For more than a century Nanjing Road has been where Shanghai comes to shop, window-gaze and be seen. Here, between 1917 and 1936, the 'Big Four' department stores opened, bringing modern shopping to China, with lifts, restaurants and rooftop gardens. The historic buildings are still standing, next to silk shops, traditional pastry shops and big brands. Since 1999 the central stretch has been pedestrianised, and today it reaches all the way to the Bund. A local's tip: come back in the evening, when the signs light up and the street looks like a river of light.
