Xuhui is a booming area that is increasingly popular with expats. Its heart is Xujiahui, which is essentially a cluster of large shopping malls. Living in Xuhui is very popular for families looking for modern city life.
The area spreads out from there, housing foreigners attracted to the shopping and transportation conveniences. The northwest area includes some of the city’s best preserved lane houses and garden villas. The southern part of Xuhui is a newer neighbourhood with wide streets, high-rise apartment complexes and lots of neon lights.
Housing
The areas outside of Xujiahui mostly consist of older apartment buildings, although there are newer developments off Nandan Lu. Expect lower rents in older housing complexes, starting from 10,000RMB. Foreigners pay around 15-20,000RMB for a decent three-bedroom flat in a centrally located high-rise. In the southern end of the area on the other end of Shanghai Stadium, housing is cheap but often in poorer condition.
Health Care
Expats in Xuhui can go to the New Pioneer Medical Centre or the International Peach Maternity Hospital, both in the Gure Building on 910 Hengshan Lu. There’s also convenient access to the adjacent former French Concession or nearby Jing’an for healthcare facilities.
Good to Know
The biggest draws in Xuhui are the shopping and access to the Metro. A few of the biggest malls in Shanghai are just above Metro line 1: Grand Gateway, the Oriental Department Store and Metro City. There’s also access to Metro lines 3 and 4, making for a quick commute to northern Puxi and Pudong. There are plenty of Chinese and Western restaurants inside the malls and on the surrounding streets.