Shikumen

When I arrive in a new city, I always try to take in as many tourist sights as possible within the first 2 months. It helps me to form a first impression of my surroundings before the novelty wears off. Here's a lovely little spot called the Shikumen (stone gate), packed with stone tenement houses that are distinctively Shanghai. It sits in the middle of an expat cafe haven called Xintiandi (new heaven & earth).

Aunty Jo-Jo visits the narrow streets & household of the Shikumen Open House

The Shikumen Open House is a fascinating exhibition that represents a Shanghai household in the 1920's. The downstairs rooms comprise the entrance hall, lounge, kitchen and guest ensuite bedroom (i.e. ornately carved chamberpot). There are 3 connecting bedrooms on the second floor for the parents and kids. I was especially interested in a short documentary that described a typical day in the life of the inhabitants: grandma, grandpa, father, mother & children.

The Tingzijian - a small room facing the north

Ever the romantic, this room really captured my imagination. It's called the Tingzijian, which is a small room at the turn of the staircase between the 1st and 2nd floors. It was usually rented out for extra income and quickly became the abode for itinerant scholars & artists in the 1920s - 1930s. Many famous authors from the era included Lu Xun, Cai Yun Pei and Guo Muo Luo and their works became known as Tingzijian Literature.

Sounds a lot like Montmarte in Paris doesn't it?