Shanghai's Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street East Extension Opens to Enthusiastic Crowds

On September 12, the East Extension of Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, celebrated as 'China’s Number One Commercial Street,' officially opened to the public. This marks the largest-scale upgrade since the pedestrian street debuted in 1999, extending from Henan Road all the way to the Bund.

On its opening day, the East Extension was thronged with visitors; the mere 500-meter stretch was packed with delightful surprises. Time-honored brands and new shops gave shoppers a fresh, eye-opening experience.

The East Extension of East Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street now runs from Henan Middle Road further to Zhongshan East No.1 Road, meaning you can now walk all the way from People’s Square straight to the Bund! Originally 1,033 meters long, the pedestrian street has been extended by about 500 meters.

At the same time, the vehicle lanes have disappeared. The road surface has been transformed into pedestrian walkways leading to buildings on both sides, with sidewalks widened by 10 to 20 meters. Even details like seating, signage, and street lamps incorporate Shikumen elements, exuding a charming Shanghai-style cultural atmosphere.

The paving uses 'Xinjiang Kamai Gold' granite, harmonizing with the tones of the heritage buildings along the East Extension and maintaining a stylistic continuity with the western section of the pedestrian street.

Turning from the Bund into this new pedestrian area, the view instantly opens up. Vehicle lanes are gone, replaced by pedestrian paths leading to street-side buildings. With no obstructions, you'll see locals and tourists snapping photos everywhere.

Based on pedestrian flow and surrounding commercial functions, the East Extension is divided into three zones: a strolling area, a leisure area, and distinctive rest areas. The strolling area uses horizontal paving with vertical accents to guide east-west foot traffic; the leisure area, with mostly horizontal paving, encourages interaction between pedestrians and shops on both sides; and the distinctive rest areas integrate artistic details like street furniture, greenery, and manhole covers to create inviting spots for people to pause. Here, visitors can leisurely stroll, savor classic experiences, or shop for trendy finds.

The enthusiasm of locals and tourists was exceptionally high. At the intersection of Nanjing Road and Henan Road, the usually traffic-laden Henan Road presented a rare scene of 'cars surrounded by crowds'.

'Crowds surging like a tide,' 'a sea of people.'

The unprecedented crowds placed an extraordinarily heavy security burden on Nanjing Road. To maintain order and prevent head-on rushes of people, security staff continuously broadcast announcements reminding peak-time visitors of safety tips, while police officers and armed police formed human walls, creating a unique sight of the day.

Crossing the road under the guidance of traffic police, I found it was already swarming with pedestrians~

In front of the Peace Hotel is the top photo spot of the East Extension—this is the liveliest area, with almost every passerby raising their phone to snap a shot.

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street holds profound significance for Shanghai. Along the street, you'll find not only a wide array of shopping and entertainment venues but also significant historical and cultural sites. In addition to well-known heritage buildings like the Peace Hotel, Shanghai's very first arc lamp is also located here.

It is said that this lamp was first lit in 1882 on East Nanjing Road near Jiangxi Middle Road. Back then, the arc lamp on its pole glowed in the night like a bright moon. For many years, the lamp post stood here, but hidden by greenery, few people ever noticed it. During the East Extension project, this history was unearthed and highlighted. On the original site, '1882 Plaza' was created, and the century-old arc lamp was relit,

Beneath the lamp, there is a copper-plate book engraved with the history of Shanghai's electric power development.

In 1882, Shanghai's first arc lamp was lit on East Nanjing Road near Jiangxi Middle Road. On the East Extension, the original site of that lamp has been turned into '1882 Plaza,' where designers added various spotlights to the ground and walls, creating a dazzling effect. The lamp post bears slogans such as 'A City Built by the People' and 'A City for the People,' while the ground is inscribed with text recounting the history of Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street.

The plaza will be a place for both locals and tourists to enjoy, day and night. In the evening, you can admire the changing lights; during the day, you can take time to read the 'history.'

It is reported that beneath the lamp post, the ground is carved with text detailing Nanjing Road's history: near this spot, on July 28, 1882, China's first power company—Shanghai Electric Company—began commercial operation; in 1882 China's first electric lamp was lit here; in 1883 China's first overhead power lines were erected; in 1906 Shanghai's first tram line went into service on Nanjing Road; and in 1928 the Grand Theatre opened.

On the left stands the trendy New World Daimaru Department Store, and on the right is the 85-year-old 'Nanjing Building,' which recently opened Huawei's largest global flagship store!

In front of New World Daimaru Department Store, a rose house has appeared, covered in vibrant blooms,

The store also rolled out a red carpet from inside to outside, creating a 'mall + outdoor mini-plaza runway' for a fashion show.

France's Lancôme teamed up with New World Daimaru Department Store.

Looking toward the Bund, you can clearly see the iconic spire of the Peace Hotel.

Continuing forward, you reach the intersection of Sichuan Middle Road, getting ever closer to the Bund! Across from the Meilun Building, at Ci'an Li and Cichang Li, a wave of new shops will soon open along the street, including flagship debuts, trendy boutiques, and refreshed time-honored brands.

172 East Nanjing Road, Cichang Li Building, built in 1911.

On the spot of the former Night & Day Spark Shop, there is now the well-known Korean brand KAKAO Friends. This trendy store, based on popular emoticons, is filled with adorable derivative products.

Along this block, you'll also soon find a flagship store for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a trendy snack collection shop, and the famous Italian dessert brand Rinaldini's first store in China!

The Central Mansion evokes a sense of nostalgia. It used to be called the Central Market, a name that stirs even more memories. It mainly sold department store goods, clothing, and electrical appliances, and was once a famous Shanghai department store. In the old days, this was the city's liveliest landmark: if you needed something repaired, you went to the Central Market! To hunt for bargains, the Central Market! To wander the snack street, the Central Market!

The building from memory has been beautifully renovated! It has a bit of history stretching from 1920 to the present! On the ground floor, there's Peet's Coffee, while the first floor is filled with sports brands. The second floor connects to another building. Floors four, five, and six house restaurants and bars. Feel free to wander around!

Continuing onward, you'll spot the Huilo Company, a familiar name to Shanghai locals! The facade of the Huilo Company building has been spruced up, and the entrance space is now much more expansive.

100 East Nanjing Road, Huilo Company, was the largest department store run by foreign merchants in modern Shanghai, built between 1904 and 1906.

When the iconic Peace Hotel comes into view, the Bund is just steps away!

Without even noticing, you've strolled all the way from Henan Middle Road to the Bund.

Cross the road and look back; Nanjing Road is a sea of people, buzzing with visitors.

Take in the view from the Bund observation deck.