Shopping among preserved buildings
Wuhan Xintiandi is in the Yongqing area of Hankou, near the north bank of the Yangtze. The street-district portion consists of 12 buildings, nine of which are historic buildings that retain their original brick walls and roof tiles, with interiors adapted for new commercial uses. The street district, South Hall and North Hall (formerly Yifang South and North Halls) together have a total gross floor area of about 230,000 square meters. The street-district portion is not an enclosed mall: shops and restaurants are set among old buildings, plane trees and open walkways; the South and North Halls are indoor malls.
The main sights are the architecture and the streets themselves: old architectural details such as red-brick facades, pitched roofs and arched windows have been retained, and old and new buildings stand side by side. Common businesses include restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, beauty brands and lifestyle stores. Shops change fairly quickly, so check opening hours for any store that interests you rather than looking for brands only in an old guide.
Most of the historic buildings in the district have been converted into restaurants, shops and other commercial uses; they are not exhibits fenced off for viewing. Looking at the architecture also means passing through shops and restaurants. If early modern buildings interest you, notice the brickwork, window frames, cornices and building proportions, not just the shop signs.
Eating, shopping and old buildings
If you are after a meal or a place to sit down, you can walk from the street district to the South and North Halls. If you only want to see historic buildings, a loop along the outer streets and lanes is enough. Much of the district is outdoors, so it is less comfortable in the warm season and on rainy days than an indoor mall; check the day's weather before you go.
The surrounding area is Hankou's riverside district. Hankou Riverside Park and the Shanhaiguan Road area can be added to the same itinerary, but do not assume that every short distance on the map is walkable. Wuhan Xintiandi is better for slowing down, having a meal or walking among old buildings; if you want to see a large number of shops and busier streets at once, Jianghan Road is more concentrated.
Walking only the street district, taking photos and having a coffee takes about 1–2 hours; add a meal or a visit to the South and North Halls, and half a day is more suitable. During public holidays and events, the district and its restaurants get busier, and popular restaurants may have a wait. Decide first whether you want to eat or shop, then choose where to spend your time. If you only want a specific brand, check that day's information from the mall and the brand and go straight to the South or North Hall rather than detouring through the street district.
Useful official references
Check the relevant official service before making arrangements. These links are references, not a guarantee of current services.
