Walk around Shanghai: Wukang road.
Wukang road — once known as “Route Ferguson” — is the equivalent of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. The history and modernity of Shanghai is on full display here: ancient European style villas set the background for a collection of hipster boutiques, coffee-shops, and restaurants.
We are in the quiet heart of Xuhui, where one finds streets lined with imposing gated villas, the homes of consulates and other formal institutions. But, the area is also alive with plenty of eating and drinking opportunities. It is the former home of Shelter, Shanghai’s premier underground dance music venue, which was closed on new year’s eve 2016.
One french restaurateur in particular has been responsible for the boom in visitors over the past few years — Franck Pecol. He is the founder of several popular spots: Farine, a French bakery, the coffee-shop Grains, and WIYF, an ice-cream parlor known for it’s long queues.
However, the “patron of Wukang road” has recently — as of early 2017 — fallen from grace. His bakery has become embroiled in a scandal involving the use of expired wheat. With all of Franck’s spots now closed — the long queues gone overnight — it remains to be seen whether the street will ever recover its former glory.
The streets functions as an artery of the neighborhood: connecting Xuhui with Jingan by starting at Middle HuaiHai road on south side and ending at HuaShan road on the north.
Notable historical buildings are the Wukang Mansions and the Former Residence of the writer Bajin.
