Travel in China
A labyrinth of 1930s shikumen lane houses in the former French Concession, converted into artists' studios, craft shops and tiny bars.
Tianzifang began as a typical Shanghai shikumen (stone-gate) lane neighbourhood in the 1930s, part of the French Concession's residential fabric. In the 1990s, artists drawn by the cheap rents began converting the lane houses into studios, and by 2000 the area had become a destination for art, craft and cafe culture.
Today Tianzifang is a maze of narrow lanes between Taikang Road and Jianguo Middle Road, where 1930s lane-house facades hide a three-dimensional bazaar of craft shops, galleries, bars and restaurants across two and sometimes three levels. The narrowest lanes are barely shoulder-width, with laundry still hanging above the shopfronts.
Tianzifang is the most atmospheric blend of old Shanghai architecture and creative life in the city. It is best visited on a weekday afternoon when the crowds are thinner and the shops are open but the lane still feels like a discovery rather than a destination.
Highlights
The Shikumen Lane Architecture
1930s stone-gate houses with their distinctive brick facades and wooden doors.
The Narrow Lane Maze
Lanes barely shoulder-width threading between shops and studios on multiple levels.
Craft Shops and Galleries
Independent designers' shops, art galleries and ceramic studios.
Rooftop Bars and Cafes
Tiny bars and cafes on the upper levels with lane-house rooftops.
The Laundry Lines
Real residential life continuing above the shops - the authentic shikumen atmosphere.
Taikang Road Art Scene
The street itself has become a gallery of street art and installations.
Photo Gallery
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