Hongkou Citywalk: A Guide to Strolling Down Memory Lane

Pretend you're in a movie 🎞 I took some amazing Republic of China-era photos in Jiangyuan Lane 📷 Follow this niche walking guide and hit the streets! - 📍 Shanghai · Hongkou 🔎 Route: Stroll along the old streets, passing through retro blocks and old buildings, about 3km in total, taking about 2 hours 🚌 Transportation: Subway Line 10 directly to Sichuan North Road Station, Exit 4 🚗 Driving: Parking is available at the Binjiang Commercial Center, currently 🆓 - 🚶‍♀️ Route Overview: Line 10 Sichuan North Road Station → Jinchao 8 Lane → Jiangyuan Lane · Victory Cinema → North Bund (or return the same way) - 🕍 Jinchao 8 Lane Renovated from 66 century-old Shikumen buildings, it perfectly blends retro architecture with trendy culture, totally comparable to Zhang Garden. Every photo is a retro masterpiece! ✅ One Foot Garden (Yingchuan Jilu Branch) One Foot Garden is incredibly impressive, the new branch occupies an entire old western-style house! Three floors, a glass house surrounded by greenery + a Shikumen courtyard. Sitting by the French windows, sipping coffee, and watching the sunlight stream in is very relaxing. ✅ Ba Jin Library A newly opened literary landmark! Hidden in a corner of an old western-style house, open 🆓 from 10:00-17:00. The courtyard garden is very photogenic. The library houses Ba Jin's manuscripts and has a children's reading area, making it parent-child friendly. You can experience the literary atmosphere here. ✅ Haipai Culture Center Open 🆓 from 9:30-11:30 and 13:30-16:30. Classic films are shown in the small theater. ✅ Binjiang Commercial Center The mall features a literary and artistic style, with decorations from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio. On weekends, you can watch "Jazz Jiangnan" performances. - 🎬 Victory Cinema · Jiangyuan Lane This is the filming location of Jiangyuan Lane. Although it hasn't been released yet, I have a feeling this place will be a popular spot in 2025! ✅ Retro Movie Scenes The setting of the movie has been recreated here: bluestone roads, neon signs, old projectors, film walls, and cheongsam shops... The interplay of light and shadow makes you feel like you've traveled back to old Shanghai in the 50s and 60s. It's a holy place for cinematic street photography! ✅ Victory Cinema A very old cinema that has been renovated. The building is a creamy yellow color, and taking photos in front of it is very Instagrammable. There are also retro posters across the street, making it a perfect photo spot‼️ ✅ Former Site of the West Honganji Temple A famous architectural landmark on Zhapu Road. Designed by a 🇯🇵 architect, the building features lotus reliefs on the exterior, which is very unique. ✅ Victory Coffee A coffee shop in a retro tram, just like being on a movie set. 💡Tips: Wearing a cheongsam or a Hong Kong-style shirt will make your photos even better. - 🌇 North Bund Riverside If you have enough energy, you can continue to the North Bund, locate the International Passenger Transport Center, and enjoy the Shanghai skyline along the way. The romantic atmosphere is at its peak during sunset (see the previous post for detailed guide). - ✨Follow me to unlock more fun places in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai!