Tianzifang

My favourite place in the French Concession, perhaps even the whole of Shanghai is Tianzifang. It’s neighbourhood within the French Concession that is a absolute maze. A labyrinth of alleyways and lanes that is known for crafts, artisan cafes, art studios that exudes a chic vibe. It’s easy to get lost here in Tianzifang. In fact, I did indeed got lost, which I felt was the best way to discover Tianzifang. It’s a little maze. Sometimes it leads you to unfamiliar places, other times it leads you back to where you started. Sometimes the blur of shops confuses you and then you see a familiar cafe or a familiar sign. If art inspires you, Tianzifang is an enclave filled with arts, design studios and crafts that would keep you here for hours. In fact, Tianzifang’s development from an old shikumen residence only started with a famed artist opened his studio in an abandoned factory buildings at Lane 210. Since then, this is where the artistic side of Shanghai blossoms. Tianzifang to me felt organic. Adds to why I loved its flavour. Preserving its original shikumen buildings (instead of being rebuilt like in nearby Xintiandi) and its growth organic, there’s a sense of a beautiful mess at work here. Past stalls selling sweet treats are local residents still living here in their homes.