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Today marks the 20th anniversary of Shanghai's Nanjing Road becoming a Pedestrian Mall.
Nanjing Road E. was first constructed in the 1800s, and was later developed into the earliest shopping street in Shanghai. Since last century, the road has been home to modern department stores attracting shoppers from around the world.
In 1999, the stretch of Nanjing Road E. between Henan and Xizang roads was converted into a pedestrian mall. Over a million citizens and tourists visited and shopped on the road on September 20 two decades ago.
It was recently announced that the pedestrian mall will be extended eastward to the Bund in the near future.
Shanghai Daily photographers have documented the evolution of this special road over the past 20 years.
1995
Department stores organized a parade on Nanjing Road to attract shoppers. Starting from July 1995, part of the Nanjing Road E. was closed to traffic at weekends, in a prototype of the pedestrian mall.
1999
Nanjing Road E. underwent extensive reconstruction before being turned into a 24-hour pedestrian mall on September 20 two decades ago. The pedestrian mall stretches 1,033 meters between Henan and Xizang roads.
2002
Since its opening, the pedestrian road has been one of the city's most popular attractions.
2003
A beach volleyball game was held on Nanjing Road in August 2003.
2004
Runners taking part in the Shanghai International Marathon thronged the pedestrian mall in November 2004.
2006
Tourists and a performer at the Shanghai International Art Festival at Century Square on Nanjing Road in October 2016.
2007
Nokia opened its flagship store on Nanjing Road in 2007, the largest in the world then at more than 1,000 square meters. The store closed in 2013.
2010
Tourists take photos with theShanghai Expo mascot on Nanjing Road in March 2010, 42 days before the event.
2012
In the evening, the pedestrian mall became an open-air dance hall for nearby residents.
2013
The price of the sightseeing train was raised to 5 yuan from 2 yuan in March 2013. The price remains the same today.
2014
The pedestrian road is always a popular place for newly-weds to take photos.
2015
A policeman on duty on Nanjing Road during the Labor Day Festival in 2015.
2016
The pedestrian road was also a paradise for roller-skaters.
2017
Shoppers and photographers swarm the Shanghai No.1 Department Store in December 2017, when it reopened after a 6-month renovation.
2018
Selfiesare always popular in front of Apple's largest flagship store in Asia, which was opened in 2011. Huaweisaid recently that it is planning to open its largest store in the world on Nanjing Road.
2019
A robot, equipped with high resolution and infrared imaging cameras, patrols Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall last month. It has 360-degree sight and transmits pictures to police in real time. A hundred years ago, many of China’s modern facilitiessuch as gas and electric lamps, trolley cars, elevators and skyscrapers, made their debut on the road. Today, it still witnesses the most advanced technology.
In the future
The pedestrian road is to be extended eastward to the Bund. Work will begin early next year.
