Neighborhood · Huangpu
Former French Concession
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The Former French Concession is Shanghai's most charming and atmospheric district, a leafy quarter of plane-tree-lined streets, low-rise lane houses (shikumen), Art Deco villas, and converted heritage buildings that feel a world away from the city's skyscrapers. Once the foreign concession governed by France, it's now home to boutiques, indie cafés, bars, restaurants, and design shops, especially around hubs like Tianzifang (a maze of arts-and-crafts lanes) and Xintiandi (a polished restored shikumen dining and shopping enclave).
There's no single sight here, the pleasure is wandering the shaded streets, peeking into lane neighbourhoods, and stopping for coffee or cocktails. It's where Shanghai feels most relaxed and stylish, and a wonderful contrast to the Bund and Pudong. Come on foot, get a little lost, and soak up the genteel, tree-shaded calm.
Don't miss
- Plane-tree-lined streets and Art Deco villas
- Tianzifang's arts-and-crafts lane maze
- Xintiandi's restored shikumen dining enclave
- Independent boutiques, cafés, and bars
- Atmospheric shikumen lane neighbourhoods
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Former French Concession
You don't need a tour to visit — entry is free. A tour is worth it if you want transport, a guide, or to combine Former French Concession with nearby sights in one day. That's what these do well.
Cheapest way inFrench Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated4.9★ · 107 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$5 per personSee dates →
Most bookedEat Like a Local Through Shanghai's French Concession5★ · 406 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$75 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleShanghai Nightlife: Bars in The Bund and Old French Concession5★ · 12 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$193 per personSee dates →Good for
How travelers rate it
Know before you go
- It's a district to wander, not a single sight, get pleasantly lost in the lanes.
- Tianzifang (crafts lanes) and Xintiandi (restored dining enclave) are the main hubs.
- Spring and autumn are loveliest under the plane trees.
- It's a calm, stylish contrast to the Bund and Pudong, go on foot.
A bit of history
The French Concession was a foreign-administered area of Shanghai from 1849 until 1943, developing into a fashionable residential and commercial district with European architecture and tree-lined avenues. Though the concession ended, the area's distinctive character and buildings survive, now gentrified and beloved.
Common questions
What is the Former French Concession?
A leafy, atmospheric Shanghai district that was once French-administered, now full of tree-lined streets, heritage villas, boutiques, cafés, and lane neighbourhoods, the city's most relaxed, stylish quarter.
What are the main areas?
Tianzifang, a maze of arts-and-crafts lanes, and Xintiandi, a polished restored-shikumen dining and shopping enclave, are the two main hubs.
Is there a specific sight to see?
Not really, the pleasure is wandering the shaded streets and lanes and stopping for coffee or drinks. It's about atmosphere, not a checklist.
When's the best time to visit?
Daytime for shops and streets, evening for the dining and bar scene. Spring and autumn are most beautiful under the trees.
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