The Bund, People's Square and the old town. Everything is walkable and nothing is cheap. Worth it for a short posting where time matters more than square metres; harder to justify for a year.
At a glance
Life without Chinese
Metro access
Quiet at night
Value for money
Good for students
What is around
Metro22
Supermarket20
Park24
Pharmacy9
International hospital25
Shopping mall23
Counted from OpenStreetMap data for this district.
What works
The most central address in the city, with metro lines everywhere
River, museums, restaurants and offices all on foot
Easy to explain to a taxi driver at 2am
What to expect
Highest price per square metre in Shanghai
Tourist traffic on Nanjing East Road never stops
Older buildings have plumbing to match
Suits:A few monthsBusiness travelWorking professionals