Tianzifang – Blend of Shanghai Ordinary Life & International Charm

Tianzifang (田子坊) from the 1920s of 7 acres wide is one of the coolest places attracting a rising number of people to visit every year. Working studios of famous artists and creative people fill Tianzifang a lively SOHO gathering. And also, the various exquisite shops with interesting new and traditional items and restaurants serving delicious food from many countries has appealed CNN Travel to recommend Tianzifang on its web page. Luckily, not only the lively daily scene of local Shanghai residents and immigrants from 23 countries and regions could be seen, but also the typical Shikumen structure of Shanghai feature are well protected to remember the change of Shanghai. That’s why numerous world people like visiting Tianzifang to feel its old Shanghai life and the exotic features of other countries.

Tianzifang in the No. 210 Lane of Taikang Road (泰康路210弄) in Dapuqiao (打浦桥) district in Shanghai was once a street fair before 1998. And in the earlier years, it was the living place of local Shanghai people, immigrants from other Chinese provinces, and the foreign people during the colonial period. As a result, there emerged a lot of Shukumen residences in Shanghai. And Tianzifang is one of the treasurable places for remaining such historical and cultural features of Shanghai. As a growing number of artistic people set up their dreaming studios and the Shanghai government reformed the fair into the shops, Tianzifang gradually became a place of art and culture, attracting people from tens of other countries and regions to establish shops and live in this great block.

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Tianzifang is so attractive and has a lot of fun places. Let’s see what to see and feel in this cool place in Shanghai!

Artistic & Cultural Creativity

Tianzifang has long been a gem place of artistic & cultural creativity, since many famous artists like Chen Yifei (陈逸飞), whose paintings have greatly influenced the world countries, Erdong Sheng (尔冬升), whose photographic works have frequently been reported by the Times in America, etc. Apart from the many other famous artists and cultural celebrities, there now exist abundant studios of the well-known groups and young peoples from many countries and of different fields, like painting, photographing, ceramic, movie, fashion designing, etc. Visiting Tianzifang is really so worthy to take in the rich nutrition of art.

Ancient Shikumen Structure

Shukumen (石库门, Stone-hooped door) was the most representative residence in old Shanghai. As the historical influence of many rich people coming to the area in Shanghai to avoid the war, Shikumen structure has combined the traditional southern Chinese elements and the western styles. Therefore, take your time in Tianzifang to appreciate the traditional wood Chinese doors of the two to three floors making a squeaky sound, the delicate carving of European styles, and the terrace of American townhouses, which is very meaningful to see the history remain of Shanghai.

Life in Shanghai Old Alleys

Not like other same cool places in Shanghai, Tianzifang is the happy living environment of many local Shanghai people, which makes these mazy lanes more lively and close to people’s life. Watch elder couples resting on the bench under the warm sunshine, little boys playing and laughing innocently at the alley corners, Shanghai ladies hanging their clothes on the bamboo pole that is out of the window, etc. Are you eager to savor the simple daily life of the pure Shanghai people? Actually, I am, VERY MUCH!

As an old block in Shanghai downtown, of course, Tianzifang has a lot of delicious local traditional Shanghai and Chinese food to give your tongue a new try, like the famous pan-fried pork bun (生煎包), noodles, and so on. Moreover, since Shanghai is a gathering International metropolitan, you can also release the weight on your feet to taste the various foods from other countries, like sushi from Japan, spaghetti from Italy, Steaks from America, beer drinks from Germany, etc. Besides, there are also many interesting innovative restaurants to treat your eyes, for example, the bear-head shaped rice roll, wall paintings with many Buddha, decorations of Southeast Asia charm, and so forth.

At night hours, Tiangzifang is especially a favorable place for fashionable young people. Sit at the open-air restaurant or bar, drink the colorful beverages, have a relaxing chat with friends of different complexions, enjoy the soft and elegant Blues, and feel the magic nightlife of Shanghai. That moment is really idyllic. You will have so much to discover!

Roam in Novel Shops

Tianzifang always has many things to entertain you. Along the complex crossing lanes, many delicate shops of stylish designs and decorations easily draw your desire to walk in and roam along closets displaying interesting new gadgets, like very adorable bear toys of wool, fashionable bags of funny designs, various colors and patterns of candies, etc.

Furthermore, you can find the rare remaining traditional Chinese crafts and artworks, like the ancient glasses, old-style music boxes, beautiful paper-cut, and accessories of Chinese minority group styles… Also, there are some worth-going DIY-houses for you to make your own stylish works to memorize this happy cultural Shanghai visit, such as the super cute ceramic baby, fancy silver and jade bracelet and other pieces of jewelry, etc.

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Tianzifang is located at Taikang Road in Daopuqiao District in Shanghai downtown, and also, it is within the Wukang Road Area, so you can arrive by taking bus, subway, bicycle, taxi, etc.

By Subway

Take Metro Line 9 to get off at Dapuqiao Stop and come out from Exit 1, then walkabout 390m to Tianzifang.

Tianzifang to Xintiandi

About 1.5 km from Tianzifang, besides walking there, Xintiandi can be reached by bus No. 17, 24. And you can also take the metro line 9 and transfer to Metro 13 and get off at Xintiandi stop.

• From the Bund – 5.5km, 16mins driving
• From Yu Garden – 5.8km, 20mins driving
• From Shanghai Museum – 4km, 11mins driving
• From Shanghai Pudong Airport – 42km, 45mins driving
• From Shanghai Hongqiao Airport – 14km, 38mins driving

Travel with China Discovery (Top Recommended)

If you want to get rid of hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Tianzifang with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.

Best known as an international popular tourist destination, Shanghai perfectly preserves mixed culture of the western and eastern. The duration and theme of your Shanghai tour can be flexibly arranged based on your time and interests. Usually, tourists spend 2 days on sightseeing the most famous landmarks, including the Bund, Yu Garden, skyscrapers like Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, Wukang Road, Shanghai Museum, etc. With one extra day, you can enjoy family fun in Disneyland Park or visit Zhujiajiao Water Town in the suburb. Don't miss the Shanghai Maglev Train, wonderful nightlife and Shanghai Cuisine.

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Convenient transportation makes it quite efficient and popular to make day trips from Shanghai to Hangzhou, Suzhou, and longer vacation in Huangshan Mountain, Nanjing, Mount Jiuhua and other places in surrounding areas. So you can visit West Lake and learn Chinese tea culture in Hangzhou, marvel at tasteful classical gardens and witness Chinese silk productive process. Splendid rocky mountains with exotic pine trees are highlights in Huangshan Mountain.

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Beijing Xian Shanghai are golden triangle cities often visited together for a week holiday. You can use 3 days to visit the Great Wall and major iconic spots like Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and leave 2 days for fulfilling your Terracotta Warriors tour in Xian. With more time, you can extend the trip from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Chengdu, Yunnan, Silk Road, Tibet and more phenomenal destinations to enrich your China discovery. (more top China tours from Shanghai >>)

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