Shanghai - Huaihai Road

Last Sunday was an exciting day for us. We decided to explore the famous Huaihai Road on foot! I think we did a good 5km.

Huaihai Road was formerly known as Avenue Joffre; the former French Concession. It was built in 1901.  It was named as Huaihai Road in 1950. Today, it is the most prosperous commercial street in Shanghai. 

 Jiaotong University metro station, Line 10. Exit 7 into Huaihai Road

This is a impressive looking high school just across from the metro station

Quaint boutiques along Huaihai Road

Residence

Baker & Spice 

Walkway in front of Baker & Spice

Wukang Mansion, 1924  武康大楼

Soong Ching Ling Memorial Residence's direction

Rosamond Soong Ching Ling @ Madam Sun Yat Sen's Memorial Residence

Hat Club

Kindergarten & Apartment complex

An old building

Old buildings and restaurants

We were photographing the beautiful Hydrangeas and Roses when suddenly, there was a loud plop. I walked around this tree and found a bird. It must have fell off the branch. Poor birdie!

Beautiful roses

Really lovely looking across the road and seeing the roses blooming on the fence

Hehe, looked like we were not the only ones taking photos of the fresh flowers!

Shanghai Library

US Consulate General Shanghai

Official residence of Consulate General of the Republic of France

Nie Er (1912 - 1935), Chinese composer, was born in Yuxi, Yunnan Province. He composed March of the Volunteers for the film Children of Trouble Time as a theme song in 1935. After the founding of New China, it was used as the national anthem.

Shanghai Conservatory of Music (tall building)

Shanghai Music Club (front building)

IAPM Shopping mall

Huaihai Park

Huaihai Shopping district

The largest MUJI I have ever seen!

There's more to Huaihai Road from here on but we were exhausted. That's for another day to explore on! The only parts that I could not photograph were the old traditional mansions along the road; they were huge in size with walls that were high up. I could only see the roofs and parts of the upper walls. Wish the mansions were opened up to the public. 

Huaihai Road is one intriguing road!

HISTORY

Huaihai Road 淮海路

Reference: (http://www.culture-shock-tours.com/blog/street-stories-huaihai-road)

Its Shanghainese name is Wahae Lu

It was built in 1901 as Rue Sikiang  西江路 (Xijiang Road)

It was then renamed to Route Paul Brunat in 1906  宝昌路  (Baochang Road)

In 1915 it was known as Avenue Joffre

In the 1930s it had become well known in the Far East as 'Oriental Avenue des Champs-Elysees

In 1943 it was called Taishan Road