# Wukang Road, Shanghai

> Wukang Road is a 1.2 km plane-tree street of 1920s–30s villas in the former French Concession, ending at the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion. It's free and open 24/7; Ba Jin's Former Residence is free but closed Mondays. Allow 45 minutes, or 90 with Anfu Road. Nearest metro: Shanghai Library, Line 10.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/wukang-road

- City: [Shanghai](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai), China
- YesGo score: 37/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 45 min
- Opening hours: Street open 24/7; Ba Jin's Former Residence Tue–Sun daytime, closed Mondays
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: Free — it's a public street with no tickets
- Wukang Mansion: Private flats — no entry; view it from the opposite pavement
- Ba Jin's Former Residence: 113 Wukang Road; free; Tue–Sun, guides give 9:00–17:00 or 10:00–16:30; closed Mondays
- Soong Ching-ling Memorial Residence: 1843 Middle Huaihai Road; 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30, closed Mondays; tickets online
- Metro: Shanghai Library (Line 10), about 600 m from Wukang Mansion; Jiao Tong University (Lines 10, 11); Changshu Road (Lines 1, 7) at the end of Anfu Road
- Length: About 1.2 km, from Middle Huaihai Road north to Huashan Road
- Time needed: 45 minutes for the street and the mansion; 1–1.5 hours with Ba Jin's house and Anfu Road
- Coordinates: 31.20760, 121.44000
- Facts checked: 04.11.2026

## Key facts

- **Free** — a public street, open around the clock (source: Shanghai government; Wanderin China)
- **1924** — Wukang Mansion, originally the Normandie Apartments, designed by László Hudec (source: English Wikipedia; China Daily)
- **Shanghai Library** — nearest station — Line 10, about 600 m along Huaihai Road to the mansion (source: English Wikipedia (station and coordinates))
- **≈ 1.2 km** — length of the road, Huaihai Road to Huashan Road (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **8 storeys** — Wukang Mansion — its sharp corner looks like a ship's bow (source: English Wikipedia; China Daily)
- **1907** — laid out as Route Ferguson, after American educator John Calvin Ferguson (source: China Daily; Chinese Wikipedia)
- **1943** — renamed Wukang Road, after Wukang County in Zhejiang (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia; China Daily)
- **2011** — listed as one of China's National Historic and Cultural Streets (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **No. 113** — Ba Jin's home from 1955 — a 1923 Spanish-style house, now a museum (source: English Wikipedia; China Daily)
- **No. 393** — Huang Xing's former house, now the Wukang Road Tourist Information Center (source: Shanghai government; English Wikipedia)
- **No. 376** — Ferguson Lane — a courtyard of restaurants, shops and galleries (source: Shanghai government; China Daily)

> **Wukang Mansion is private housing** The famous wedge-shaped building is a residential block, not a museum — you can't go into the lobby or courtyards. Shoot it from the opposite pavement and don't step into the road: it stands on a busy five-way junction where traffic wardens keep people moving. Weekends get crowded; a weekday before 10am is far calmer.

## What to see on Wukang Road

- **Wukang Mansion** (corner of Wukang Road and Middle Huaihai Road) — László Hudec's 1924 Normandie Apartments, an eight-storey red-brick wedge. The classic view is from across the junction, at the foot of Wukang Road.
- **Ba Jin's Former Residence** (113 Wukang Road) — a 1923 Spanish-style house where the novelist lived from 1955, with his books, manuscripts, photos and a garden. Free; closed Mondays.
- **Soong Ching-ling Memorial Residence** (1843 Middle Huaihai Road) — the home of Sun Yat-sen's widow, a couple of minutes from the mansion across Huaihai Road. 9:00–17:00, closed Mondays, tickets online.
- **No. 393** — Huang Xing's former house, part 1912, part 1930s art deco, now the street's tourist information center.
- **Ferguson Lane** (No. 376) — two red-brick buildings around a courtyard with restaurants, coffee, shops and galleries; the natural place for a break.
- **No. 390** — a 1932 Mediterranean-style villa with red tiles, white walls and a colonnade, once the Italian consul's residence.
- **No. 210** — the “Romeo's balcony” house, a favourite photo stop for couples.
- **Anfu Road** — branches east from the middle of Wukang Road: cafés, boutiques and the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre.

## How to get to Wukang Road

1. From the Bund, walk along pedestrian Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road station (Lines 2 and 10) — about 10 minutes.
2. Take Line 10 towards Hongqiao Railway Station for 5 stops — Yuyuan Garden, Laoximen, Site of the First CPC National Congress · Xintiandi, South Shaanxi Road, Shanghai Library. About 15 minutes, no change.
3. At Shanghai Library, come up on Middle Huaihai Road and walk west about 600 m — 8–10 minutes — to the junction with Wukang Mansion, where the road begins.
4. Or ride one stop further to Jiao Tong University (Lines 10 and 11): about 800 m, 10–12 minutes on foot to the mansion.
5. To finish, walk east along Anfu Road from the middle of Wukang Road to Changshu Road station (Lines 1 and 7).
6. From Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station, Line 10 runs straight to Shanghai Library. By taxi or DiDi, show the driver the Chinese name 武康大楼 (Wukang Mansion).

## Is Wukang Road worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy old houses, leafy streets and good coffee — it's one of the prettiest corners of central Shanghai and a calm change from Nanjing Road. It isn't worth crossing town just for a photo of Wukang Mansion on a one-day visit, though: the Bund and Lujiazui come first.

Come on a weekday morning, ideally in spring or autumn when the plane trees are green or gold. Weekend afternoons around the mansion are crowded, and midsummer middays are hot and humid. Pair it with Anfu Road or the wider [French Concession](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-french-concession) to make the trip worthwhile.

## How long do you need on Wukang Road?

Forty-five minutes covers the street and the mansion: walk north from the junction past the villas to Anfu Road, stopping for photos. With Ba Jin's house, a coffee in Ferguson Lane and a stroll along Anfu Road, plan on about an hour and a half.

The full loop from Wukang Mansion up Wukang Road and east along Anfu Road to Changshu Road station is roughly 3 km and mostly flat. Pavements are narrow in places, with tree pits and parked bikes — a compact stroller copes better than a wide one.

## Ba Jin's Former Residence: hours and entry

It's the only museum on the street itself, and entry is free; it's closed on Mondays. Opening hours vary by source — 9:00–17:00 with last entry at 16:30, or 10:00–16:30 — and one booking site lists it as temporarily closed, so check the museum's official account before you go.

Ba Jin (1904–2005) is one of the giants of modern Chinese literature. He lived in this garden house from 1955 for the rest of his life. Inside are his library, manuscripts and photographs. Bring your passport — foreign visitors may be asked for it.

## What is Wukang Road?

Wukang Road runs about 1.2 km through Xuhui District, from Middle Huaihai Road north to Huashan Road, in the western part of the old French Concession. It's lined with plane trees, garden villas and 1920s–30s apartment blocks, and people still live behind the walls — this is a neighbourhood, not a theme park.

It began in 1907 as **Route Ferguson**, named after John Calvin Ferguson, the American educator who led the Nanyang school that became Jiao Tong University. The road joined the French Concession in 1914 and was renamed Wukang Road in 1943, after a county in Zhejiang. Politicians, bankers, generals and film stars lived here, and in 2011 it was listed among China's National Historic and Cultural Streets.

## Wukang Road vs the French Concession, Tianzifang and Xintiandi

|  | Wukang Road | French Concession | Tianzifang | Xintiandi |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | One street of villas and the Wukang Mansion | A large residential district around Fuxing Park | Lanes of studios and cafés | A rebuilt shikumen block |
| Entry | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Metro | Shanghai Library (10) | South Shaanxi Road (1, 10, 12) | Dapuqiao (9) | Site of the First CPC National Congress · Xintiandi (10, 13) |
| Feel | Quiet, except at the mansion corner | Quiet streets and a lively morning park | Tight and busy | Restaurants and bars |

All four sit within the old concession. Tianzifang and Xintiandi are 2.5–3.5 km east of Wukang Road as the crow flies — easiest by Line 10.

## Paying on Wukang Road

The street is free, but coffee, lunch and the metro aren't. Most cafés here expect Alipay or WeChat Pay by QR code; foreign Visa, Mastercard and other cards can be linked to both apps with your passport, and metro gates accept contactless foreign bank cards. Set up an app before you fly, keep mobile data on and carry a few small yuan notes in case a scan fails.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] It's not Monday — if I want Ba Jin's house
- [ ] A weekday morning — fewer crowds at the mansion
- [ ] Chinese name 武康大楼 saved for taxis
- [ ] Passport with me
- [ ] Alipay or WeChat Pay set up, plus some cash
- [ ] Comfortable shoes — about 3 km to Changshu Road

## Shanghai's historic sights compared

Every historic place in Shanghai rated by YesGo.

- [The Bund](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/the-bund) — YesGo score 59/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free
- [Oriental Pearl Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/oriental-pearl-tower) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ¥199 — two spheres
- [Shanghai Maglev](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-maglev) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ¥50, ¥40 with a same-day flight
- [Nanjing Road](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/nanjing-road) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [Yu Garden](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/yu-garden) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥30–40 by season
- [Shanghai Museum](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-museum) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ¥148 show; Museum East free
- [People's Square](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-peoples-square) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
- [People's Park](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-peoples-park) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free
- [Shanghai Old City](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-old-city) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [Xintiandi](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/xintiandi) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [Tianzifang](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/tianzifang) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [City God Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-city-god-temple) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ ¥10 (one guide says free)
- [Former French Concession](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-french-concession) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
- [Wukang Road](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/wukang-road) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
- [Suzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/suzhou) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Train ≈ ¥30–45, garden ¥70–80
- [Jing'an Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/jingan-temple) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ≈ ¥50
- [Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-urban-planning-center) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free, booking required
- [Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-jewish-refugees-museum) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · CNY 20; students 10, 60+ 15
- [Jade Buddha Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/jade-buddha-temple) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free; Jade Buddha hall ≈ ¥10
- [Longhua Temple](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/longhua-temple) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ ¥10 (one guide says free)
- [Zhujiajiao](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/zhujiajiao) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free entry; three sights ¥60
- [Xitang](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/xitang) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ≈ ¥95 by day, free in the evening

## Xintiandi to Wukang Road in a day

Xintiandi's shikumen, the Tianzifang lanes, the concession's plane trees and Wukang Mansion in the late-afternoon light. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Xintiandi](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/xintiandi) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
2. [Tianzifang](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/tianzifang) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
3. [Former French Concession](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/shanghai-french-concession) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free
4. [Wukang Road](https://yesgo.io/china/shanghai/wukang-road) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free

## Good to know

Wukang Mansion is the single building at the south end; Wukang Road is the whole street. Locals still use the old name Ferguson Road (Route Ferguson), and you'll see it on Ferguson Lane. Don't confuse it with Wukan village (乌坎) in Guangdong — a different place altogether.

## Tips

- For the classic shot of Wukang Mansion, stand across the junction where the whole sharp corner fits in the frame.
- Come on a weekday before 10am — weekend afternoons draw a crowd of phones at the corner.
- Walk south to north: from the mansion past the villas, then east along Anfu Road to Changshu Road station.
- Ba Jin's house is closed on Mondays — make that a streets-only day.
- Don't walk into courtyards even if a gate is open: a heritage plaque doesn't mean you're welcome inside.
- Public toilets are scarce — use the cafés in Ferguson Lane.
- Save 武康大楼 in Amap or Apple Maps — Google Maps can be offset in mainland China.

## Questions

### Is Wukang Road worth visiting?

Yes for an hour of villas, plane trees and cafés, especially combined with Anfu Road or the French Concession. On a one-day trip, the Bund and Lujiazui come first.

### Which metro station is closest to Wukang Road?

Shanghai Library on Line 10, about 600 m from Wukang Mansion. Jiao Tong University (Lines 10, 11) also works, and Changshu Road (Lines 1, 7) is at the end of Anfu Road.

### Can you go inside Wukang Mansion?

No. It's private housing; visitors look and take photos from outside, ideally from the opposite pavement.

### Is Wukang Road free?

Yes. It's a public street with no tickets, and Ba Jin's Former Residence is free too.

### How long do you need on Wukang Road?

About 45 minutes for the street and the mansion; around 1.5 hours with Ba Jin's house, a coffee and Anfu Road.

### How do I get to Wukang Road from the Bund?

Walk to East Nanjing Road station and take Line 10 five stops to Shanghai Library, then walk about 600 m west along Huaihai Road.

### Who designed Wukang Mansion?

László Hudec, the Hungarian-Slovak architect, in 1924. It was originally called the Normandie Apartments.

### When is Ba Jin's Former Residence open?

Tuesday to Sunday, daytime; closed Mondays. Sources give slightly different hours, so check before you go.

### What is near Wukang Road?

Anfu Road's cafés, the Soong Ching-ling Memorial Residence across Huaihai Road, and the rest of the French Concession a short metro ride east.

## How we checked

The core comes from English search results and related questions: what to see, is it worth it, how long, which metro station, can you go inside Wukang Mansion, Ba Jin's house hours. Sources disagree on the road's start: English Wikipedia says Ferguson built it in 1897 and it was paved in 1907; China Daily and Chinese Wikipedia give 1907, which we show. Length is 1.17 km (English Wikipedia) or 1,183 m (Chinese Wikipedia), so “about 1.2 km”. Ba Jin's house hours conflict (9:00–17:00 at Audiala, 10:00–16:30 in a SmartShanghai search snippet), and Ctrip lists it as temporarily closed; SmartShanghai and Ctrip block bots and we didn't work around that, so it's marked “verifying”. Its opening year differs between sources, so we leave it out. Soong Ching-ling residence hours are from its official site, which shows no price. Metro stations are checked on Wikipedia; distances use Wikipedia coordinates, walking times are estimates.

## Sources

- English Wikipedia: Wukang Road, Wukang Mansion, Former Residence of Ba Jin, Shanghai Library station, Jiao Tong University station; Chinese Wikipedia: 武康路 (上海); Wikidata Q11124225
- Shanghai government (english.shanghai.gov.cn) — Wukang Road; Wukang Road–Anfu Road block; metro contactless payment
- Soong Ching-ling Memorial Residence official website — hours, closures, booking
- China Daily — history of the road, Wukang Mansion, sights along the street
- Wanderin China — Wukang–Anfu walk, conduct at the mansion, metro stations
- Audiala, SmartShanghai — Ba Jin's Former Residence hours (unofficial)
- travelto.ru — payments in China (unofficial)

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