Longtang in Shanghai: a quiet oasis amidst the urban hustle, and a lingering memory

As the most distinctive residential building in Shanghai, Longtang is the unique identity of old Shanghai.

Xinhua Villa

Xinhua Road has a good reputation as Shanghai’s No.1 garden road, with more than 100 sets of various old foreign-style houses dotting along the short street, which have earned it a title of “foreign longtang”. Now the area is referred to as Xinhua Villa.

Several steps into the lane, one will find himself in a world of birds, flowers and trees, which work together to shut out the bustle and hustle of the urban life.

Huaihai Lane

Built in 1924, the lane differs itself from the ordinary long and narrow lanes in its neat and uniform layout.

There are 199 3-story brick and timber buildings built in the same form, with large area of neat double slope roof and uniform red brick walls. A little chimney rises on the top of each house. When the sun sets, it looks like the sun is hanging down the chimney, and preferably viewing at the entrance of the lane, you will see a rare urban city scenery.

Bugao Lane

Built in 1930, the lane is typical of Shikumen buildings in Shanghai.

Though borrowing the style of foreign terrace housing, the Shikumen buildings in Bugao Lane still preserve well the traditional Chinese residential culture and customs. The ridges are covered with scale-like red tiles, while the dormers are hidden among the wines. Behind the thick black door there are a small patio, drying bamboo pole, washing board, toilet brush and other household daily necessities.

Lanni Lane

There are seven elegant three-story foreign-style houses, each coming in a distinctive color and style. Due to the two Chinese characters meaning “rose” on the ground of the lane entrance, it is named Rose Villa. Both its name and the buildings are suggestive of romanticism.

Tianzi Lane

It is so famous that it has become the scenery vistors coming to shanghai cannotafford to miss.

Typical of the lane-based local-style dwelling housing, the lane is home to various cafes, small bars, coupled with creative shops, galleries, and photo exhibitions.

Longchang Apartment

It is a cylindrical building like a colosseum. In the middle, there is big yard looking like a big square. Surrounded by the earthy gray five-story buildings, it reminds one of an encircled city.

It is famous for its resemblance to the apartment of the landlady in the film Kung Fustarring Stephen Chow. And the lifestyle in the lane is quite associative of the living in The House of 72 Tenants in old Shanghai.

Jing 'an Villa

Jing 'an villa, the largest modern residential complex in Shanghai, features a combination of Chinese and western styles, and is equipped with a complete set of internal facilities. Except the stores and shops along West Nanjing Road and Weihai Road, all buildings inside the lane are residential housing.

Using bare red bricks as the construction materials, the villa, while suggestive of an European style, has formed a unique atmosphere in its long history of vicissitudes, turning itself into a miniature of Shanghai history.

Jiashan Lane

Originally an old factory, it is now, after renovation, a comprehensive market consisting of loft apartments, coffee shops and restaurants.

The open atrium, despite its small size, on the first and third weekends of each month, serves as an open-air market - most typical of foreign style in Shanghai, attracting many people from all walks of life in different countries to sell their home-made products or local specialties.

Zhang Garden

It is the largest and best preserved Shikumen building complex in Shanghai, where the Shanghai style - a product of the integration of Chinese and foreign strengths, is well maintained.

Inhabited by a large number of people, its vitality is strongly nourished by the sufficient “population”.