Huaihai Road is a major shopping street of Shanghai that serves as a local upmarket and is one of the busiest cultural hubs in the city. Numerous shops in modern buildings line the street, selling exclusive brands and fashionable labels in a lovely setting, with various upscale restaurants to stop off at along the way. It is a top shopping choice for residents and consumer addicts, with wide and beautiful streets that can entice any visitor.
Many top designers have a shop on Huaihai Road; with over 4 kilometres of high-street fashion, western brands, Asian styles, and luxury boutiques, there is something for everyone. Shopping malls including the Lippo Plaza and Central Plaza, also line the street providing more space, with high floors of department stores selling anything from clothes to jewellery to homeware. Major cultural landmarks and tourist attractions are also here including Shanghai Square, Shanghai Times Square and K11, an impressive skyscraper doubling as a key shopping centre and an iconic piece of city architecture.
Huaihai Road is a central area of Shanghai, which makes it well-connected by local transport systems and easy to find. Line 1 of the subway has three separate stations along its route that are close to the shopping districts of Changshu Road, South Shaanxi Road, and South Huangpi Road. Several bus lines go in the same direction towards Mid Huaihai Road, as does the city sightseeing coach.
Three sections make up the street with Middle Huaihai Road serving as the central section at 5,500 metres long. Built in 1901, officials renamed the road numerous times, as it holds a rich cultural history having hosted communities of Russian refugees in the 1920s and been occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Eventually in 1950, the Communist government gave the road the title it holds today, Huaihai Road,named after the Huaihai Campaign and a battle in the Chinese Civil War.