Yuyuan Road to Columbia Circle: a walk in Shanghai

A Changning lane walk on the official Zhongshan Park - Yuyuan Road - Jiangsu Road - Huashan Road and Hongqiao-airport routes: kite fliers in Zhongshan Park, the lane houses and small shops of Yuyuan Road, the Ding Xiang Garden villa on Huashan Road, and Columbia Circle with its Hudec architecture, ending on the garden houses of Xinhua Road.

Best time: Weekend morning or afternoon, when young citywalkers and old neighbours share the street; weekdays are calmer.

The route, stop by stop

1
Zhongshan Park
The former Jessfield Park; people fly kites and play games on the meadows. 20 min
The old Jessfield Park, begun in 1914 as the private garden of a British businessman, with more than 120 small scenic spots and big lawns where locals fly kites and play games…
2
Yuyuan Road
Lane houses, small shops and cafes; a favourite citywalk where seniors play cards on the pavement. 30 min
A plane-tree road first opened in 1911 that still has cobblers, soy-milk stalls and lane entrances next to new indie shops and the 'Story Store' that trades local stories for…
3
Ding Xiang Garden
Historic garden villa on Huashan Road, one of the stops of the official route. 15 min
4
Columbia Circle
Historic compound turned leisure quarter, known for its Hudec architecture and old swimming pool. 40 min
The former Columbia Country Club, a social hub for Shanghai's American community, restored with its Spanish-style clubhouse, a blue-tiled pool building and old foreign-style…
5
Xinhua Road garden villas
Heart of the Xinhua Road Historical and Cultural Block. 20 min
Laid out in 1925 and protected from widening, Xinhua Road is lined with detached garden houses in English, Spanish and other styles; Lanes 211 and 329 are the U-shaped 'foreign…

Walking directions

Yuyuan Road to Columbia Circle

The route, stop by stop

More walks in Shanghai