The French Concession:
SHANGHAI’S VIBRANT
RETAIL HAVEN
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
East meets West
There’s a growing buzz around the vibrant, lifestyle-oriented offering in one of Shanghai’s premier shopping locations, the French Concession. With international retailers lululemon and Aesop among those to set up shop along the tree-lined streets and embrace the East-meets-West atmosphere, we asked Associate Director for Cross Border Retail in Asia, Kelly Cheng, to reveal why the French Concession is becoming a retail, dining and cultural hotspot.
Step into the french concession
The French Concession is an area of tree-lined streets, historic buildings and a blend of Western and Eastern architectural styles, creating a charming, leisurely environment that resonates with both locals and international visitors. Although called the French Concession, having been under French control from the mid-19th Century until 1943, there are also historical influences from other foreign colonists, including British and Japanese. Many of the buildings have protected status, some of which are open to visitors.
Several kilometres long and wide, it would take at least a day to fully explore. Visitors love the leisurely atmosphere, exploring on foot or hiring a bicycle to traverse the many routes through the area. There are even guided tours available for those seeking to immerse themselves in the French Concession experience. It all feeds into the ‘city walk’ culture that has sprung up in Shanghai – valuing the sustainability of going on foot and taking a slower, more relaxed approach to life. As a result, the French Concession is a wonderful area, bursting with character.
Explore the retail dynamic
ownership
Independent, owner-run shops sit alongside well-known domestic and international brands, creating an eclectic mix of retail, with the emphasis on streetwear, fashion, athleisure and food & beverage (F&B).
the hype
The Hengfu area, a cornerstone of the French Concession and the largest historical area in central Shanghai, has become a buzzing cultural and retail hotspot. Click here to dive deeper into the past, present and future of Hengfu.
shoppers
As a whole, the neighbourhood is home to an affluent demographic, including expats and wealthy locals, making it an attractive strategic location for premium brands as well as mainstream retailers like Zara and Brandy Melville.
experiences
Customers are also drawn to the area for its artisanal and curated shopping experiences, often not found in traditional shopping malls, with retailers increasingly seeking spaces that allow them to create a boutique and personalised offer, complementing their presence in more conventional shopping centre sites.
community
The French Concession’s smaller, standalone shops offer an intimate setting that aligns with niche brand positioning and helps create a strong sense of community. The small unit formats naturally create more interaction between customers and shop owners, generating a neighbourhood feel that is increasingly rare in big cities like Shanghai.
Experience international brands
Most tenants are domestic Chinese retailers, such as sportswear brand Anta Group who opened their 450sqm ANTAZERO store in April 2024 on Wukang Road with the support of Savills. Not only does the French Concession location bring the brand closer to the younger Chinese consumers, but the store is also an important step for Anta Group following the announcement of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The store represents the first sustainable concept store by a traditional domestic clothing brand.
Yet there is a distinct and growing presence of international brands seeking to make their mark on the streets of Shanghai and recognising the potential of the French Concession to do so. Fashion retailer Zara has recently taken their first steps in the area with a 500 sq m pop-up store on Anfu Lu – providing a strategic test bed for the market.
The permanent stores of international brands such as Brandy Melville, Subdued and Supreme speaks to the continued blurring of geographical lines in the world of retail. The door to international brands has, over the years, opened through the digital world of retail. Now we are seeing the demand for these brands move into the physical world, with the opening of bricks-and-mortar stores in new territories, creating a buffet of brands for local consumers.
Guided tours through the French Concession are available, feeding into the ‘city walk’ culture that has sprung up in Shanghai, promoting travelling on foot and taking a slower, more relaxed approach to life.
Sample the food and beverage scene
Wherever you wander in the French Concession, the aromas of local delicacies, international food outlets and freshly-brewed coffee will never be far away. In fact, Shanghai has the highest number of coffee shops of any city in the world and visitors are spoiled for choice for a meal or a drink, adding to the lifestyle experience of browsing the French Concession. The area positively teems with cafes and restaurants, predominantly domestic brands, including some well-known names such as Alimentari, Arabica Coffee and Pain Chaud.
Find your place in the neighbourhood
There are still plenty of opportunities in the French Concession, but retailers need to have good contacts or a well-connected advisor. There is a real mix in the area, with some units owned by private landlords and others belonging to state-owned companies. Licensing also varies quite a lot – with some buildings ineligible for retail or F&B use. As far as rents go, rates are generally lower than in shopping mall locations – but in the most popular parts of the Concession, notably Anfu Road and Wukang Road, they have risen quite considerably over the past couple of years.