Huaihai Road is polishing its image as one of Shanghai's top shopping streets.

A Hermes Home will make its debut on the center-city thoroughfare along with several other upmarket brands as the street enhances its status as a fashion window in the run-up to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The Hermes flagship store will open near the intersection of Huaihai Road M. and Songshan Road and cover more than 4,000 square meters. It will not just feature retail space but also a fashion house and an art gallery when it opens in April 2010, according to the Luwan District Economic Commission.

In addition, "The Barbie Experience Hall" will comprise 7,000 square meters of floor space at 500 Huaihai Road, between Ruijin Road No. 2 and Chongqing Road S.

Other leading retailers such as H&M, C&A, ZARA and Y By will be neighbors in a fashion center, according to the commission.

The "Classic Century" project area between Shaanxi Road S. and Ruijin Road No. 2 at 796 Huaihai Road will soon be welcoming visitors.

The developer, the Richemont Group, has signed a contract to rent the garden at No. 796 Huaihai Road for boutique shops for Dunhill and Vacheron Constantin, private club Kee and the ShanghaiArt Gallery by October.

More upmarket hotels will open in the fashion area during the third stage of Xintiandi.

Seven streets around Huaihai Road will be renovated, including Chengdu, Yandang, Madang and Maoming roads.