How to Visit Xintiandi (Tips, Photos & Map)

The avant garde in Shanghai

The Shikumen buildings were built in 1860s with a blend of Chinese and western style architectures. The western style of brick door frames, roofs and walls go harmoniously with the inside structures of Chinese traditional houses in the Yangtze Delta Area.

The shikumen buildings in Xitiandi area have been turned from their residential function to a huge mall of dotted and connected shikumen buildings, a shopping center, a dining center, a leisure center and a fanshion center, hence a showcase of the avant garde in Shanghai. If you are not interested in shoping, drinking or dining, a glimpse of the shikumen buidlings is worth your 1-2 hour stroll.

If you are not pressed for time, you are advised to visit both Xintiandi and Tianzifang for a perfect picture of Shanghai in the past and present.

How to get to Xintiandi

The whole Xintiandi area is located between Taicang Road 太仓路(north) and Zizhong Road 自忠路(south）with Yexing Road in between; between South Huangpo Road 黄陂南路(east) and Madang Road 马当路(west).

Taking subway is the most convenient transport. Take subway Line 1 and get off at the station of Huangpo South Road (黄陂南路) and exit from the Exit 2 and walk south; take subway line 10 and get off at the station of Xintiandi and using the exit 1 and walk to the north.

If you reach Xintiandi by subway line 1, you will first visit Xintiandi Beili ( Xintiandi's north part ) and then continue to walk south to see Xintiandi Nanli(Xintiandi's southern part); if take subway line 10, you may eixt from the Exit 1 and continue to visit the Xintiandi Nanli (southern part) and then walk north to visit Xintiandi Beili ( northern part).

Virtual Tour of Xintiandi

Taicang Road is the northern tip of Xintiandi Area

Hassle-free Shanghai Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Shanghai:

Further Readings