Hongqiao is a lively suburban community, conveniently located 20 minutes from downtown Shanghai and renowned for its luxurious villa compounds, shopping and restaurant and bar scene and is a great place for families to live.
Located in Changning District, Hongqiao is extremely popular among expats and emerging Chinese middle-class families looking for convenience and a quality suburban lifestyle. The Hongqiao Transportation Hub, including Hongqiao International Airport, Hongqiao Railway Station and Metro means ease of travel, both within China and internationally, with your preferred mode of transport just down the road.
Major infrastructure development in the area over the past decade includes major commercial and medical investment, as well as the new National Convention & Exhibition Centre, the world’s largest convention centre capable of accommodating 400,000 visitors each day.
Accommodation
Large self-contained villa communities dominate Hongqiao’s housing market. These expansive villas, including Windsor Place, Jasmine Gardens and Green Valley Villas offer established private gardens and well-equipped facilities with pools, sports facilities and community activities. Many of these complexes are within walking distance or a short drive from shopping centres, cafés and clinics. Although rents are higher here than in other suburban areas like Minhang or Qingpu, families receive a lot more floor and green space for their money than in downtown areas. Expect villa rents to start from 35,000RMB. High-end apartments can be found from 20,000RMB.
Health Care
Quality health care facilities abound in Hongqiao. They include the Sun-Tec Medical Center, ParkwayHealth, PureSmile Orthodontics & Dentistry,and the Shanghai United Family Hospital, which offers 24-hour care. The American Medical Centre opened in 2012 and offers treatment and surgery by fly-in fly-out American specialists.
Good to Know
Almost everything you need is closeby in Hongqiao. There’s Carrefour in Gubei right next door, and Hongqiao also has many of its own Western markets, including a two-storey City Shop on Hongmei Lu, sharing that popular street with Western bakeries and international clothing stores. A pedestrian street running off Hongmei is not very delicately called “Lao Wai Jie”, meaning foreigner street, but provides food offerings from around the world, as well as some popular bars.