PLACE GUIDE

Wukang Road 武康路

Wukang Lu

Wukang Road runs through the western part of Shanghai’s former French Concession in Xuhui.

Former French Concession · 原法租界街区
Former French Concession · 原法租界街区 · Shypanda · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo adjustments

Wikimedia thumbnail; fitted to the ranking-card frame.

Explore the region

Shanghai · 上海市 →Xuhui District · 徐汇区 →

About Wukang Road

Formerly Route Ferguson, it is lined with historic residential and institutional buildings under plane trees.

The architecture combines several styles, including French Renaissance, Mediterranean and Art Deco influences. The point of a visit is the changing sequence of façades and entrances rather than one ticketed attraction. Wukang Mansion at the southern end is a strong starting point, after which the quieter road reveals smaller buildings and residential details.

The road began as a dirt path built in 1897 by John Calvin Ferguson (福开森), an American missionary and educator at Nanyang Public School (南洋公学), to give colleagues and students easier access to the school; the French Concession authorities paved and widened it in 1907 and named it Route Ferguson. In 1914, as the concession expanded westward, the road was split into three sections.

In 1943, the three sections were renamed Anfu Road (安福路), Tianping Road (天平路) and Wukang Road, the last taking its name from Wukang County (武康县) in Zhejiang, now part of Deqing County. The road runs roughly north-south, 12 to 16 metres wide, between Huashan Road (华山路) in the north and Middle Huaihai Road (淮海中路) in the south, lined mainly by garden villas and apartment buildings built during the Republic of China period.

It is one of 64 Shanghai roads designated never to be widened, and in June 2011 was named a National Historic and Cultural Street of China (中国历史文化名街). In December 2013 Xuhui district began treating it as a 'fallen-leaf landscape road,' deliberately leaving fallen plane-tree leaves uncleared, and in September 2021 the Wukang Road-Anfu Road block was designated a Shanghai municipal tourism and leisure block (上海市级旅游休闲街区).

What to look for

  • Historic façades show several architectural languages along one tree-lined road.
  • Wukang Mansion anchors the southern junction with Middle Huaihai Road.

Location & getting there

Getting to Wukang Road

Begin at the Wukang Road–Middle Huaihai Road junction in Xuhui, beside Wukang Mansion, then follow the road northward as local pedestrian conditions allow.

General visit reminders

Choose the building, exhibition or part of the historic area you most want to see, then leave time to explore its setting. Check the venue’s current opening and reservation arrangements directly; a place appearing on the map does not mean every building or gallery is accessible on your travel date.

Combine your visit

A suggested sequence linking the specific features of this visit.

  1. Wukang Mansion武康大楼

    Start with the conspicuous wedge-shaped apartment building.

  2. Historic Wukang Road façades

    Continue through the sequence of smaller historic buildings and plane trees.

This order is editorial. Confirm access and any transfers between stops; it does not establish a walking route, same-day connection or common admission ticket.

Historic sites & architecture · 历史古迹／建筑 →

Find Wukang Road

武康路 · 徐汇区

Amap · 高德地图Approximate pin · 近似位置Apple Maps · 苹果地图

The pin marks the area, not the entrance.

More places nearby

Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.

Wukang Mansion 武康大楼

Less than 1 km away

Wukang Mansion occupies a wedge-shaped corner where Wukang Road meets Middle Huaihai Road. Designed by László Hudec and completed in 1924, it was originally known as the Normandie Apartments.

View guide →

St. Ignatius Cathedral, Shanghai 徐家汇天主教堂

2 km away

St. Ignatius Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral in Xujiahui. Its dedication and history reflect the Jesuit presence in this part of Shanghai.

View guide →

Jing'an Temple 静安寺

2 km away

Jing’an Temple stands directly on West Nanjing Road, placing a Buddhist precinct within one of Shanghai’s busiest commercial districts. The temple moved to this general site during the Song period and has undergone later…

View guide →

Sources & visit information

The linked encyclopedia sources support background and place descriptions. Current opening hours, ticket prices, booking rules and transport schedules have not been independently verified for this guide. Confirm them with the venue or operator before travelling.

Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikipedia contributors, “Wukang Road” · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 1363077521.

Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "武康路 (上海)", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 87075162.

Background paragraphs condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "Wukang Road", English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 1363077521.

China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-10-07