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Who lives in Xintiandi
Xintiandi sits in the Huangpu district of central Shanghai, on the northern edge of the former French Concession, the tree lined quarter that remains the most romanticised part of the city. The neighbourhood itself is a celebrated redevelopment of traditional shikumen lane houses into a pedestrian district of restaurants, bars, boutiques and galleries, and the surrounding streets hold some of the most desirable central addresses in Shanghai. The people who live here tend to be affluent professionals, both Chinese and international, who prize a central, walkable and cosmopolitan lifestyle over the space of the suburbs, along with couples and smaller families drawn by the culture, dining and old world charm of the concession. It is very much a city centre neighbourhood, dense, lively and well connected, rather than a family compound built around a school, which shapes the way parents approach schooling from here. To see how it fits into the wider city, start with our international schools in Shanghai directory.
Schools in and near Xintiandi
Xintiandi and the wider former French Concession are home to smaller, boutique and language specific schools and early years settings rather than the large international campuses that dominate expatriate schooling in Shanghai. Those bigger schools, which run the British, American and IB programmes families often want, are concentrated out in Hongqiao and Minhang in western Puxi and across the river in Pudong, and they serve the central districts through extensive school bus networks. The British International School Shanghai Puxi is among the schools well suited to families based in the French Concession and the neighbouring Jing'an and Changning districts, drawing pupils in by bus from the centre. The practical upshot is that a family in Xintiandi keeps a wide choice of schools within reach, but almost always by coach rather than on foot. Because places at the most popular schools fill early, research routes and apply in good time. For the full list with curricula, stages and admissions detail, use the Shanghai schools directory, and to plan the budget for younger years see our guide to primary international school fees in Shanghai. If you are weighing options, the school finder quiz will shortlist schools, and parent Shanghai school reviews add first hand detail.
Commute and catchment
Shanghai does not run residential catchments for international schools. Admission is by application rather than by address, so living in Xintiandi does not tie you to any particular school, and families choose campuses across the city. The defining feature of schooling from here is the bus. Because the major international schools sit out towards Hongqiao, Minhang and Pudong, children in Xintiandi typically travel by the schools' own coach networks, which are extensive but can mean long journeys in heavy traffic, especially at peak times. The neighbourhood itself is superbly connected for adults, sitting on several Metro lines with quick access across Puxi and into Pudong, so commuting parents are well served even if the school run is longer. The key step is to check each shortlisted school's bus routes and pick up timings for your specific address before signing a lease, since the difference of a few streets can change a journey markedly.
Housing and cost of living
Housing in and around Xintiandi is among the most expensive in Shanghai. The stock ranges from beautifully restored lane houses and apartments in old concession buildings to sleek high end serviced apartments and modern towers, and the central location, character and prestige place it firmly at the premium end of the market. Larger, family sized homes here command some of the highest rents in the city, and outdoor private space is rare, so families pay for location and lifestyle rather than square metres. Day to day costs reflect the upmarket setting, with an abundance of international dining, cafes and boutiques that are convenient but not cheap. When you add international school fees and the cost of transport to the rent, the overall commitment is very high, so model the full picture, rent, schooling and the day to day, with our relocation cost calculator, and read the wider relocation guide for visas, healthcare and logistics. Treat any specific rent figure you see as indicative, because the market moves, so verify current asking rents before you budget.
Family life
Daily family life in Xintiandi is urban, central and cultural. The pedestrian lanes of the development itself are lined with restaurants and cafes, and the surrounding former French Concession is one of the most pleasant parts of the city to walk, with plane tree avenues, independent shops and pockets of history at every turn. Green space comes from Fuxing Park and Taipingqiao Park nearby, popular with families and with the local community for morning exercise, and the area is rich in museums, galleries and family friendly cultural venues. Everyday needs, from international clinics to supermarkets, are well covered, and the central location makes the rest of the city, including the riverfront and Pudong, easy to reach. The main caveats are space and the school commute: homes are dense and gardens are scarce, and the big campuses are a bus ride away, so Xintiandi rewards families who want a vibrant central lifestyle and are comfortable with a longer school run in return.
Budget your move to Xintiandi
Model rent, school fees and transport together before you commit to the area.
Open the relocation cost calculatorLiving in Xintiandi: FAQ
Xintiandi sits in central Puxi on the edge of the former French Concession, an area with smaller boutique and language specific schools rather than the large international campuses. The British International School Shanghai Puxi and other major schools serve families here by bus, with most located further out in Hongqiao, Minhang and Pudong. See the Shanghai schools directory for curricula, stages and admissions detail.
Xintiandi suits families who want a central, walkable lifestyle in the heart of the former French Concession, with cafes, parks and culture on the doorstep. It is one of the most desirable central addresses, though the large international school campuses are out of the centre, so families here typically accept a school bus commute in return for a city centre base.
Most large international schools run extensive bus networks that reach the central districts, so children in Xintiandi usually travel to campuses in Hongqiao, Minhang or Pudong by school bus. Journeys can be long in traffic, which is the main trade off of choosing a central home, so check each school's routes and timings for your address before deciding.
Xintiandi sits at the premium end of Shanghai's central rental market, with restored lane houses and high end serviced apartments commanding some of the city's highest rents. Larger family homes here are expensive. Model housing, school fees and transport together with the relocation cost calculator before you commit.
Family life in Xintiandi is urban and central, built around the tree lined streets of the former French Concession, parks such as Fuxing Park, cafes, restaurants and culture. It offers a walkable, cosmopolitan lifestyle with everything close at hand, in exchange for accepting that the big international school campuses are a bus ride away.