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Xin Tian Di area.
Xintiandi, which has been the talk of the town for quite some time. In the 19th century, Xintiandi was a residence area for people of status, and it had a scale and a reputation that unmatched in Shanghai. Afterwards, a large influx of lower middle class outside moved into the Shikumen buildings, and dramatically changed the social structure of the area. Originally created as a “one family per house” structure for people of wealth and influence, Shikumen became s place where ten families would squeeze into one residence. These buildings eventually became the inspiration for the movie 72 Tenants. Some of the movies’s famous characters and pleces such as Tingzi room, the Ke Tang room, Xiangfang, Tian-jing, the second landlord, and Baixiangren Saosao have all become part of what has evolved into “the old dream of Shikumen”. Although it once represented a time of hard living, today it evokes warm and nostalgic memories in Shanghai’s elderly. The newly refurbished modern day Shikumen at Xintiandi has become an enchanting and lively arena of sights and sounds.
The beautiful Sinan Lu and Rui Jin Lu roads are just a short walk away from Xintiandi. Here you can admire the old houses and residences of famous Shanghai figures are here, as well as the Rui Jin Guest House, and Taiyuan Villa. There old buildings still silently capture the memories of history and the splendor of the past. |
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| An old style building in Xin Tian Di Area. Built in 1930s |
| 1. XinTianDi area
Perhaps the old architecture at Shikumen is too mournful and nostalgic. Maybe the people of Shanghai’s alleyways suddenly developed yearning for some western-style night-life. With a variety of factors coming together at the right time, Xintiandi was born.
The NorthernPlaza: Covering an area of 30 thousand square meters, the northern plaza of today’s Xintiandi is also the location of this area’s earliest alley residences. It seems that in the blink of an eye, Xintiandi’s NorthernPlaza has become one of Shanghai’s most extravagant large-scale enterprises, attracting countless numbers of patrons to this area’s theme restaurants, clothing outlets, painting galleries, cafes, and bars. Even renowned artist, the late Chen Yifei’s studio has opened a store here, Layefe Home, selling magazines, clothing, ceramics, jewelry, and furniture. It has become one of the northern plaza’s most recognizable businesses.
Stars of the Shanghai fashion world have also surged into the area. Each residence is still arranged according to the old alley structure, and its façade is still united in the old Shikumne style, but the interiors are totally different, shaped into diverse collections of bright elegant styles. No one can deny that Xintiandi’s renovation has preserved the old buildings. But, it has also made them profitable and sustainable. It is a reminder of a time decades ago when Xintiandi represented the forefront of the new modern era. Grab dinner while you are here, and then sit for a while in one of the cafes along the plaza, savoring the fusion of the contemporary and the historical. Photographers will not want to miss an opportunity to wander around here. Dusk is the best time to take pictures when the sky is still awash with a subdued blue. The mood at this time is eerie and passionate, and is your best opportunity to line up your camera lens. Probably the only thing at Xintiandi worth complaining about is the numbers of tourists that have skyrocketed over recent years. The crowds have gradually become a permanent part of the scenery, and you have become part of theirs.
There is a ShikumenMuseum on Xingye road near the north entrance to Xintiandi. The museum uses a restored residential building to bring back the authentic look of an early twentieth century Shanghai family dwelling. |
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| The Lake in XinTianDi. |
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The Southern Plaza: It is regrettable that the Southern Plaza did not learn more from the experiences in the north and continue Xintiandi’s heritage preserving development. Here you can find tall buildings, wide movie screens, a huge plaza, and glass structures stretching to the sky. These modern architectural elements seem incompatible with older alley architecture in the north.
The first National Communist Party Congress site with its grey walls sits in its deep silence. In Xintiandi it is common to reflect on history, the fleetingness of fashion and the profoundness of fashion and the profoundness of the ancient, the years of war and years of peace. Exiting from the Southern Plaza entrance will take you by a post office that sells early twentieth century postage items including such things as postmarks. Feel free to grab some of the free pamphlets on the post office counter. Most introduce the various enterprises in Xintiandi. |
| A path in XinTianDi. |
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| MAP OF XINTIANDI AREA IN SHANGHAI |
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