Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street guide
Walk from People's Square to the river
The official pedestrian section runs from Middle Xizang Road in the west to Zhongshan East First Road at the Bund. For a first visit, start at People's Square (人民广场) and continue east. You avoid doubling back and watch the streetscape shift from large department stores to the historic Bund.
The western entrance is close to People's Square and makes a clear starting point.
Old signs beside new retail
Store windows are only part of the walk. Older department-store façades and long-standing shop signs sit beside character stores, anime retail and new shopping concepts. The corner occupied by Shanghai Fashion Store is one of the easiest older façades to recognise.
Tenants change quickly, so treat the buildings and route as the lasting sights.
Pair it with the Bund
Leave People's Square in late afternoon and you will usually reach the Bund around lighting time. The reverse works early in the day: start on the quiet waterfront, then walk west. On major holidays the complication is crowd movement, not navigation, so allow extra time for crossings and station entrances.
