Located in the center of Shanghai City and south of Middle Huaihai Road, Xintiandi is a fashionable pedestrian street composed of old-style Shikumen residences and modern architecture.
It retains the antique walls, tiles and exterior of the Shikumen residences of old Shanghai while embodies a totally modern world in its interior. Roaming here, you will get the taste of both Shanghai in the 1920s and the modern lifestyle of urbanites of the 21st century.
Admiring Shikumen Residences
Xintiandi is divided into two parts: the South Block and the North Block. The South Block mainly consists of modern architecture while the North Block keeps the old Shikumen architecture style. The typical Shikumen residences of old Shanghai seem to tell people beautiful stories about the history and culture of the city. They originally appeared in the mid of the 19th century as a product of combining Chinese and Western architecture styles, usually having a vaulted stone door frame with Chinese style carvings and a wooden door. Passing through the narrow lanes, you can see various of them as good settings for photographing.
Shopping in Modern Plazas
In the South Block of Xintiandi, there is the Xintiandi Style Shopping Mall, having all conveniences such as automatic elevators, central air-conditioner and broadband network. Its boutiques keep in pace with international fashion. This glass wall building has a very modern atmosphere. Outside, stores selling food, clothes, artistic crafts, handbags, and accessories are dotted here and there.
Eating in Upscale Restaurants
There are upscale restaurants offering cuisine from different countries such as France, Brazil, America, Japan, Germany and Italy, fully revealing the international level of Xintiandi. Famous stars open their restaurants here, which become good places for fans to come across their idols. Except that, the fascinating cabaret and cellar dinning room of the French restaurant, the inspiring rock music played by the Japanese music restaurant and the folk performance of South America in the Brazilian restaurant leave people with great impressions.
Enjoying Night Life at Bars
Xintiandi is one of the bar clusters in Shanghai, particularly popular among young guys and foreign visitors. The romantic open-air bars with European decoration style give you a chance to immerse in the loud music, cheerful atmosphere, and splendid lights.
Note: Two kilometers away, there is a welcoming art street also with Shikumen residences, called Tianzifang. Time permitting, you can go and have a visit.