Dong Liang is one of Fumin Road’s featured boutiques. Photo courtesy of Dong Liang.
It’s hard to find an area in the city with more concentrated options for things to do than Fumin Road, located in the Former French Concession between Julu Road and Changle Road. Here are five reasons why you should add Fumin Road to your Shanghai itinerary.
1. Eat – International
Options abound for international fare on this stretch of road. Pho Real is a popular Vietnamese joint serving, what else? Signature bowlfuls of beef pho. Make sure to douse your noodles with general helpings of fresh basil and bean sprouts, and accompany them with spring rolls or a bahn mi. Meanwhile, taquería Cantina Agave has a Mexican feast waiting. Coconut Paradise is located inside an old lanehouse; its cozy ambiance, Thai menu and terrace seating is perfect for a spicy, romantic meal. Finally, there’s also a gelato shop for those with a sweet tooth.
2. Eat – Regional
The area is also has a selection of restaurants serving regional Chinese food. Those who can take the heat can head to Guyi for Hunan food and to Sichuan Citizen for tongue-numbing Sichuanese eats. There’s also hot pot for a personalized meal that will keep you warm in the wintertime, while Paolo serves traditional Shanghainese fare. Tsui Wah is a Hong Kong import that serves fishball noodles, milk tea and other Hong Kong café favorites. Just off Fumin Road is Nepali Kitchen on Julu Road, a Shanghai dining institution serving delicious Nepalese food in a fun, authentic setting.
3. Drink
Quench your thirst at one of the several bars on Fumin Road. Dr. Beer’s in-house brews and outdoor seating is great on a hot summer day. Sister establishment Dr. Wine offers an international list and a menu to pair with your glass of Pinot or Merlot, including a charcuterie board, satay and flatbread pizzas. You’ll have to figure out the secret way to open the door to enter Julu Road’s People 7 bar, but that’s one of the main reasons, aside from cocktails, modern atmosphere and visual trickery that has kept this place popular for many years.
4. Shop Local
The boutiques on Fumin Road will satisfy your desire to shop for local designs. Dong Liang, housed in an old lanehouse, is one of Shanghai’s top fashion shops, often offering exclusive capsule collections by the best of China’s young indie fashion designers. Nearby, Helen Lee’s clothing collections are known to be ‘classic with an edge’. Eco-friendly cardboard designer Formmaker’s studio is also within the vicinity, but be sure to book and appointment before popping by. Madame Mao’s Dowry sells kitschy items that are oh-so-very Shanghai and is the ultimate place to pick up a few gifts to bring home.
5. Get Pampered
Spoil yourself while in Shanghai! Subconscious Day Spa is tucked away on the second floor and is ideal for manicures, pedicures and specialty facials. Or, relax with a signature oil massage, detox with a lymphatic drainage massage or indulge in a hot stone massage. You can even sign up for a yoga or Zumba class.
- Emily Chu
