Village Voice December 2013/January 2014 | Page 21

Tianzifang is a small area of old residential
housing pierced by a maze of narrow streets
that are chock-a-block with arts and crafts
shops, restaurants and bars. It is one area of
Shanghai that has not been touched by
redevelopment and hence is a near-pure
example of the city in its old form. Vendors
left, right and centre try to woo you in with
their English catch-phrases to look at their
wares. The Shanghainese living above the
commercial hustle-bustle sit on their window
ledges amongst their washing and gawk at
the tourists beneath.
An area called Xintiandi is perhaps the polar
opposite t