The tour will start from 1 Fangbang Middle Road, at the East Gate (photo below) and will finish at 269 Dajing Lu at the Dajingguandi Taoist Temple.
The closest Metro is Yu Yuan Garden Station Line 10, Exit 1, turn left onto Fangbang Lu and walk towards the Bund to meet at East Gate.
For those keen, we can discuss the walk over a vegetarian Chinese lunch at Chun Feng Song Yue Lou, 23 Bailing Lu.
Fangbang Lu is a lively street in the oldest part of Shanghai, ideally viewed first thing in the morning before the shops open and visitors arrive. It is an area where you can still see pyjama-clad locals hanging out their washing, stray cats gnawing on restaurant leftovers and antiquated electrical wiring hanging precariously above the shikumen dormer windows. The existing Hukou (government household registration) holders have been given notice that the dwellings are to be demolished as the area is being redeveloped.
The buildings along Fangbang Lu, and the residents of the lilong, will be changed forever, so join us for a tour before the inevitable redevelopment occurs.