Browsed by
Tag: Shanghai

Shanghai 1933 Slaughterhouse

Shanghai 1933 Slaughterhouse

In Shanghai’s Hongkou district is a building of such interesting mystique and history that it stands out prominently among the thousands of others in the city. The 1933 Slaughterhouse combines function with intriguing design elements that some describe as eerie and “Escheresque“. The building was designed and used to slaughter and process perhaps millions of animals up to about 1960 when it closed. After some years of abandon and disrepair, the building was resurected in 1998 to become an events…

Read More Read More

Walkabout in the Former French Concession

Walkabout in the Former French Concession

What’s the Former French Concession? The Former French Concession in Shanghai was an area controlled by the French government from around 1849 to 1946. The French obtained the area from the Shanghai government which conceded certain territory for a French settlement. Shanghai was, and still is, an important port city and many foreign governments established themselves in various areas around the city. However, the French Concession remains the most iconic and popular among tourists and expats The area is well…

Read More Read More

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao 朱家角 is a water town on the western outskirts of Shanghai and was established about 1,700 years ago. Today, the central portion of the area is a popular tourist destination. The old water town is fairly large with a big river in the middle and of course, there is a bridge. The small canals are quite charming with lots of food and shops. The surrounding neighborhoods are more authentic and still lived in and I recommend wandering around a bit….

Read More Read More

Shanghai’s South Bund Fabric Market

Shanghai’s South Bund Fabric Market

South Bund Fabric Market 南外滩轻纺面料市场 The South Bund Fabric Market is quite famous amongst visitors and locals alike for its plethora of tailors and seamstresses. If you have any desire for custom made clothing then this is the place. Just about any kind of wearable items can be made to order and all you need to do is come prepared with an idea of what you want. Even better, bring a photo or sample for them to copy. You’ll need…

Read More Read More

Zhouzhuang – China’s Most Popular Water Town

Zhouzhuang – China’s Most Popular Water Town

Zhouzhuang Water Town (周庄) is said to be the oldest water town in China [1] situated in Kunshang City just south of Suzhou and about 90-min bus ride from Shanghai. The old town is famous for its canals and traditional style buildings dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) of which about 60% remain in excellent condition. Often described as the “Venice of the East”, Zhouzhuang is flooded with tourist who come to experience the historical beauty, shops, and…

Read More Read More

Best Shanghai Tea City

Best Shanghai Tea City

If you are into tea or just curious, Shanghai has it all. There are thousands of tea shops ranging from simple street stands to huge labyrinthine “tea cities”.  For brevity, this article focuses on two of the largest tea markets, Tianshan Tea City and DaNing International Tea City. Both are very similar in scale and products although Tianshan is more well known. Tianshan Tea City Tianshan (天山茶城) is a huge complex with at least 150 shops selling tea and tea…

Read More Read More

Qibao Old Street: A Shanghai Food Street

Qibao Old Street: A Shanghai Food Street

Qibao (七宝) is an old water town located about 20 kilometers from downtown Shanghai which has a very popular food street.  Most days, and especially when the weather is good, people flock there to enjoy a stroll and eat traditional snacks. Qibao means, “Seven Treasures” in Chinese and the legend is there were seven of them around the area such as a Gold Lotus Scripture, a magic tree, and a golden chicken to name a few. The old town is…

Read More Read More

Holland Village – Odd Dutch Town in Shanghai

Holland Village – Odd Dutch Town in Shanghai

Nestled between factories and Shanghai’s Pilot Free-Trade Zone is Holland Village. The place is one of several theme towns in Shanghai wherein developers replicated buildings and styling similar to the real places[1]. Another theme town is Thames Town. which looks remarkably similar to something you’d find in England. In the early 2000s, Shanghai government created a plan to develop nine or so suburban districts and assigned each project a theme. The idea was to expand Shanghai’s urban sprawl and reduce…

Read More Read More

Explore Gaoqiao West Street for the Authentic Vibe

Explore Gaoqiao West Street for the Authentic Vibe

Gaoqiao West Street is a pretty cool street to visit and part of Gaoqiao Old Town which dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Gaoqiao is located at the northern end of Pudong, on the east bank of the Huangpu River. Although still in Shanghai, the city vibe and amount of English drops off dramatically. It’s not a touristy place although quite accommodating and a good respite from the usual activities. I combined my visit with the weird Holland Village…

Read More Read More

Stroll Around Tianzi Fang

Stroll Around Tianzi Fang

The Tianzi Fang (田子坊) neighborhood is a labyrinth of ally ways and old Shikumen style architecture which has been preserved and converted to shops. Although a bit touristy, the area is a fine example of old Shanghai and a lot of fun to walk around in. The area around Tianzi Fang also has much to do and explore such as shops, restaurants, charming neighborhoods and beautiful tree-lined streets. Tianzi Fang is a great place to wander about looking at shops…

Read More Read More