Tianzifang

Originally Posted 31st January 2015

There are parts of Shanghai that remind me of my childhood – travel on the metro costs 40p a journey, there is a respect for elders – the younger tube travellers always stand up for their elders and the urban planners much like those in Britain in the 1960s are sweeping away much of the old and replacing it with the brand-spanking new. However the odd patch of the old is being retained and is starting to be valued. One such place is the area known as Tianzifang. This consists of the original shikumen houses in longtangs, long meandering alleyways (the equivalent of Beijing’s hutongs). Although there are some local residents still in residence, boutique shops and western style bars have moved in, which fortunately probably means that the area will be preserved.

This makes for a trendy place to shop, a good place to find interesting, mainly western food, and an excellent place to people watch, especially as I find I am unable to shop and take photos in the same session.






People watching: A Stallholder Pink is important A poser’s paradise

Food & Drink: Street Food crab kebabs

Tianzifang bar

Packaged Puer tea cakes

Hawthorn berry kebabs

German bar Tianzifang

Interesting things to buy:  A tea service made with rice baked into the porcelain, celadon ware, tea caddies, rice and soup bowls.

 Some historical clothing: Handmade embroidered shoes for bound feet and a pair of gentleman’s shoes, a Chengosam – the traditional westernised dress of the Shanghai lady – some were fur-lined and the traditional dress of a Chinese gentleman.