Puxi
Posted by | Posted in Residential Areas | Posted on 29-10-2008
On the western side of the Huangpu River, Puxi is a mixture of the old and the new Shanghai. Besides culture and entertainment, Puxi is also Shanghai’s central food scene. Holding on to the past with side-stall food streets (which are disappearing at an alarming rate), hot pot restaurants and dumpling stands; fine-dining restaurants with celebrity chef names like Jean-Georges are also based here.
Puxi does feel crowded at times, but its energy and vibrancy is what attracts people. Without the chaos and over-population, the city might fall apart being dysfunctional. A lot of highly developed and constructed buildings are centered near downtown, with most of the compounds being a little further away in Hongqiao and Gubei.
The main residential areas in Puxi are:-
French Concession and Luwan- The French Concession is definitely one of the more charming areas in Shanghai. A central location with quiet and green streets, it is popular among expat residents. The district covers Huaihai Road - a main shopping street with restaurants, retail clothing stores, supermarkets (City Shop - which sells imported groceries), pharmacies and large departmental stores (Parkson and Isetan). Xintiandi is also part of the district and is a haven for expats as well as a top tourist spot. It consists of refurbished traditional Shanghai houses (Shikumens) that are now converted into restaurants, bars, clubs and retail shops.
Serviced apartments with short-term stays are available in complexes like Hong Kong Plaza and Lakeville Regency. Rent rates for apartments start at ¥25,000. Old colonial lane houses in the French Concession fetch the highest price in real estate property with rates set from ¥50,000 a month. Luwan’s rates are slightly lower ranging from ¥15,000 to ¥40,000.
Gubei and Hongqiao - Gubei was the heart of expat center several years ago. Most of the expats living here now are mainly Asians, in particular Japanese, Taiwanese and Koreans. Carrefour and another Parkson departmental store are also located here. As there are a few international schools situated in Hongqiao, this part of town is a favourite for expat families. Those that enjoy golf will be relieved to know that there is a golf club nearby. A number of large villa complexes in the area fitted with pools, sizeable gardens, and sports facilities make it a convenient lifestyle. Villa monthly rates start from ¥32,000 and can go up to a whopping ¥80,000. Apartments are a little less extreme, starting at ¥20,000.
Jing’an -Jing’an is one of the slightly trendier sides of Shanghai. Covering the famous shopping section of the city Nanjing Xi Road, cafes, restaurants, several branded retail shops and malls line up one after the other. Western food supplies can easily be sourced here at several supermarkets such as City Shop and Freshmart (conveniently located at the Jing’an Metro Station). There are a number of modern high-rise apartment buildings that are well-equipped and come completed with western kitchens (ovens are a rare thing in local housings). Rent start from ¥20,000 at these high-end apartments or ¥8,000 at the less exquisite scale.
