An arts and crafts enclave off Taikang Road near the French Concession, Tian Zi Fang is a popular tourist destination as much for its shikumen traditional architecture as for its arts and crafts. Being close to transport links, city attraction are easily reached from Somerset Heping Senyang, a popular service apartment Shanghai.
The charm of Tian Zi Fang is that it is located in the alleyways that were once part of a residential district of old Shanghai. It has not lost any of its original characteristics. Visitors looking for it have to negotiate not only the alleyways but find their way through laundry hanging from bamboo poles in neighbouring houses and bicycles cluttering the entrances to the narrow alleys. Adding to this informal charm are the businesses squeezed into tiny spaces, some spilling over into the alleyways, displaying quirky décor and selling a jumble of products. Tian Zi Fang is also where connoisseurs can come across sculptures and painting by well known Chinese artists and those starting out. The whole area generates an atmosphere of Bohemian charm.
When this area was threatened with demolition and redevelopment, local residents banded together to preserve its traditional architecture and atmosphere. When news of its rezoning that included nearby art schools and studios began to spread mostly by word of mouth, small international and local businesses began to move to the area. This bit of old Shanghai with more than 200 diverse and innovative businesses attracts attention more for its old world charm that is in stark contracts to the surrounding modernity. Locals and visitors come here to attend art exhibitions in its galleries, shop in it boutiques, sip coffee in its cafes and sample food in the French bistro but most of all to stroll around and savour the authentic atmosphere of an old Shanghai residential area that is not over developed and hard to come by nowadays.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.