Shanghai Nanjing Road is a walking street that is always packed with people waching other people. It is regarded as the first commercial road in Shanghai. The 5.5-km long Nanjing Road is the most bustling and prosperous street in Shanghai. It was first built in 1851. It is said that there were only four department stores along the street.
Now Nanjing Road has turned into the number one site for shopping in the city. Extending from the Bund to Jing An Temple, its eastern end has an all-weather pedestrian street. The large traditional stores no longer dominate the market since modern shopping malls, specialty stores, theaters, and international hotels have mushroomed on both sides of the street.
Today over 600 businesses on the road provide numerous famous brands, superior quality, and new fashions. KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and other world-famous food vendors line both sides of the street. High-end stores include Tiffany, Mont Blanc, and Dunhill. In addition, about a hundred traditional stores and specialty shops still provide choice silk goods, jade, embroidery, wool, and clocks. Open-air bars, abstract sculptures, and lingering sounds from street musicians enhance evening strolls. A trackless sightseeing train provides a comfortable tour of the pedestrian street. Flashing neon signs spangle the magnificent buildings and light the night skyline of this lively city.
