The main commercial artery of the former French Concession runs from the city center through the heart of the district. The middle section around Shaanxi Road South is the most practical for shopping — chain stores and mid-range brands without the tourist-facing excess of Nanjing Road, in a tree-lined environment that remains one of Shanghai's most pleasant commercial streets.
The street retains its pre-war alignment and many of its Art Deco commercial buildings from the 1930s and 1940s, now occupied by banks and fashion retailers. The section west of Shaanxi Road becomes progressively more upscale as you approach the French Concession proper; the section east of Shaanxi Road is more local-facing. Good for an evening walk with the plane trees overhead.