Travel in China
The only original Italian concession outside Italy - arcaded palazzi, fountains and campaniles around Marco Polo Square.
The Italian Style Town (Yishijie) is the only original Italian concession outside Italy. Established in 1902, the quarter was built by Italian architects with arcaded palazzi, fountains, campaniles and a central square named after Marco Polo. The architecture is genuinely Italianate - not a modern recreation.
Today the quarter is filled with Italian restaurants, wine bars and cafes in the arcaded buildings. At dusk, the warm-lit plaza feels genuinely Mediterranean - a piece of Turin or Florence transplanted to north China. The former Italian barracks now house boutiques and galleries.
The quarter is compact - two main streets and a central square - making it a pleasant 30-minute stroll or a longer dinner-and-drinks destination. It sits on the Haihe riverside, 15 minutes walk from the Ancient Culture Street.
Highlights
Marco Polo Square
The central plaza with its fountain and statue, surrounded by arcaded buildings.
The Arcaded Palazzi
Genuine Italianate architecture from 1904-1916.
The Italian Restaurants
Authentic Italian dining in the arcaded buildings.
The Campanile
The bell tower rising above the quarter's rooftops.
The Evening Atmosphere
Warm-lit arcades and fountain - a Mediterranean feel.
The Former Italian Barracks
Now housing boutiques and galleries.
Photo Gallery
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