On my trip to Shanghai, I discovered a ton of cool areas around the city. None grabbed my attention more than Xintiandi.
In Chinese, Xintiandi means “New Heaven and Earth,” or, more figuratively, “New World.” The neighborhood was once the old city area of the French Concession, a leafy European-esque enclave that’s one of my favorite neighborhoods in China’s biggest city.
Located in the center of Shanghai City, Xintiandi drapes over just two city blocks. One block is full of modern-day buildings; on the other, the streets are lined with shikumen.
These historic buildings are unique to Shanghai. You won’t find them anywhere else in the world, not even elsewhere in East Asia. The word shikumen literally means “stone warehouse gate.” As I walked around the neighborhood, I could stop admiring the buildings’ vaulted stone doorways, featuring distinctive large wooden doors.
Shikumen first appeared in the mid-19th century in Shanghai. In their architecture, we can see East meet West.
Much like in nearby Tianzifang, each shikumen in Xintiandi has slight differences. Some appear more eastern, while others are more heavily influenced by the West.
Ready to explore all the goodies this cool Shanghai neighborhood has to offer? Dig in with my complete Xintiandi guide…
What I’d expect in Xintiandi
The streets of Xintiandi are lined with shops, boutiques, and restaurants. The South Block boasts modern shopping malls selling arts & crafts, and fashionable clothing and accessories. You’ll also find cinemas and fully equipped gyms in the area.
Some of the shops around the South Block sell the artworks of local designers. When I was looking around here, I spotted plenty of unusual little gems to take home, from handmade jewelry to ceramics.
The North Block, the older section, is home to a number of upscale restaurants selling international cuisine. There are also venues offering an assortment of activities.
Open-air pubs, offering live entertainment, are popular with the locals and visitors alike. In the summer months, the streets are lined with street cafes buzzing with people enjoying the weather, Shanghainese food, and wine.
Although I visited during an “off-season,” I still found plenty of the patios open for alfresco dining and beverages. With its unique architecture, it was easily one of my favorite spots to explore in Shanghai.
What to see & do in Xintiandi
Xintiandi is a small area, and I think it’s the perfect spot to spend an afternoon walking around, enjoying the sights, smells, and tastes of this unique “city within a city.” With plenty of outdoor seating, it’s also a great place to sit and watch the city buzz around you.
Once a residential area, Xintiandi was transformed about a decade ago into a trendy neighborhood filled with leisure activities.
Today, Xintiandi is highly commercialized. Many of the former homes have been repurposed as businesses such as restaurants, bars, cafes, and boutiques. A maze of narrow lanes and paved pathways, lined with shikumen architecture, leads us through the heart of the area.
(And wandering through these alleyways is exactly why I loved this area so much during my Shanghai layover.)
While you’re in the area, pay a visit to the Shikumen Open House Museum (No.25, 118 Alley, Taicang Road) to learn more about the district and the people who once lived here. This small museum is set up like a traditional shikumen-style home from the 1920s and 1930s.
(I thought it was a super cool way to immerse myself a little more in the architectural style I’d been seeing all afternoon.)
Also, in Xintiandi, you’ll find the First Communist Congress Museum (374 Huangpi Rd S), which celebrates the history of China and the birth of the communist party. The museum is free to enter.
Don’t forget to check the art out at the K11 Mall (300 Huaihai Rd M). While you’re there, head up to the third floor for a relaxing foot massage. The Green Massage offers several different treatments, but it’s particularly well known for its superb foot massages.
My favorite spot for shopping in the area, though, has to go to Xintiandi Style (245 Madang Rd). The mall’s 200-plus shops lean heavily toward Chinese designers and local brands.
CM Feiyue on the ground floor of Xintiandi Style is worth a stop, specifically. It’s the flagship for a Shanghainese sneaker brand that’s been around since the 1920s.
Where to eat & drink
Aside from sightseeing, I also love all the eating & drinking options around Xintandi. Many of my favorites are tucked into the courtyards and alleyways in the North Block between Taicang Road and Zizhong Road.
As the area is popular with expats and foreign travelers, much of the focus here is on international cuisine. Around Xintiandi, I found food that was difficult to spot elsewhere in the city.
For mouthwatering Western dishes and craft beer, pop into The Refinery Gastropub (181 Taicang Lu). Grab a seat on the outdoor patio and enjoy classics like bolognese pasta and beef & bacon quesadilla with a wide selection of cocktails and brews from local craft breweries.
Let your taste buds explore the district’s French influences at Polux by Paul Pairet (No. 5 Lane 181 Taicang Rd). This French cafe in the heart of Xintiandi serves oodles of French-inspired dishes, from duck foie gras to beef tartare. Pair your meal with a French vintage from their wine selection.
NOTE: The restaurant scene in Xintiandi has been hit hard in recent years. I’ve had to remove nearly all of my previous recommendations due to closures. Unfortunately, there’s no way for me to keep up with the current scene. In any case, I’d still recommend walking around the area to see what’s still around and what new restaurants have opened up in the area.
Getting there
Thanks to the awesome public transportation system, getting around Shanghai is a cinch. Xintiandi is no exception. My favorite options to get there include:
- Take the Metro Line 1 to South Huangpi Road Station. Then take exit 3.
- Hop onto Metro Line 10 to Xintiandi Station. Take Exit 6.
- The Shanghai City Sightseeing bus and several city buses also do the route. Regular buses are generally quite a bit harder to navigate than the metro.
