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10 SHIKUMEN NEIGHBORHOODS YOU SHOULD VISIT!

A while ago we have already explained a lot of details about Shanghai’s signature architectural style of housing –  石库门 Shíkùmén, 'zakumen' in Shanghainese. Click here if you missed it!

For those who need a quick recap – short summary!

Shikumen are two- or three-story structures resembling Western terrace houses or townhouses, distinguished by high brick walls enclosing a narrow front yard. The name "stone gate" references these strong gateways.
Picture source:Four Seasons
In Chinese, Shikumen developments are typically named with a suffix of Li (里, "neighbourhood"), Fang (坊, "ward"), Long (弄, "lane") or Cun (邨, "village"). The first two are traditional suffixes for names of urban precincts, in common use since at least the Tang Dynasty.
Each residence abuts another and all are arranged in straight side alleys called  弄堂, lòngtáng; Shanghainese -  longdang. The entrance to each alley is usually surmounted by a stylistic stone arch.
Picture source:Medium

The Shikumen is a cultural blend of the elements found in Western architecture with traditional Lower Yangtze architecture and social behavior. Traditional Chinese dwellings had a courtyard, and the Shikumen was no exception. Yet, to compromise with its urban nature, it was much smaller and provided an interior haven to the commotions in the streets, allowing for raindrops to fall and vegetation to grow freely within a residence. The courtyard also allowed sunlight and improved ventilation into the rooms.

Picture source: Culture Shock's private archive

Architectural historians classify Shikumen into two types: the "old type" and the "new type".

The old type was predominantly built from the 1860s until the end of the First World War, while the new type prevailed from after the First World War until the development of Shikumen ceased after 1949.

In 2010, "construction techniques of Shikumen Lilong architecture" was recognised by the Chinese government on the national non-physical cultural heritage register.

Picture source: That Obsession

If you spend your summer in the city, why not explore these peculiar neighborhoods full of fascinating and mysterious details hiding in every corner?

Here are our suggestions!

1.Cité Bourgogne (Bugao Li – 1930)

Picture source: Wikiwand

Address: 287 Lane, South Shaanxi Road, near West Jianguo Road, Huangpu District

 

It  is a typical old type Shikumen development, although  built in the 1930s. The neighbourhood includes 87 two-storey brick veneer residences with a red brick exterior. The trunk lane is about 2.5 wide, and there are numerous branch lanes. The lanes are noted for their main gateways, modeled after traditional Chinese pailou (a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure that is related to the ancient Indian torana temple gates). Cité Bourgogne is well preserved as a municipal heritage site, and remains mostly residential.Claimed Shanghai Heritage Architecture.

 

2.Jianye Li (1930)

Picture source:South China Morning Post

Address: 440, 454, 496 Lane, West Jianguo Road (near Yueyang Road), Xuhui District

 

Heritage protected. The largest Shikumen neighbourhood which survives in a mostly original state.

A new type development located on West Jianguo Road and Yueyang Road, the development is composed of 260 residences, all of which are two storey red brick buildings. This development is noted for its use of traditional Chinese matou ('horse head')  gables, and arched doorways. In 2003, the original residents were relocated, and the buildings were somewhat controversially renovated to become serviced apartments and to house restaurants and other commercial uses.

3. Shangxian Fang  (1924)

Picture source:Wikiwand
Address: 358 Lane, Middle Huaihai Road, near Madang Road, Huangpu District
 
Located on the site of the main hall of the International Institute of China of Gilbert Reid.It is another heritage protected Shikumen precinct, which is now being renovated to become "Shikumen hotels".

4.Jixiang Li (before 1876)

Picture source:Wikiwand
Address: 531 Lane, Middle Henan Road, near Ningbo Road, Huangpu District
 
Huangpu District is an area with the earliest distribution of Shikumen Lilong residences. Jixiang Li is one of the earliest Shikumen Lilong that still exists. It is Shanghai Heritage Architecture.

5. Tianzifang  (1912 – 1936)

Picture source:Wikipedia
Address: Taikang Lu,near Ruijin Erlu, Huangpu District
Shikumen Lilong that integrates a multi-regioned accumulation of fashion, art and food into daily lives of the local residents. Also included are Zhicheng Fang, 210 Lane, Taikang Lu; Pingyuan Fang, 274 Lane, Taikang Lu.

6. Shude Li (1916)

Picture source:Wikiwand

Address: 374 Lane, South Huangpi Road, near Xingye Road, Huangpu District

No. 76 Xingye Lu (formerly No.106 Wangzhi Lu) is the memorial hall for the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Key historical relics site under national protection.

Picture source:Wikiwand
Once you are in Xintiandi, pay a visit to The Shikumen Open House Museum (屋里厢-石库门博物馆; Wūlixiāng - Shíkùmén Bówùguǎn; Shanghainese - Olishian-Sakumen Bovahgue).
It presents a house in the traditional Shikumen style.This is a small museum on the south side of the North Block of Xintiandi on Xingye Road, that shows Shanghai life as it was around the 1920s and 30s in a Shikumen-style "stone-gate" house. There are about five rooms furnished with period furniture.The museum includes a tingzijian, a small triangular room,sometimes rented out at a low price to impoverished writers and others.

7.Fude Li (1915)

Picture source: mapio.net

Address: 7 Lane, Chengdu Beilu , near Middle Yan’an Road, Jing’an District

No.30 Fude Li is the former site of the Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Xintiandi. A protected cultural  relics unit in Shanghai.

8.Zhangyuan (1918)

Picture source: The Occassionall Traveller
Address: 590 Lane, Weihai Road , near Shimen Yilu, Jing’an district
 
Formerly Arcadia Hall (1882), during 1885 it was a famous Shanghai leisure and entertainment area.In 1918 it was converted into residential housing.

9.Siming Cun (1920s)

Picture source:Wikiwand

Address: 913 Lane, Middle Yan’an Road, near Tongren Road

New style Lilong housing, Shanghai Heritage Architecture.

10. Xinxingshun Li (1930)

Picture source: Wikiwand

Address: 113 Lane, Jiashan Road, near Yongjia Road, Xuhui District

Information sources

'Shanghai Shikumen' Jiang Qinggong & Xi Wenlei
wikiwand.com
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