Jing’an sits in the heart of Shanghai and Nanjing Road W. is its main artery. The famous shopping street is often called the “Fifth Avenue of Shanghai.” The road has a long and cosmopolitan history, dating back to the 1920s when it was home to Western-style mansions, fancy ballrooms, haute couture stores, movie theaters and the café culture. Now, every sort of retailer is based there. Last year, retailers on the road reported a 14 percent year-on-year increase in sales, making it one of the most sought-after strips in the city. They sell more than 1,800 brands, almost two-thirds of them renowned international brands. Last year, the long-established Plaza 66 chalked up sales of nearly 5 billion yuan (US$796 million), making it the richest retailer on the road. Up-market Jiuguang department store ranked second with receipts of nearly 3 billion yuan. In third place was the Jing’an Kerry Center, with sales of 1.7 billion yuan. Commercial authorities are predicting that a newcomer to the road, HKRI Taikoo Hui, will be a competitive rival, ushering in unique shopping experiences, performing arts and international cuisine. Last December, Starbucks’ first roastery in China and its second in the world opened its doors in the mall. In addition to retail outlets, the road is home to many corporate headquarters, including multinationals. They include L’Oreal China, Pfizer China and Philips China. “If a foreign company wants to do business in Shanghai, it pays for them to look at this area,” said Brett Rose, director of the Shanghai office of Robert Walters China. “As an entry point into China, it is the best bet.” He added, “One of the things that I find so fantastic about Jing’an, particularly this part of Jing’an, is that you could easily be anywhere in the world. You can get the same sense as if you were in Sydney, London, Singapore, Hong Kong or New York.” Nanjing Road W. Known as: 5th Ave of Shanghai How to get there: Metro lines 2, 7, 12, 13 Regional company headquarters: 22 Brands: 1,800-plus Year-on-year increase in retail sales: 14 percent Popular shopping destinations: Starbucks’ first roastery in China The first and biggest Louis Vuitton Maison on the Chinese mainland Loewe’s largest Asia flagship store Burberry’s largest Asia-Pacific flagship store Largest flagship stores in China: Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Sephora and Gap Bottega Veneta’s largest Chinese mainland store Dior’s largest store in East China