Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Pastel de nata
Portugal • 8 days, 7 nights
Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon
from
Italy • 9 days, 8 nights
Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The wall commemorating 11,908 Jewish victims of the Shoah from Frankfurt.
Börneplatz Memorial
Entrance to the munitions area of the lower part of the bunker
Simserhof
Carlos Calderón Yruegas calls the villa his personal playground.
Villa Tabaiba
Apples and pears, Spitalfields Market.
Brick Lane Roundels
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The exterior of the Hall of Records.
Atlas Obscura Mailbag: Urban Exploration, Illegal Carvings, and Repeat Vacations
about 20 hours ago
Biosphere 2 campus (2016)
Biosphere 2: How Volunteers Survived for 2 Years in an Airtight Habitat
1 day ago
Places like Forest Grove linger on the edge of wilderness and civilization.
Listening for Echoes of the Forest Grove Sound
1 day ago
Longwood House, where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final years.
The Longwood House: Napoleon Bonaparte’s Beautiful Prison
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All China Shanghai Shanghai French Concession

Shanghai French Concession

An out-of-place slice of France, smack in the middle of Shanghai.

Shanghai, China

Added By
Kurt Prescott
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
European architechture mixes with traditional Chinese iconography throughout the area.   EECC on Wikipedia
European architechture mixes with traditional Chinese iconography throughout the area.   EECC on Wikipedia
St. Ignatius Cathedral   Pyzhou on Wikipedia
Map of the former French Concession.   Jonnipoon on Wikimedia Commons
More of the French Concession in Xuhui District from my apartment   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Photo from my bedroom window looking out in to theFrench Concession in Xuhui District, you can make out part of the Wukang Mansion in the bottom corner.   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
European architecture between Xintiandi and Laoximen metro stations   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Saint Joseph’s Church, with a basketball court at its entrance   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Alleyway of a restored shikumen in Xintiandi, part of the Concession   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

While this Shanghai neighborhood no longer has any official French ownership, the area is still ruled by a laid-back attitude and European architecture.

Located in the northeastern portion of the modern day Xuhui District of Shanghai, the former Shanghai French Concession was a region under French control from 1849 until its return to the hands of the Chinese government in 1946.

Although the Old French Concession is now one of the most vibrant shopping districts in Shanghai (including the massive Xujiahui complex), the wrought iron fences, tree-lined boulevards, hidden cafés, and vibrant architecture have allowed the region to maintain a distinctly European flair that harkens back to its days as a French-controlled enclave. Visitors are encouraged to explore the many winding streets on foot to take in the unique combination of Chinese and European culture.

To witness some traditional Chinese tai chi or Chinese opera, head over to the sprawling Fuxing Park. Or if ancient temples are more your thing, a visit to the Longhua Temple might be in order. Indeed, with the original construction dating to 247 CE, Longhua is one of the oldest temples in Shanghai. Conversely, the area was also the hub for Catholicism during much of its French ownership and some of the gothic churches remain in the area.  

Not surprisingly, the former Shanghai French Concession also offers its share of historical attractions. The region served as home to some of the most militantly anti-imperialist Chinese, a fact that may seem somewhat counterintuitive, at least initially. However, it is important to note that the foreign rule of the concession made the region more attractive to radical thinkers than areas under Chinese law. Indeed, the Communist Party had its first national meeting here, while the region also served as home to many prominent political figures. 

Related Tags

Architecture Parks Politics Intriguing Environs Places To Stay Architectural Oddities Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

The Metro Line 1 runs along Huahai and Hengshan Roads, with stops at S. Huangpi Road, S. Shaanxi Road, Hengshan Road, and Xujiahui. The Metro Line 10 runs west from Laoximen with stops at Xintiandi, S. Shaanxi Road, Shanghai Library, and Jiatong Unviersity. The Metro Line 9 services the southern end of the French Concession, stopping at Dapuqiao, Zhaojiabang Road, and Xujiahui.

Community Contributors

Added By

kpres12

Edited By

Harianto, mikkxx, linkogecko, EricGrundhauser...

  • Harianto
  • mikkxx
  • linkogecko
  • EricGrundhauser
  • katielou106

Published

September 19, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Shanghai/French_Concession
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_French_Concession
  • http://travel.cnn.com/shanghai/life/classic-walking-tour-shanghais-former-french-concession-284760
Shanghai French Concession
Shanghai French Concession
Shanghai
China
31.209588, 121.469253
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Zhou Enlai's Former Residence

Shanghai, China

miles away

Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence

Shanghai, China

miles away

Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party

Shanghai, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

China

Places 31
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Zhou Enlai's Former Residence

Shanghai, China

miles away

Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Former Residence

Shanghai, China

miles away

Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party

Shanghai, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

China

Places 31
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Casa de Fusta.

    Amposta, Spain

    Casa de Fusta

    This Canadian hunting lodge is a long way from home.

  • Water tower and other building in Fordlandia, Brazil.

    Aveiro, Brazil

    Fordlândia

    Henry Ford's failed rubber plantation in the middle of the Amazon rain forest.

  • Lucky visitors to the Supreme Court play basketball.

    Washington, D.C.

    The Highest Court In the Land

    There just so happens to be a court even higher than the U.S Supreme Court: a basketball court in the building itself.

  • Ithaa

    Rangalifinolhu, Maldives

    Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

    An underwater restaurant, surrounded by a coral reef.

  • Quetzalcoatl’s Nest

    Naucalpan, Mexico

    El Nido de Quetzalcóatl

    An Aztec snake god has taken the material form of an apartment complex.

  • Casa Grande Ruins

    Coolidge, Arizona

    Casa Grande Ruins

    Some of the tallest ancient American ruins continue to inspire awe and curiosity.

  • View of Shanghai and the Oriental Pearl Tower

    Shanghai, China

    Oriental Pearl Tower

    The once highest point in China blends symbolic design with a kick of adrenaline.

  • Crestline, California

    Mozumdar Temple

    This temple, built by an eccentric religious leader before his death, sits guarded and in ruins.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.