Some say that Sinan Road is the ‘harem’ of Huaihai Road, hidden behind the bustling streets like a secluded lotus, quiet and serene, narrating the history of old Shanghai and the stories of bygone years at a leisurely pace. Named after the early 20th-century French composer Jules Massenet, Sinan Road is a famous French-style street, a clean and romantic one-way road lined with towering French plane trees, connecting Huaihai Road with Xujiahui.
The garden houses along both sides of the road exhibit a variety of styles, British, French, and Spanish, reflecting its status before the liberation. It is said that Sinan Road has more than twenty garden-style houses, concentrating almost all residential styles of old Shanghai—it is a living textbook of urban history. A walk here feels like a journey back to an era that was hectic and messy yet still prosperous. Today’s Sinan Road not only preserves various former residences but also features Sinan Mansion, which has been transformed into a hotel. Along the street, there are specialty shops and cafés where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or visit ‘A Niang Noodle Shop’ to spend 20 yuan on a bowl of authentic yellow croaker noodles. Then, you can stroll through antique shops, savoring the unique history and romance of Shanghai city in a nostalgic atmosphere. Open all year round, 24 hours a day.
