THERE is never a quiet moment on Hengshan Road, even if it's during the day. Known for its lively night scene, the road is peppered with bars and pubs, and a surprising number of hair salons. In daytime, the main road is always flowing with the rush of traffic and the buzz of people going about their daily routine. When the sun is still up, it is a nice and refreshing experience to explore the small boutiques and restaurants that line the street and admire the numerous European-influenced architecture of the buildings as well.


1. Pureland ceramics

The burst of color from the art sold in this shop beckons through its windows, and the walls inside are filled with row after row of Pureland's signature ceramic paintings. All created by hand, the paintings, done on tiles, are mostly an intriguing mix of modern and traditional Asian cultural elements. Each piece is painted manually with a range of glazes and then fired in a kiln at high temperatures. The end result is that these ceramics are easy to keep clean, the colors won't fade, and the thickness of the tiles makes them less likely to shatter too easily. The tiles come in various shapes and sizes, from 6x6 centimeters fridge magnets (20 yuan) to 15x15 centimeters frames (50-70 yuan, or 200 yuan for four) to 40x40 centimeters wall art (200-350 yuan), leaving one spoilt for choice. Apart from using the painted ceramic tiles as wall décor, there is also the option of buying benches, tables, chests and even window frames featuring your choice of ceramic painting. The furniture can be customized, whether by material, color or size. Smaller home accessories like trays and lacquer boxes are also available.

Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Address: 1 Hengshan Rd

Tel: 6445-6806


2.No. 53 Community Church

No. 53 Hengshan Road is the location of the Community Church, built in 1925. This Gothic Christian church is made up of three sections: the chapel and two three-story wings. The steep roof is in the classic European gable style and all of the entrance windows, skylights, the altar, aisles and twofold side windows feature pointed arches. The exterior is cased with red bricks and the roof is covered with slate tiles. Originally named Xiehe Church, it was the largest church at the time in Shanghai and was renamed the International Church because foreign Christians came for prayer. Since it reopened in 1980, thousands of Christians a year have visited the church.


3.All American Everyday USA

It's impossible to miss the cheery signboard of Everyday USA decked out in the red, blue and white of the Stars and Stripes distinguishing it from other shops. Yes, the food at this restaurant is all American, with hamburgers, sandwiches and ribs. Drawing inspiration from its previous outlet, TGI Friday, the food and ambience have rather strong Texan and Mexican directions. This time around, the restaurant has expanded its menu to dabble in Mediterranean food as well. Among the must-tries are the appetizer combo with loaded potato skins, cheese sticks and buffalo wings (68 yuan or 128 yuan), barbecue ribs (88 yuan for half, 158 yuan for full) and Bourbon glazed rib-eye steak and chicken (198 yuan). For some original and filling American fare, give this restaurant a go.

Opening hours: 11:30am-midnight (Sunday-Thursday); 11:30am-1am (Friday, Saturday)

Address: 4 Hengshan Rd, La Promenade

Tel: 6473-4602, 6473-9362


4.Turkish Restaurant for great grills

The first thing that catches your eye on entering the restaurant is the display of hookah sets right by the entrance. Dining here, the décor and Turkish cuisine makes you feel as if you've really been transported to the country. Opened four years ago, this is possibly the only restaurant in Shanghai where you'll be able to find authentic Turkish food. The owner and the chefs (all four of them) hail from Turkey, so the bar is definitely set high when it comes to the standard of the food served. Carnivores would love the menu which is dominated by grilled meats. There are donors (28-88 yuan), kebabs (85-108 yuan) and Turkish pizza (55-75 yuan), but their specialty is still the grilled meats for mains (75-88 yuan). Being halal, there is no pork, but there's no lack of choice given the copious amounts of lamb, chicken and beef.

Opening hours: 10am-2am (Sunday-Thursday); 10am-5am (Friday, Saturday)

Address: 4 Hengshan Rd

Tel: 5465-0977


5.No. 10 former Shanghai American School

American missionaries realized at the beginning of the 20th century the importance of establishing an American school for their children in Shanghai. This building at No. 10 originally was the Shanghai American School, which became the biggest and best equipped of all overseas American schools at that time. Built in 1922, the red brick building was designed by American architect Henry Murphy and copied from the Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Address: 10 Hengshan Rd


6. No. 303-307 classic art deco

The art deco apartment building that sits on the corner of Hengshan Road and Gao'an Road is Washington Apartments, built in 1928. The fa?ade was originally painted yellow but later changed to light green. The white trim around the windows and the variety of designs around them are heavily influenced by the art deco style. After 1949, the building's name was changed to West Lake Apartments and in 1982 another two floors were added. The building is listed among Shanghai's Excellent Contemporary Architecture and protected by the Shanghai Municipal Architecture Protection Agency.


7.Ann Ann's side-by-side shops

The Ann Ann business treats fashion as not only clothing but also accessories. This is why there are two separate shops situated side by side, one entirely dedicated to silver jewelry, the other to clothes. For the accessories, all the jewelry is handcrafted and made in 925 grade sterling silver, meaning that items are easy to maintain and will not cause any skin reaction. Inspiration for the designs is drawn from the latest fashion trends, such that there'll be something to go well with the newest fashions from the whole gamut of jewelry on sale. The prices go by weight, ranging from 20 yuan to 28 yuan per gram depending on whether you're buying a ring, earrings, necklace or bracelet. As for the clothing arm, the items are the latest style with a trifle touch of extravagance and flair. There are cocktail dresses that can be toned down with a blazer for daywear and, at night, lose the blazer and you are party-ready. The clothes are mostly sourced from Hong Kong or cities in Europe but there are limited pieces for each item. Dresses are 100-2,000 yuan, and tops cost between 100-900 yuan. Shop for an outfit that shows off your vivacity then pop next door to find some jewelry pieces to match.