EXPLORING TIAN ZI FANG WITH A SONY RX100

Tian Zi Fang is a really beautiful arts and crafts enclave tucked away in the old French Concession area of Shanghai. Tian Zi Fang consists of a series of 3 alleyways lined with little cafes, art studios, bars, restaurants and boutiques. It’s a really nice place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon strolling through the narrow alleyways and hunting for trinkets in the road side shops. There are a lot of antique stores and boutique’s which have been set up by local designers which offer some unique products. Shopping is generally expensive but much cheaper when compared to the high end stores in Xintiandi.

Narrow Streets of Tian Zi Fang

I went to Tian Zi Fang on a rainy Saturday afternoon by metro got down at Dapuqiao station. The entrance to Tian Zi Fang is little tricky to find, just follow the crowd and you should not have a problem. Once you step in into Tian Zi Fang you see an endless array of shops and if you look up the old shikumen style architecture is clearly visible.

One of the many colourful boutiques 

After spending 3 weeks in Shanghai I was craving for some Indian food. While scouting around Tian Zi Fang, I found a nice Indian restaurant called Lotus Land. It was a little expensive but the food was awesome.

Shikumen style buildings

Vintage styled restobar 

Famous wall of Mailbox art 

Sidewalk Cafe 

Boheme bar tian zi fang

Beer Window at Boheme Bar

There are quiet a few interesting restaurants and bars inside the Tian Zi Fang maze. My watering hole for the day was Rambler Bar . The place was very lively and the drinks were reasonable. I tried a  few local beers and a potent Long Island  Ice Tea. The barman at rambler was a friendly guy and I would highly recommend the place.

 

 

 

Long Island and Tsingtao Beer

Fred the Barman

Sign Boards at TianZiFang

Candy Pills 

Street behind TianZiFang

Trinkets from TianZiFang

The metal knight I got from one of the street vendors, she was asking for 300 RNB but I was able to bargain and get it for 150 RNB. 

Places close by :

• Jing’an Temple Line; take the orange line and get down at the station by the same name .Jingan temple is a beautiful Buddhist temple in the centre of the urban Shanghai
• Xintiandi is a popular tourist spot and high end shopping area close to Tian Zi Fang

I recommend going to Tian Zi Fang in the evening and it would take you about 2 hours to explore most of the lanes and shops. Stick on till sunset when the small restaurants are lit up giving the place a cozy romantic ambience .From the well-preserved Shikumen style building to the quirky little shops and watering holes; Tian Zi Fang was one of the most interesting places I visited in Shanghai and it is a must see destination.