Tianzifang | The Beautiful and Colorful Place in Shanghai
This is no other place but Tianzifang, in the bustling city of Shanghai. There is a unique corner that attracts countless tourists and artists with its profound historical heritage, rich artistic atmosphere and rich life experience. Another one of the beautiful and colorful places of Shanghai is Tianzifang. It is a fashionable landmark integrating history, culture, art, design, dining and shopping, and is known as “Shanghai’s most humanistic creative district”.
Let’s dive in to Tianzifang
The name “Tian Zi Fang” was nominated by the famous painter Huang Yongyu, who chose the homophonic name of “Tian Zi Fang” which was originally the name of a painter in “Zhuangzi”. At that time, with the famous director and painter Chen Yifei setting up a studio here, many artists and handicraft shops moved in, and Tian Zi Fang gradually became a creative industry park.
Tianzifang was first built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, and has a history of nearly 500 years. In the early days of Shanghai’s opening to the outside world, it had already become a prosperous commercial and cultural center. At the end of the 19th century, during the French colonial rule, it began to develop into a residential area of the French Concession. In the early 20th century, it was transformed into an industrial area dominated by the textile industry.
Before 1998, it was just a street market. The famous painter Huang Yongyu named this small alley Tianzifang and since then it has become one of Shanghai’s famous attractions.
Tianzifang was rebuilt from the only Shikumen building complex in Shanghai and is the creative work base for many literati and artists. There are small shops selling retro glasses and old-fashioned music boxes, as well as trendy clothing stores from Hong Kong. If you are a foodie, there are many interesting and novel creative restaurants to satisfy your taste buds.
In the bustling city of Shanghai, there is a unique corner that attracts countless tourists and artists with its profound historical heritage, rich artistic atmosphere and rich life experience – this is Tianzifang. As one of the most representative creative blocks in Shanghai, Tianzifang is not only a tourist attraction, but also a comprehensive cultural space integrating history, art and life.
Shanghai has absorbed the architectural features of both China and the West in its 100-year history, so it is a city that is perfect for City Walk. Walking into the maze-like alleys of Tianzifang, you will see specialty shops and art workshops lined up in an orderly manner, with tourists coming and going.
As a gathering place for Shanghai’s fashion and creative industries, you can find almost all kinds of businesses here, from photography studios, galleries, handicrafts, specialty restaurants, etc. Perhaps in some corner you will come across a famous artist’s studio or art showroom.
The charm of Tianzifang lies first in its history. It was once the core area of Shanghai’s French Concession and witnessed the development of Shanghai from a small fishing village to an international metropolis. Walking into Tianzifang, it seems to have traveled through time and space and returned to an era full of exotic customs and romance. The old-fashioned Shikumen buildings, narrow alleys, and mottled walls all reveal traces of history, allowing people to feel the accumulation of years and culture.
However, Tianzifang is not just a historical display area, it is also a vibrant artistic and creative space. Here, you can see a variety of art studios, galleries, design studios, etc. They are either hidden in the deep alleys or dotted in the streets and alleys, adding endless artistic atmosphere to Tianzifang. These artists and designers use their talents and creativity to build Tianzifang into a fashionable landmark full of artistic atmosphere.
Although Tianzifang Shanghai is a place of art, it is also a place of life. Many old Shanghainese still live in those old alleys, and some small shops and restaurants along the street are run by locals themselves. Art and life collide here, and this is the charm of Tianzifang, with daily necessities, as well as poetry and distant places.
Many buildings in Tianzifang are typical Shikumen buildings. Enclosure is the main feature of Shikumen buildings, but they no longer emphasize carvings, but pursue simplicity and practicality. They have absorbed a lot of styles of Jiangnan folk houses, with stone as door frames and black lacquered solid thick wood as door panels, hence the name “Shikumen.” The former site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China is the most typical and exquisite Shikumen building.
Shikumen architecture is a combination of Chinese and Western architecture. In the late Qing Dynasty, Tianzifang was included in the French Concession. To escape the war, wealthy businessmen, landlords, and officials from Jiangsu and Zhejiang moved to the concession with their families to seek shelter. Foreign real estate developers took the opportunity to build a large number of houses. Although many people have moved away from the hustle and bustle here, some people still stick to it. This is where they have their best memories.
The biggest feature of Tianzifang is that there are still many residents living here. There is the porch alley of Zhichengfang, which was built in 1933, exuding an ancient flavor. Walking in Tianzifang, winding through the maze-like alleys, one after another specialty shops and art workshops jump into your sight inadvertently. From teahouses, open-air restaurants, open-air cafes, galleries, home furnishings to handicrafts, as well as many well-known creative studios in Shanghai, it can be said that everything is available.
There is both the flavor of the old Shanghai alleys and the artistic beauty of modern literature and art. The alleys still retain the mailboxes used in the 1980s, which are full of unexpected artistic beauty. Take a casual stroll in the old alleys, look at the tiger skylights on the roofs, the finely arranged red tiles on the roofs, the cracks and green moss on the gables, which are full of the flavor of old Shanghai. Listen to the foreigners sitting outside the open-air bar speaking different languages, mixed with the crisp Shanghainese of local residents, and you can also stop and find a street artist to draw a portrait for you.
The former site of Fei’s studio still houses the items he used back then. Students studying art should not miss it. In addition, there are several well-known cultural and artistic attractions such as Ren Weiyin Art Gallery, Smell Library, Basel Art Center and Tianzifang Painter Building. Visitors can visit them one by one and bring a camera to record all the good memories here.
If you are tired, you can find a cafe to sit down and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in the cool breeze in the alley. There are also some fashionable and emerging creative restaurants here, such as the Toilet Happy Theme Restaurant, where toilet-shaped seats, washbasin-shaped tables, and food that looks like “poop” excite customers who like to hunt for novelties.
At night, this is a fashionable gathering place for many night owls. The open-air bars are filled with faces of different skin colors. Although not as crowded as Xintiandi, it is fresher and more elegant. Accompanied by blues music, you can slowly enjoy the night Shanghai. Tianzifang was transformed from three lanes on Taikang Road, which are relatively narrow and crowded.
The architectural style here is rich and colorful and it combines Shanghai’s unique Shikumen building complex, Spanish-style and British-style castle buildings. Shikumen buildings, in particular, have more than 20 forms, which can be called a miracle, and perfectly embodies the atmosphere of fireworks in the Magic City. There is everything in the alley, including galleries, film exhibitions, bars, food, coffee and countless other Internet celebrity creative shops. It is extremely romantic to walk through the cultural old street and stroll on the stone road.
What are the architectural styles of Tianzifang?
Tianzifang has a unique and diverse architectural style. Most of the buildings here are Shikumen buildings, with exterior walls made of blue bricks and exquisite wood and stone carvings inlaid on the quaint and elegant porches, revealing the charm of traditional Chinese culture everywhere. Tianzifang’s architectural style concentrates on various historical buildings of various types from various periods of Shanghai’s development, from villages to concessions to modern cities. In terms of style, it is influenced by Western classicism, modernism, eclecticism and other styles, and has a high historical and cultural and architectural cultural heritage value.
Tianzifang has a unique and diverse architectural style. Most of the buildings here are Shikumen buildings, with exterior walls made of blue bricks and exquisite wood and stone carvings inlaid on the quaint and elegant porches, revealing the charm of traditional Chinese culture everywhere. Tianzifang’s architectural style concentrates on various historical buildings of various types from various periods of Shanghai’s development from villages to concessions to modern cities. In terms of style, it is influenced by Western classicism, modernism, eclecticism and other styles, and has a high historical and cultural and architectural cultural heritage value.
The biggest feature of Tianzifang is that there are still many residents living here. The green mailboxes decorated in the 1980s complement the surrounding environment and exude unexpected artistic beauty. The porch alleys of Zhichengfang were built in 1933 and are full of ancient flavor. Walking in Tianzifang, winding through the maze-like alleys, it seems to travel through time and feel the architectural charm of different historical periods. The blue bricks and black tiles, carved beams and painted buildings seem to bring people back to the Shanghai of the last century, and the colorful graffiti and artworks make this place full of the atmosphere of modern art.
What are the special shops in Tianzifang?
Tianzifang has many specialty shops covering various fields. JOY MAISON is the first PLUS store under JOYMAX named “JOY MAISON”. The overall style adopts the Cuban tropical style and retro modern fashion art style of the Bacardi brand theme. The interior is subdivided into cigarette area, bar area, Bacardi area and wine product area. It is a professional and youthful interactive platform for citizens and tourists to experience and share happiness.
Shoubai Art is one of the specialty shops in Tianzifang, which is a gathering place for Shanghai specialty shops and one of Huangpu’s “city business cards”. Many people who come to Shanghai for tourism will make a special trip to visit here.
The perfume and scent-making room of Xiangyu Salon is hidden deep in the alley. In addition to experiencing a variety of different scents, you can also experience the fun of perfume-making under the guidance of professional perfumers.
The White Rabbit store carries the childhood taste memories of countless Shanghai girls. There are oversized White Rabbit statues in the store, which are vivid and lifelike. Now many new flavors have been introduced, including banana, durian, red bean, coffee, matcha, etc. In addition to candy, you can also buy a lot of exquisite White Rabbit peripherals.
Blan Rabbit’s Botanical Garden is a cute, retro and healing “rabbit world”. The exquisite European tea sets in the store are noble and elegant, and the vivid and lifelike floral patterns show a mood-enhancing color under the light. Here you can have a cup of sweet botanical fruit tea and take a rest.
The name of the store, San Sheng You Xin, makes people feel warm. It is a treasure trove for purchasing Shanghai souvenirs and gifts. It mainly sells various postcards, as well as Chinese-style retro sachets and other special products.
TASTE 105 Cafe & Lifestyle is a place where good wine needs no bush. Inside the narrow storefront, a narrow staircase leads to the seemingly unfathomable second floor. This is not only a coffee shop, but also a minimalist-style boutique with exquisite objects, stylish furniture and chairs, and natural art decorations everywhere.
Xiahouwen Celadon Art Museum (Shanghai Branch) is located at No. 21, Lane 210, Taikang Road, and mainly deals in Longquan celadon.
Tianzifang Yifei Art Exhibition Hall is located at the former site of Chen Yifei’s studio. The exhibition hall displays porcelain and famous paintings and calligraphy that record the thousand-year-old Chinese culture, including many works by contemporary artist Cao Jun.
Yingjiafang is located at Room 118, No. 3, Lane 210, Taikang Road. It specializes in pure handmade Miao embroidery and excels in making products that combine traditional handicrafts with natural materials, such as embroidery and batik.
LuShanghai is located at Room 103, No. 3, Lane 210, Taikang Road. It is an original T-shirt store that is only sold in Shanghai. China’s traditional culture and living environment are presented in the form of illustrations on printed T-shirts with humorous depictions.
Jincheng is located at Room 102, No. 3, Lane 210, Taikang Road. It was established in 2008 and mainly deals in artistic silk scarves with original designs and collaborations with artists.
Zhang Xiaoquan is located at No. 13, Lane 248, Taikang Road. It moved in in 2021 and mainly sells more than 100 products including knives and scissors, wedding products, copper teapots, etc.
The Takasha Earth Store is full of childlike fun, with various distinctive card stickers, umbrellas in the shape of beer bottles and telephones in the shape of beverage cans, good husband and good wife and handsome man and beautiful woman certificates, antique wallets and unique-looking lighters, etc. There are also CD-R and DVD-R discs printed with special pictures. Each one is of different style and full of modern childlike fun.
The paper-cutting shop of the Deng family, a “artist-keeper”, guards a small shop and does only one thing for a lifetime. The original T-shirt shop “Lu Shanghai” that designed a “Shanghai business card”, and the small shop “Jing Fan” that uses Chinese fan culture as a carrier, and more than ten other excellent Tianzifang physical stores.
Transportation in Tianzifang
Tianzifang is open all year round and is located at No. 210, Taikang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai. Tianzifang has convenient transportation. For subway, take subway Line 9 to Dapuqiao Station, walk about 10 minutes after exiting the station and walk about 220 meters after exiting Exit 1; for bus, you can take bus No. 17, 24, 36, 146, 576, 780, 932, 985, etc. to get there or take bus No. 17/24/304 to get off at Jianguo Middle Road Ruijin 2nd Road Station, walk about 120 meters to get there, take bus No. 41/43/96/146/218/786/955/985 to get off at Dapuqiao Station, walk about 300 meters to get there; for taxi, just tell the driver to go to Shanghai Tianzifang.
Time reference for visiting Tianzifang
It is recommended to spend about 1 to 3 hours in Shanghai Tianzifang. The playing time can be adjusted according to personal preference. Tianzifang in the morning is quiet and full of charm, suitable for strolling and feeling the style of old Shanghai; in the afternoon, the flow of people gradually increases, and you can appreciate more artists’ creative processes and works. Tianzifang is open all day, all year round. Visitors can go there in the morning or at night to avoid the peak flow of people. Going to Tianzifang at night, with bright lights and feasting, you can better experience the flavor of Shanghai Magic City.
Cultural and artistic attractions in Tianzifang
Tianzifang has many cultural and artistic attractions. Tianzifang Yifei Art Exhibition Hall is located at the former site of Chen Yifei’s studio. The exhibition hall has porcelain and famous paintings and calligraphy that record the millennium culture of China, and displays many works of contemporary artist Cao Jun.
Xiahouwen Celadon Art Museum (Shanghai Branch) is located at No. 21, Lane 210, Taikang Road, and mainly deals in Longquan celadon. Shoubai Art is located at No. 4, Lane 210, Taikang Road. It is one of the earliest art institutions in Shanghai to develop cultural and creative products, and is committed to creating a “city business card” for Shanghai art.
Blantu’s Botanical Garden is located at No. 35, Lane 155, Jianguo Middle Road, Lin 6. It is a special tea experience space that advocates world tea culture, light and fun lifestyle, and exquisite aesthetic attitude, and is committed to building a light luxury and fashionable tea lifestyle brand.
Tianzifang often hosts various cultural activities, such as the “Gathering in Tianzifang for the Lantern Festival” parent-child themed event held in February 2024; and the “Folk Art of Jiangnan” – Shanghai Folk Art Immersive Exhibition, which opened in July 2024.
Tianzifang has both the starting point of Tianzifang Shanghai style culture such as Chen Yifei Studio and the Tianzifang theme painting exhibition currently on display at Tianzifang Art Center. Oil painting, pen and watercolor… Tianzifang in the alleys and Tianzifang in the small shops are all the Tianzifang in the past 20 years.
Tianzifang in Shanghai is a place full of artistic atmosphere and historical heritage. It has a unique architectural style, many specialty shops, convenient transportation, flexible time for sightseeing, and rich cultural and artistic attractions. Whether you like historical buildings, pursue artistic atmosphere, or enjoy shopping and food, you can find your own fun in Tianzifang. Tianzifang is not only a cultural business card of Shanghai, but also a tourist destination that makes people linger.