The Changshou Road shopping area in Putuo district runs for about 688 meters, yet it has become one of the city's most concentrated clusters of malls and lifestyle centers.

From Jiangning Road to Jiaozhou Road, seven shopping complexes stand in close succession: West Lane Tong Yi Li, Paris Spring Department Store, Lane 189, Hong Shou Fang, Chang Shou Li, Cifi Tower, and Yaxin Living Plaza. This brief stretch has grown into a welcoming place to walk, eat, shop, and watch the neighborhood come alive.

Each development on the street reflects a different stage in Shanghai's retail growth. Yaxin Living Plaza opened in 1996 and marked the beginning of the area's commercial story. It transformed an old factory into a semi-open retail space, which was a bold practice at the time. Though no longer the trendsetter it once was, it continues to adapt and renew itself.

Paris Spring Department Store opened in 2011, followed by Lane 189 in 2017. The two stand side by side and represent the classic mall format familiar to many shoppers. Cifi Tower arrived in 2021 with direct access to metro lines 7 and 13, which has brought a steady stream of visitors to the area.

Hong Shou Fang, which opened in September 2023, combines modern shopping with the Shikumen-style lanes of old Shanghai. Its relaxed, everyday charm made it an immediate hit on social media.

Two more projects, Chang Shou Li and West Lane Tong Yi Li, opened in early 2025 and added new lifestyle and dining options. Together, the developments create a neighborhood that feels both established and fresh. The area carries the memory of western Shanghai's older communities while also showing how the city continues to reshape itself.

For many residents, taking a walk after dinner is an essential part of the day. With its warm lights and close-set storefronts, Changshou Road has naturally become an evening walking route. People wander slowly, pause for a snack, browse a shop or two, and join a line the moment an inviting aroma arrives.

The busiest section of the strip centers on Chang Shou Li and Hong Shou Fang. Chang Shou Li, which opened earlier this year, is already known for the three long queues formed by its most popular stalls. On the east side, a popular vegetarian bun shop draws loyal customers with its low prices and consistent quality. There is always a line, and the wait can reach 30 minutes during peak hours.

In the middle of the complex, a large Northwestern Chinese restaurant fills two floors. The smell of lamb skewers and freshly baked Xinjiang naan drifts out to the street and attracts another crowd.

On the west side, a small stall selling caramelized roasted chestnuts offers a sweet finish and yet another line of waiting customers.

The three stalls together form a fragrant row that few pedestrians can resist.

Next door, Hong Shou Fang has created its own identity, especially among older adults. Its first "Age Bold, Live Gold" festival recently turned the mall into a playground for people aged 50 and above. A street-dance performer in her 50s from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region danced on the same stage as younger performers with striking vitality. Nearby, a Zumba area mixed modern fitness music with an electronic version of the traditional Chinese exercise known as baduanjin, drawing many passersby into the spirited crowd.

Although Hong Shou Fang covers only 15,000 square meters, it has become a small but powerful presence in Shanghai's retail scene. By September, two years after opening, it had received more than 12 million visits, averaging about 27,000 visits a day.

Sources: Shanghai Observer and official WeChat accounts of the venues mentioned above