Walking Through Shanghai

believe that the best way to see a new place is to walk it. If walking is your thing, then you'd love Shanghai. With clean, wide sidewalks, and interesting sights along the way, Shanghai has lots to offer for a fun walk.
have explored two parts of Shanghai, first a scenic/cultural part of Shanghai in the French Concession, and the second covers a famous temple and Shanghai's art district through a more local route. The following are the recommended routes for you.
ROUTE I — Through the French Concession
Time needed: Between 1 to 1½ hours, depending on walking pace, and stops.
Starting at Maoming Lu
Maoming Lu (Lu (路) means 'road') – Sinan Lu – Fuxing Lu – Danshui Lu – Xintiandi
To reach the Maoming Nan Lu / Yan'an Lu junction (冒名南路/延安高架路路口) to start the walk, take a cab.
There is a huge antique store at this spot, which you should check out. This store has lots of impressive pieces of beautiful ancient furniture and appliances from an era long gone, and even some fascinating art pieces. With an air of exclusivity and privacy, and the period furniture, you'd almost feel like you are on a serious treasure hunt. Who knows, you might fancy something if you are an antiques aficionado. Spend some time in the store, and head out onto Maoming Lu, where you will walk by numerous tailor shops selling suits and wedding gowns on both sides of the street and interesting boutiques.
Cross Jinxianghi Lu — more boutiques there — till you reach the famous shopping street Huaihai Lu. Turn east on this street and continue straight, across Ruijin Lu, till you reach Sinan Lu.
South on Sinan Lu
Sinan Lu, formerly called Rue Massenet, has been long overshadowed by Huaihai Lu. This part of Sinan Lu is pretty and busy, with tiny restaurants, bars, small shops along the way. There were two restaurants that might catch your eye — Cafe Kakao (an inviting and spacious cafe) and Brick (a Mediterranean restaurant and wine lounge). Brick is known for their great fusion cuisine and wine, as well as for playing live Jazz music on weekends.
Walk across Nanchang Lu, and you will notice a quieter, greener Sinan Lu with trees lining the street, sans shops except for a small art gallery on the right. This is followed by a noodle shop at number 36 called A Niang Mian (Grandma's noodles). This joint has a cult following of noodle lovers. The history is that it was run by a well-loved noodle lady till she passed away in her eighties. After temporarily being shuttered, this shop was reopened by her grandson (who inherited the secret recipe) and today continues to be a very popular joint. If you get hungry on your walk, recommend that you try their famous Yellow Croaker Noodles (Huangyumian).
Fuxing Park
Keep walking further ahead till the Sinan Lu / Gaolan Lu junction, where you will see a narrow pathway leading to some greenery on your left. That is the West Gate of the massive Fuxing Park (formerly called the French Park), specifically at Muse at Park 97 (a club/lounge). Fuxing Park, famous for its rose gardens, represents Western and Eastern garden design tastes, and is speckled with bars and restaurants, vast green spaces, flower beds, and lotus ponds. It's common to see elderly folks dancing, singing, practicing tai chi, playing cards or mahjong, youngsters playing badminton and general merrymaking among local folks. You can explore the park at your own pace, but we'd suggest that you exit from the same West Gate to the next highlight of the walk.
Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence
Continue southward along Sinan Lu, till you come across a high, imposing gate at 7 Xianshan Lu. These gates guard what used to be Sun Yat Sen's — the father of modern China's — home. The entry fee is RMB 20 per person, open from 9am to 4pm. Dr. Sun and his wife, Soon Ching, lived here from 1918 till 1924. If you are a history buff, recommend this museum.
Sinan Mansions
Moving on, you will walk by the famous Sinan Mansions — an architectural landmark with 51 renovated villas. There are beautiful restaurants and bars on this street, including the popular Boxing Cat Brewery. You will also spot a quaint cafe called Antique Garden Shanghai at number 44.
Cross the busy Chongqing Lu, which will bring you to another heritage building — the former residence of American Journalist and Activist, Agnes Smedley, and continue straight until Danshui Lu.
North on Danshui Lu
A surprising little street, there are lots of local eateries, vegetable/fruit vendors, cute tiny french cafés, and charming little beer and wine bars such as Mr. Shaker and the Italian wine bar called Luccio's. You will also see a cute beer bar, the latest addition to this street, called The Beer Shelf — a lovely spot for a quick Belgian ale, if you please. Continue on to the last stretch of the walk, going East on Zizhong Lu, across Madang Lu, and North on Huangpi Nan Lu.
Xintiandi, Shanghai
Xintiandi Park and Xintiandi
Huangpi Nan Lu will bring you to Xintiandi Park. As you walk along Huangpi South Road, you'll see nice posh boutiques around. You can enter Xintiandi on the left at Taicang Lu. Xintiandi is one of the most popular hot spots (for locals and tourists) in Shanghai, being a conglomerate of upscale cafes, bars, restaurants, and small art stores. It is full of Shikumen-styled buildings. Enjoy a lovely stroll through Xintiandi, following which you can settle down for a nice glass of wine, some snacks and people-watching at any of the open air bars or restaurants.
ROUTE II — Local Life, a Temple, and the Art District
Anyuan Lu – Shaanxi Lu – Aomen Lu – Moganshan Lu
Time needed: around 1½ to 2 hours, depending on walking pace, and stops.
Starting at the Jade Buddha Temple
You can get to the famous and historically rich Jade Buddha Temple on 170 Anyuan Lu (玉佛禅寺安远路170号) in a cab, and if you want to get a flavour of Chinese monasteries, then you would enjoy your time inside this temple. It is still a functioning Buddhist monastery, and famous for two rare Jade Buddha statues. Entry