Ferguson Road, new Greenwich Village in Shanghai?

Version française

Like many parts of “Frenchtown”, Ferguson Road (today’s Wukang Lu) combines the charm of plane trees and European-style villas to provide a calming balm releasing visitors from the stress of the Shanghai urban jungle. May be because Puxi is now saturated with construction projects, this quarter appears to be the new Eldorado for cafes, terraces and art galleries, changing progressively from a quiet dormitory place into a very trendy village.

  

                     97 Wukang Lu                                                                                Fergusson Lane

At 376 Wukang Road, “Ferguson Lane”, a nice and quiet patio, seems the ideal place for enjoying a cup of coffee or having a pizza. Although the “gentrification” of the area reminds me of the rather kitch Sinan Mansions neighborhood, Fergusson Lane remains an excellent refuge for aternoon teas friendly dinners addicts. Please note that weekends turn the place into a mass brunching place and therefore to avoid by all means!!! Other cafes and tearooms can be found during a nice walk going from Anfu Lu to Huaihai Lu, like at numbers 97 and 103.

                                 113 Wukang Lu

But the most interesting aspect of the renewal of Wukang Road is the large opening to culture and historical heritage sites. For instance, the house of Chinese writer Ba Jin (巴金) at 113 Wukang Lu is accessible during daytime (closed on Mondays) as well as the very popular Touristic Information Centre at 393. There, models and artistic pictures of some of the most remarquable architectural gems of the neighborhood are exhibited. Free access is also given to loads of history books about Shanghai which once again shows the efforts of Shanghai Municipality to promote its extensive heritage (articles of 13rd March 2013, 25th May 2013 and 1st July 2013).  

  

              Tourist Information Center                                     art-deco house                              

Around Ferguson Road

I would then recommend visitors to push into Hunan Lu, Yongfu Lu and the part of Fuxing Lu connecting them as they hide wonderful villas and private residences. Among them are the Yongfu Elite Restaurant, once the British Consulate in Shanghai, and the current German Consulate at 200 and 181 Yongfu Road.

Even if some houses cannot be visited, they are still visible from the road, enough to appreciate their Spanish or Art-Deco style. As cafés are scattered around now, you can add a “French touch” to your walk with some nice breaks at terraces or lounges.

             Interior design gallery on Hunan Road

Enjoy your walk!

PS : Since businesses change quite fast in Shanghai, those informations have to be updated regularly :-)

For a more complete tour including history of the neighborhood and villas, feel free to contact me didier.pujol@chinaworldexplorers.com