Wukang Road - the center of the former French Concession
The beauty of the former French Concession is the colonial architecture and quiet streets lined with trees. Wukang Road nicely illustrates this point. Known as the road that "contains a century of history," it has 37 structures that still retain their original characters.
Wukang Road was called "Route Ferguson," named after US priest John Ferguson, when it was first built in 1907. It was changed into "Wukang" in 1943 and has remained so ever since, even during Cultural Revolution (1966-76) when many streets were renamed.
Wukang Road is located between Huaihai Road West and Xingguo Road which are now major commercial roads. However once you step on Wukang Road, you can forget you are in China's busiest city. Old-style architecture hides behind the trees, which are so abundant that the street seems to be in perpetual twilight. Unlike many of the old buildings on Yuyuan Road, which are now open to the public, most of the buildings on Wukang Road are still privately-owned residences.
Where to stop?
The old residence of the Chen brothers, No.2 of 107 Wukang Road
The Chen brothers headed one of the four big families that ruled business in China for two decades from the 1920s to 1940s. The house they lived in was a three-story British-style garden villa built in 1946. Now it is shared by several families, which makes it less luxurious compared to other villas on the road.
Wukang Mansion
Located on the crossroads of Wukang Road and Huaihai Road, Wukang Mansion was built in the shape of a great liner. It was named "Normandy Apartments" when it was built in 1924. Designed by the famous Hungarian architect Laszlo Hudec, it is typical of French Renaissance architecture, and is the oldest galley apartment building in Shanghai. A lot of celebrities have lived in it.
Suggested routes
Wukang Road is like a fish bone that connects Huashan Road, Wuyuan Road, Fuxing Road West, Hunan Road and Tai'an Road. All roads have retained much of their original charm. You can turn to each of them when strolling along Wukang Road.
