The Shanghai French Concession began in 1849 and ended in 1943. After a hundred years, it was the earliest, largest and most prosperous concession among the four major concessions in modern China.

During the opening of the port, a large influx of foreign businessmen and foreign capital brought a unique European style to this area. Nowadays, garden houses, high-end restaurants, fashionable design, and petty bourgeoisie are all indispensable elements in the French Concession.

The French Concession is mainly located in today's Huangpu District and Xuhui District, close to the Public Concession (the Public Concession was formed by the merger of the British and American Concessions).

Today's bustling Nanjing Road and Jing'an Temple are located in the former public concession, while the "racecourse" is now People's Square, and today's Yuyuan Garden is located in the former Shanghai County.