🏙️ Changing Landscapes: Why Shanghai Neighborhoods Disappeared
Shanghai demolished 6,000 hutongs between 1990 and 2020 to make way for the Metro, elevated roads, and office towers.
- Relocation: Residents were moved to outer-ring apartment compounds in Baoshan, Minhang, and Pudong—often 40 km from their original community
- Survivors: Fewer than 1,000 hutongs survive in their original form today
- Protected areas: Neighborhoods that survived are those on the west side of the Huangpu River and those in the former French Concession protected as heritage zones
Wukang Road: The Commercialized Success Story
Wukang Road in the Former French Concession is Shanghai's most famous residential street—400 meters of preserved 1920s houses, now occupied by cafes, boutiques, and tourists.
🏠 Key Details:
- Architecture: Mix of Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco
- Must-see spot: Intersection with Hunan Road at its north end, where plane trees form a complete overhead canopy from April to October
- Best visiting times: Before 9 AM on a weekday or after 7 PM for the street to yourself
Tongchuan Road Aquatic Market: The Real Shanghai at 5 AM
The Tongchuan Road aquatic market in Putuo District is Shanghai's largest early-morning fish and seafood market—open to the public, cheapest prices in the city, free to enter.
🐟 How It Works:
- Buy from a stall
- The stall cleans and guts your selection
- Pay a cooking fee (15-30 CNY)
- They steam or stir-fry it on the spot
Budget: A complete seafood feast for two: 150-250 CNY
Hours: Open 5 AM to 10 AM daily
Access: Metro Line 11 to Longde Road, Exit 3
Yangpu District: The University Quarter
Yangpu District is home to Fudan University and Tongji University—the intellectual heart of Shanghai.
🎓 What Makes It Special:
- Academic atmosphere: Bookstores, cafes, and student life
- Affordable dining: Student restaurants with authentic local cuisine
- Cultural events: University lectures, exhibitions, and performances open to public
- Green spaces: University campuses with beautiful gardens and architecture