How to Visit Tianzifang (Tips, Photos & Map)

Plan your Shanghai tour? Tianzifang (田子坊) is an enchanting place that ought to be included on your Shanghai travel plan. Tianzifang encapsulates the art and crafts linked to Shikumen.

The Shikumen residential buildings (stone-door-frame houses) were built in 1930s in Shanghai, an enclave developed from an old residential area of the former French concession in Shanghai.

Origin of “Tianzifang”

In 1980s artists, designers and vendors began to set up their studios, art galleries, craft stores, design house, cafes, bars, and restaurants, a kind of creative industry precinct in an old Shikumen residential area of Shanghai, which later came to be known as “Tianzifang”.

Tianzifang was named by Chen Yifei who first had a studio in Tianzifang. Chen Yifei was one of the artists who actively advocated the preservation of Tianzifang area and its stone-framed-door houses.

Layout of Tianzhifang

Tianzifang is compact and mainly composed of three lanes along Taikang Road (泰康路), just across the Exit 1 of Dapuqiao Station (打浦桥) of Subway Line 9.

Tianzifang, about 5km southwest of the Bund

The three lanes are Taikang Road Lane 210 (Tianzifang), Taikang Road Lane 248 (Tianchengli) and Taikang Road Lane 274 (Pingyuanfang).

The Taikang Road 210 is the most noted lane where the famous artist Chen Yifei once set up his studio there. Most of the visitors would choose first to enter Lane 210 in Tianzifang area.

The three lanes are interconnected, easy to get pleasantly lost wandering in and out of the passages though this area is interspersed with location maps. So it is a bit hard to navigate and sometimes you have many turns and bends. You will meet a dead-end and then back-track and find a new passage. It is a fun exploring inside the neighbourhood of labyrinthine alleys.

So why Tianzifang?

It is a great place to shop and dine though a bit overpriced. But you do find some original gifts and souvenirs you cannot find elsewhere in Shanghai. If you are not a big fan for shopping and eating, just concentrate on its architecture.

Tianzifang Travel Tips

1) The most convenient way of getting to Tianzifang is taking subway line 9 and get off at the station of Dapuqiao (打浦桥) and using Exit 1 and the Taikang Road ( where the three lanes are located) is just opposite the Exit 1. You may start your exploration of Tianzifang by entering the Taikang Road Lane 210, then duck into the Lane 248 and 274.

2) Go there early to avoid hordes of domestic tourists. You are prepared for being pushed when this area is getting busier.

3) Learn to bargain on the stuff you are going to buy.

4) It is allowed to take pictures in Tianaifang area except the residential area where the local residents still live.

5) A nice public toilets in the mall across the street where the Starbucks is located.

Virtual Tour of Tianzifang

For you to have a glimpse of Tianzifang, now I just show you some of the pictures taken of the three lanes in Tianzifang area.

Out from Exit 1 at Dapuqiao Station of Subway line 9, you turn right and see the location signboard indicating Tianzifang.

The entrance to Lane 210 Taikang Road 泰康路210弄, just left side of Taikang Road Lane 248.

Lane 210 Taikang Road in Tianzifang Area

One of the location maps of Tianzifang dotted here and there on the walls in Tianzifang area. The red travel route for Lane 210, blue for Lane 248 and green for Lane 274.

Now this is the Lane 210, one of the three main lanes in Tianzifang.

No. 2 of Lane 10 is the original site of Chen Yifei’s Studio. Tianzifang was named by Chen Yifei who first had a studio in Tianzifang.

Between the three main lanes, there are quite some narrower lanes crisscrossing Tianzifang area, creating labyrinthine. Now the chic restaurant is on a narrow alley between Lane 210 and Lane 248.

A chic restaurant is on a narrow alley between Lane 210 and Lane 248.

Some of the boutiques or studios are located inside the original Shikumen buildings.

A typical shikumen building still inhabited by the local residents who still live on the second floors and the first floor are used as street-front stores or studios.

A hat studio housed inside the Shikumen building in Tianzifang

A narrow lane traversing between Shikumen buildings

This is the Lane 248 (Tianchengli) , one of the three main lanes in Tianzifang area. Wet clothes hanging and air-conditioning units overhead, not a totally residential area on Lane 248.