Leafy boulevards, enchanting streets, quaint cafes, colorful doorways, and stylish boutiques that have cultivated only the trendiest of pieces. Yep – when it comes to charm, Shanghai’s French Concession neighborhood truly has it all.

In theory, I could be describing any expat neighborhood in any one of the world’s major international cities, from Mexico City to Medellin to Bangkok…and I mean that in the most loving of ways! I adore these types of hip expat neighborhoods, and the Former French Concession is no exception.

And as it turns out, the Former French Concession has a loooong history of attracting expats.

As the name implies, this neighborhood was in fact a former concession (AKA territory governed and occupied by a foreign power) of France from 1849 until 1943.

Many French government officials and wealthy civilians lived here during the concession era, but they weren’t the only ones to call this neighborhood home. A large number of British and American merchants were also drawn to the spacious homes and attractive streets throughout the early 1900s, along with a sizeable Russian population.

Together, these affluent foreigners poured their collective dollars into making the French Concession feel like the elegant upper-crust neighborhoods they had left behind. In the process, they shaped this district into what it is today.

Here, stately European-style mansions with wrought-iron fences and romantic details are the norm, along with wide boulevards and abundant gardens and parks. And the legacy of the neighborhood’s global influences can still be observed in the architecture, cuisine, schools, and other institutions.

Together, these features have heavily contributed to Shanghai’s nickname “Paris of the East.”

Something else I really loved about the Former French Concession is that it offered such a perfect juxtaposition to the other neighborhoods of Shanghai that I explored, like flashy and colorful Nanjing Road, futuristic Pudong, and the perfectly preserved Old City.

(Psst – read up on these areas in my One Perfect Day in Shanghai Itinerary)

And much like those other neighborhoods, you could easily spend a week uncovering all of the French Concession’s many hidden gems…but if you’re short on time, you can scope out the highlights in a single day.

Whether you have one day or more in this gorgeous historic neighborhood, the best way to truly get to know the French Concession is to Stroll, Sip, and Shop:

Stroll: Shady Streets, Parks, & Gardens

Hands-down the best way to explore Shanghai’s Former French Concession is on your own two feet (although bicycle would work too). Meander down the major tree-lined boulevards, and peek down narrow alleyways where colonial villas sit protected by wrought iron gates.

Wander past the stately former residences of: 

• Soong Ching-ling (a prominent Chinese political figure who was awarded the title of “Honorary President of the People’s Republic of China”)
• Zhou Enlai (the first Premier of the People’s Republic of China)
• Sun Yat-sen ( the first president and founding father of the Republic of China).

My favorite find was Fuxing Park, a tranquil European-style park that was constructed by the French in 1909. If I had to sum up Fuxing Park in one word, it would be “alive” (although captivating, magical, and beauti-freaking-ful were all close contenders).

Here you’ll find people practicing their water calligraphy on the sidewalk, elderly couples dancing to classical musical in the open spaces, men playing card games in the shade, and friends performing tai-chi in the grass.

All while surrounded by abundant greenery, elegant marble statues, and soothing fountains. Ahhhh.

There’s so much movement, energy, and beauty in this little oasis, it’s almost hard to know where to look. But you’ll figure it out 😉

Sip: Cold Brews & Craft Brews

Tucked away on the French Concession’s winding, leafy streets are dozens of cozy cafes just waiting to be discovered. Whether you want to curl up in a corner with a good book and an extra foamy cappuccino, or get comfortable in a shady spot outdoors with an iced coffee, there’s truly a cafe for everyone here.

Some of the top cafes in Shanghai’s French Concession include:

• Kommune Cafe
• Cafe del Volcan
• Mellower Coffee
• FUMI Coffee
• EGG Cafe
• Cloudy Cafe

Forewarning: I noticed during my time in Shanghai that many cafes here don’t have accurate addresses listed online, or that they only have their addresses listed in Mandarin.

My recommendation? Rather than pinpointing an exact spot you want to visit and setting out to find it, just wander until you stumble across somewhere that calls out to you. There are so many great cafes to try, so you can’t really go wrong with this method!

Of course, cold brews and lattes aren’t your only options for sipping; if you’re looking for something a bit “stronger,” you’ll also find a number of hip breweries and brew pubs. Boxing Cat Brewery is located right next to Fuxing Park, and has beers on tap as well as standard bar fare if you’re hungry.

Shop: Local Designers & Big Brands

Walking down the streets of Shanghai, you’ll see it all: college kids in sneakers and oversized t-shirts (typically printed with hilariously bizarre English phrases), well-dressed businesspeople, eccentric artsy types with dyed hair, fashionistas sporting midi skirts and red lipstick, and everything in between.

What I’m getting at is this: Shanghai knows fashion, and you can find pieces here to accentuate whatever style you’re rockin’…especially in the French Concession.

As you wander the streets, you’ll come across boutique after boutique after boutique. You’ll find international brands as well as local designers, all at various price points.

I recommend wandering through Tianzifang, a vibrant maze of streets where you’ll find an abundance of locally-owned shops selling handbags, jewelry, shoes, scarves, and more. It’s known for being one of the best shopping districts in the entire city!

Bottom line: The Former French Concession will take what you thought you knew about Shanghai, and flip that all on its head. If you though this city of 24 million was all about towering glass skyscrapers and flashy neon signs, this neighborhood’s Parisian architecture and tree-lined streets will show you otherwise.

And I love that.

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Have you ever visited Shanghai? Were you surprised to see how different the Former French Concession was from other areas of the city?

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