Jing'an, Shanghai: neighborhood guide

Jing'an is a downtown Shanghai district named after Jing'an Temple, and the visitor area is compact: the temple, Jing'an Park and the stretch of Nanjing Road West around the metro station of the same name. Nanjing Road West is lined with office towers and shopping centres, including a large mall above the station. The side streets are more residential, but most ground floors hold shops and restaurants, so you are rarely far from food.

The district now also covers Zhabei to the north, but for a visitor the useful part is the area around the temple, Jing'an Park and the stretch of Nanjing Road West that leads into Huangpu and on to People's Square and the Bund.

It is a base, not a sightseeing destination. You come here for transport, beds and meals, then walk or ride out to the rest of the city.

Yes, for a first Shanghai trip where you want everything within a few metro stops and a lot within walking distance. Lines 2 and 7 meet at Jing'an Temple station, which puts you on the direct line to People's Square and the Bund side of town, and south into the French Concession on line 7.

No, if you want the plane-tree lanes and cafés of the former French Concession, or the skyline and river views of Pudong. Jing'an is towers, traffic and malls; the appeal is convenience rather than old-Shanghai atmosphere.

Hotel prices split sharply. Addresses on Nanjing Road West are expensive; the side streets, especially north of the temple, hold more moderate options. Book early in spring and autumn, the two best seasons.

Jing'an is one of the easiest districts in Shanghai to eat in. Malls above and around the metro station hold everything from fast food to full restaurants, and the ground-floor units along the side streets run from noodle shops to bakeries and coffee bars.

For local food, look at the smaller streets north and west of the temple rather than the main road: breakfast stalls, dumpling and noodle places, and cheap rice-and-two-dishes canteens. Prices on Nanjing Road West itself are higher and aimed at shoppers.

Shanghai cooking leans sweet and soy-heavy. Expect xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), scallion oil noodles, braised pork, and river fish. Vegetarian and halal options exist but are scattered; check menus before sitting down.

The usual arrival is metro line 2 or 7 to Jing'an Temple station. Line 2 also stops at Nanjing Road West station to the east, still in the district; line 7 runs north to Changping Road and Changshou Road, and south into the French Concession.

For the airports, there is no direct metro line from Jing'an Temple station: you change trains, and the route and travel time depend on which airport and terminal you are using (check your route before you set out). The Shanghai Airport City Building sits in a mall above Jing'an Temple station at 1600 Nanjing West Road; it has been listed as offering buses to and from the airports, but service and any check-in facilities should be confirmed before you rely on it (check).

You can also walk in: west along Nanjing Road from Huangpu, or north from the French Concession on several streets. From the temple, walking east through high-end shopping into Huangpu, on to People's Square and eventually the Bund, is about 4.5 km and a good half-day with stops.

Taxis and ride-hailing work well; metro is faster at peak hours.

Jing'an Temple is the anchor, a large Buddhist temple said to date from 247 CE. Jing'an Park next door has a lake and walkways, and is a good place to watch older residents dancing or playing Chinese chess in the southeast corner.

The former residence of Chairman Mao, tucked between the Kerry Centre and the Shangri-La, is a small traditional house preserved as a free museum. The Shanghai Natural History Museum on Beijing West Road is the district's biggest indoor draw; it closes on Mondays except during Golden Weeks.

Jing'an Sculpture Park sits further east near Beijing West Road and Shimen Road. The Jade Buddha Temple is often grouped with Jing'an but actually lies just across the border in Putuo.