Shanghai Old Street

Originally named Fangbang Zhong Lu, Shanghai Lao Jie has undergone some dramatic changes over the last two years. It has been dressed up as an 825 meter "Old Shanghai Street" lined on both sides with early Republican-era homes. To emphasize the old street's grand style, a large decorated archway has been erected over the street's Henan Nanlu entrance. Curios and antiques in the Old Street characteristics that have carried over to modem times, and the great snack stands nearby are a windfall benefit of this area's development. If you want to relax and leave your troubles behind, the local tea houses and multi-storied opera houses can help you with that. Old establishments long disappeared from Shanghai, such as Tonghanchun, the Old Shanghai Teahouse, Deshun Tavern, Xishi Tofu House, Miss Ding's Fabric House, Laohu Kitchen, and Daughter's Red Tavern have all been reborn on Shanghai Old Street, and today, they energetically and ostentatiously beckon to passing tourists.

If time permits, take a break at the Old Shanghai Tea House or Danfeng Tea House (danfeng chaguan) on Fangbang Zhonglu for a taste of old Shanghai. The Old Shanghai Tea House is located on the second floor of a curio shop. Covered mold paintings from the 1920's and 1930's, the storefront easily attracts the attention of passersby. The stairway leading up to the teashop is also decorated with images of beautiful women of the 20's and 30's.