Tianzifang

Introduction 

An Old French Quarter which has managed to retain its organic feel in terms of architecture where international brands, as well as local designer merchandise, are found in plenty. The traditional alleys and shikumen most featured Shanghai dwellings which mix western culture and traditional style of Han Nationality are home to art galleries, cafes, restaurants, studios and craft stores.

In the late 1990s, Chen Yifei, one of China’s most renowned contemporary artists renovated abandoned factory buildings converting them into art studios. With time many other local artists followed suit due to the availability of cheap rental rates and availability of ample space creating a thriving district with a commercial neighborhood.

Things to see and do on a visit

Architecture 

Tianzifang is full of old Shikumen houses which are stone framed-door houses set up with lanes with infinite novelties. Shikumen buildings combine Western and Chinese architectural styles and feature distinctive large doorways framed in stone and were built in the 1930s. Now these shikumen buildings house bars, shops and restaurants. There are very good examples of these Shikumen buildings all over Tianzifang but on the upper part of Lane 248 they dotted all over.

Art

Unique pieces of art can be found on Taikang Road in Tianzifang. On lane 210 is the location of the factory building that Chen took over back in the days and is now an art studio where visitors can see his studio to see his artwork. Further on the same lane, there is an Art Centre that gives local artists with a venue for painting, photography and displaying their artworks in exhibitions. At Shanghai Lu, visitors can shop for unique contemporary Chinese designs printed onto T-shirts. 

Shopping

Lane 248 is the center of action of Tianzifang in matters shopping with everything, a visitor would love to shop for ranging from jewelry, clothes, souvenirs and cute handbags. On Beijing Fan at number 37, visitors can buy handmade silk fans. At Shi Yi Ji on lane 248, visitors can find novelty shops, stationery, different accessories, toys and postcards. 

Restaurants

On lane 248 there are food stalls and a variety of restaurants. Visitors can experience the culinary beauty of Tianzifang with queer snacks on sticks and tasty snacks in open-air stalls and in cafes serving both local snacks like Chinese dim sum, western snacks like Western hamburgers and chicken heart skewers and even Japanese cuisine.