French Concession by Bike

Discover the picturesque streets of the historic French Concession, now home to laid-back cafes and trendy shops.

The former French Concession is where we find some of the old mansions and leafy streets which earned Shanghai the nickname "Paris of the East" during the 1920s and 30s. It represents a key period in Shanghai's past, when first Britain and then France were ceded concessions and influence and control in one of Asia's most economically strategic cities, following the Opium Wars.

Today it is charactarised by quaint streets, tree-lined avenues, art shops, trendy bars, outside cafes and well-regarded restaurants, combining to create one of Shanghai's liveliest but also picturesque and laid-back areas. One of the best ways to explore this relatively large area is by bike, giving you a broad overview of the concession and also allowing you to stop at certain points, as agreed with your guide.