Strolling in the Magic City｜Check in at the Century-Old Newspaper Street, Have a Coffee at "Shen Bao"
Wangping Street holds a pivotal place in the history of Chinese journalism. It is a street marked by the imprint of Chinese news. Today’s Shandong Middle Road, formerly Wangping Street, is also known as the century-old newspaper street and is the birthplace of modern Chinese journalism.
From the Fuzhou Road intersection to East Nanjing Road, it spans only 200 meters but crosses three centuries. Hundreds of newspapers set up offices in this block, recording China and observing the world.
📚 Background Information:
🌸 In 1872, "Shen Bao," hailed as the "first modern Chinese newspaper," was founded here. Today, this block has been revitalized as a "news history and cultural district," becoming a modern cultural street where people can read, tour, and experience, carrying the people's aspirations for a happy and beautiful life.
🌸 "Shen Bao," originally named "Shenjiang Xinbao," was founded on April 30, 1872, and ceased publication on May 27, 1949. It spanned the late Qing Dynasty, the Beiyang Government, and the Nationalist Government eras, publishing over 27,000 issues. It was the longest-running and most socially influential newspaper in modern China and is regarded as the starting point of modern Chinese newspapers. It is called the "encyclopedia" for studying modern Chinese history.
After ceasing publication, "Shen Bao" was transferred to the Liberation Daily. The old Shen Bao building has now been transformed into a restaurant combining coffee, Western cuisine, and a bar, specializing in brunch, named The Press. The name hints at its history as an old newspaper office. The waitstaff wear uniforms with "reporter" on the back, fitting the newspaper office theme perfectly, making it a great spot for artsy young people to check in and take photos 📷. You can enjoy a cup of coffee ☕️ and some food here while touring the newspaper office during your wait.
🌈 Highlights:
✅ First Floor: Baroque architectural style with a white dome and exquisite reliefs. The restaurant displays historical materials and photos of "Shen Bao," blending a luxurious atmosphere with nostalgic vibes, evoking the glory of Shanghai in the Republic of China era.
✅ Second Floor: Walls are adorned with "Shen Bao" editions from different periods. There are one large and one small meeting room, with cabinets housing "Shen Bao" promotional brochures. Perhaps it was in these two meeting rooms that Shi Liangcai and editors held pre-editing meetings and discussed newspaper topics...
✅ In the TV drama "Romance in the Rain," the two male leads, He Shuhuan and Du Fei, work at the Shen Bao office as reporters.
🖼️ Historical Figure: Shi Liangcai (January 2, 1880 – November 13, 1934), courtesy name Liangcai, from Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, was an outstanding businessman, journalist, educator, and newspaper magnate, and an excellent newspaper operator in modern China. He served as general manager of "Shen Bao" in 1912 and was assassinated by Kuomintang agents at age 54.
📍 Location: No. 309 Hankou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, Shen Bao Building
🕐 Opening Hours: 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM
🚗 Transportation: Accessible by bus routes 49, 926, and metro lines 1, 2, 8, and 10