’s largest Carrefour on 268 Shuicheng Nan Lu is the focal point of Gubei’s busy shopping area. Home supplies and speciality foods can easily be found in shops. For daytime activities, the area around Gubei Lu has yoga studios, massage parlours and spas.

Negatives

Some expats find life among rows of high-rises a bit drab. If you want a lot of interesting street activity, this is not the right neighbourhood. The housing also lacks the green spaces of many compounds in more far-flung suburban areas. Despite its proximity to the Yan’an Lu Elevated Highway, traffic congestion can be an annoyance during rush hours.

Kangqiao

Kangqiao is a relatively new development on Pudong’s south side, built to accompany nearby international schools and industrial parks. The area is still coming up, with scattered housing and a developing expat infrastructure, but is looking to grow rapidly in the coming years due to its ideal location across the river from Puxi and proximity to central Pudong. Most of the housing exists within gated communities.

Housing

Based on plenty of practice in built-up areas like Hongqiao and Jinqiao, property developers offer new and improved villas in Kangqiao. Look for rents in the RMB 30,000-up range for villa property. Smaller townhouses in developments like Oasis Villas are cheaper than in other suburban areas, with rents from RMB 20-40,000. Some accommodation looks out on the nearby industrial parks, which makes for an unattractive skyline.

Health care

Kangqiao is near the medical facilities of Lujiazui and Jinqiao.

Positives

The zone enjoys an excellent geographic location, with Nanpu Bridge only 8 km away and People’s Square 10 km away. Because the area is newly planned, it offers plenty of green space. Parking is not a problem and traffic is generally not congested.

Negatives

The area is still developing, and residents must travel to Jinqiao, Lujiazui or over the Nanpu Bridge to the Bund for dining and entertainment. Although some parts of Kangqiao are pleasant green space, others are not.                                     

Lujiazui

Pudong’s business and financial centre and the district’s most developed area, Lujiazui covers the eastern bank of the Huangpu River. Lujiazui’s showpiece futuristic skyline is made of high-end business centres and five-star hotels. A few years ago the landscape was barren of housing, but that’s changing. The area is welcoming more up-scale apartment complexes that attract young Chinese and expat professionals. New shops, restaurants and bars are popping up to accommodate the new wave of people moving into Lujiazui. In many ways, Lujiazui is an ideal neighbourhood for people working in Pudong or downtown Puxi who don’t mind living in a forest of shiny high-rises.

Housing

Lujiazui housing is dominated by new high-end apartments in large property developments popular with singles and couples. They usually include 24-hour security, pools, gyms and parking. Rents start at RMB 8,000. Family-sized apartments are usually privately owned and rent ranges from RMB 15-60,000. While there are very few villas worth mentioning in the Lujiazui area, the major apartment complexes such as Shimao Riviera, Yanlord Garden and Champs Elysees offer large two-storey apartments which some families find ideal.

Health care

The Shanghai East International Medical Centre on Pudong Da Dao offers out-patient and in-patient medical care for expats, as does Huadong Hospital on 221 Yan’an Xi Lu, Pudong. A modern dental clinic, Care Dental, is on the seventh floor of Super Brand Mall. Alternatively, residents of Lujiazui can travel to any of the clinics in neighbouring Jinqiao for treatment.

Positives

Lujiazui is popular with young professionals and singles. It’s an exciting place to live, with dozens of futuristic skyscrapers and world-class hotels offering spectacular views while you sip an expensive martini. There are a growing number of excellent restaurants and bars, especially along the ‘other Bund’ facing the real Bund on the river, and it’s easy to get across the river to People’s Square on Metro line 2. Driving is relatively stress-free, unless you’re trying to get across to Puxi during peak hours.

Negatives

Unlike neighbouring Kangqiao and Jinqiao, Lujiazui was not designed for expat families. There’s not much open green space, and housing consists primarily of towers. However, it’s much more lively than the other expat areas and, with the Metro, it’s easy enough to get over to Puxi.

Huacao

Shanghai’s newest expat zone is poised to be the next Jinqiao. Situated only 15-20 minutes from Hongqiao, Huacao is home to some of Shanghai’s most famous expat residences, including the Shanghai Racquet Club and Forest Manor. The pace of development in this area is staggering with shopping malls, a world class medical facility, and more luxury compounds currently under construction. Huacao is also near the heart of what will be world’s largest transportation hub, meaning that getting into, out of and around Shanghai will be be extremely convenient in the near future. Huacao benefits from not being separated from downtown by water and thus the bridges of Shanghai, which often serve as choking points for traffic.

Housing

There is no shortage of housing in the Huacao area. Expat favourites such as the Shanghai Racquet Club, Forest Manor and Rancho Santa Fe are all located there. Upper mid-level options such as Westwood Green and Stratford also offer expats excellent choices that will fit into their budget. All of these compounds are within walking distance of the British International School, which is situated in the centre of Huacao.

Health Care

Huacao has health clinics that cater to the expat population and it is a short ride to the hospitals located in Hongqiao, which are world class medical facilities.

Positives

Huacao has many positives, such as the proximity to international schools, the quiet and safe streets and the excellent accommodations. When the transportation hub has been fully completed, this area will be the most connected place in the world. A subway stop is under construction in the vicinity and the maglev train will be extended nearby at Hongqiao International Airport.

Negatives

Until Spring 2010, the area will see much construction and it has slowed travel times to downtown.

Nanxiang

Nanxiang is the newest areas of Shanghai to develop luxury accommodation. Located only 25 minutes northwest of Jing'an temple, Nanxiang offeres a convenient alternative to those wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. With a recently opened subway stop, a Carrefour and a British International School, the area is well on its way to seeing a huge influx of expats in the coming years.

Housing

The expansive Greenworld luxury devlopment sits at the heart of Nanxiang. With the newly opened subway stop, Carrefour and The British International School on its doorsteps, Greenworld is an excellent option for families looking for the suburban life within reach of downtown.

Health Care

Situated only 20 minutes from Hongqiao, residents of Nanxiang are always within reach of excellent medical care.

Positives

The most positive aspect of living in Nanxiang, aside from the luxury accommodation and proximity to international education and expat services, is its location relative to downtown. Due to prevailing traffic patterns, getting in and out of Nanxiang happens quickly. With the addition of the metro, Nanxiang will be very well connected.

Negatives

Nanxiang is still developing as an expat area. Though the services exist, and more foreigners are moving in every day, Nanxiang continues to have a local feel.

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