Wukang Road, formerly known as Route Ferguson, is one of the most attractive and historic neighborhoods in Shanghai, the most popular part stretching from Anfu Road down to Huaihai Road.
Located in the western area of the former French Concession, it is lined with trees and many historic and now protected villas and houses. The street is hugely popular on sunny weekends, where you can spend all day with brunch, cafe, dinner and evening drinks. Even a little shopping. Or you can join the crowd in taking selfies, or bring someone to take photos for and of you - or just watch how others going ahead.
At the northern end Wukang Road intersects with the equally popular Anfu Road, also lined with boutiques and cafes - and claimed to be the street with the most fashionable girls and young women in Shanghai.
At the southern end on Huaihai Road is the famous Wukang Building (Normandie Apartments), another hotspot for photographers and selfie addicts.
The street was originally constructed in 1897 by John Calvin Ferguson, the American president of Nanyang Public School (the predecessor of Jiaotong University) - who chose to name it after himself: Route Ferguson. In 1943, it’s name was changed to Wukang Lu (武康路) – named after Wukang County in nearby Zhejiang Province. After the communist takeover in 1949, the Chinese name was enforced.