Central Huangpu District, home to some of Shanghai’s crown jewels, including the Bund, the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, People’s Square and Yuyuan Garden, is surging ahead with plans to evolve into a four-in-one entity: a central business district, a shopping mecca, a tourism site as well as a modern international residential area.

As the oldest district in Shanghai, the Huangpu District is the center of administration, culture and trades, as well as the most extravagant area in Shanghai. It has some of the most historical places in the city. The picturesque Bund area along the Huangpu River, boasts more than 50 major buildings of classic European architectural styles, is an important component of Shanghai’s central business district. More than 180 financial institutes and half of the city’s accounting and auditing firms are located here. On the opposite side of the Huangpu River, the spectacular view of the new Shanghai building boom including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Jin Mao Tower can be easily seen.

The Bund, the famous waterfront area along the HuangPu River, has been long been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai. Recently, a number of restaurants and retail shops have opened in this area and the Bund has now become a major attraction for local residents, expatriates and flocks of tourists alike.

Huangpu District is an old traditional area with Nanjing Road, the “shopper’s street”, running down its center. Before the building of modern department stores around other districts of Shanghai, this was the only place to be on a Sunday and tens of thousands of people would cram the streets and floors of places like the No.1 Shanghai Department Store and the Hua Lian Department Store. The area also boasts the Peace Hotel, People’s Park and People’s Square, surrounded by the impressive modern architecture of the Shanghai Municipal Office, the Grand Theater and the Shanghai Museum.

Because the Huangpu District is considered a tourist and commercial area, expatriate accommodations are limited but available.