Shanghai Old Street: Traditional Trades and Folk Culture of Shanghai

Written by Clementine | Updated January 29,2026

Shanghai old street, also known as “small east gate”, is located in old city area of Huangpu District in Shanghai, which is regarded as the city gate. The old street, formerly known as Fangbang Zhonglu, starts from Henan South Road in the west and ends at Renmin Road in the east with a total length of 825 meters, and the architectural style and business layout from the west to the east show the historical and cultural evolution of old Shanghai from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the fusion of western culture. The business of the whole street takes the traditional characteristic industry as the mainstream, highlights the traditional folk culture, and creates the atmosphere of Shanghai culture. Include it in your Shanghai tour to learn about a different aspect of the city rather than the modern metropolis.

Content Preview

• Basic Facts about Shanghai Old Street
• Overview about Shanghai Old Street
• Top Things to Do
• Best Time to Visit
• How to Get to and Travel around
• Essential Travel Tips for Visitors
• Attractions Nearby Shanghai Old Street
• Plan Your Shanghai Tour with China Xian Tour

Basic Facts about Shanghai Old Street

• Location: Fangbang Middle Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, from Henan South Road to Renmin Road
• Chinese name: 上海老街
• Opening hours: all day
• Tickets: free
• Best time to go: all seasons
• Time needed: 1 – 3 hours

Overview about Shanghai Old Street

• Historic Role: Shanghai Old Street was the past commercial and financial center of Shanghai. The earliest Banks, gold stores, jewelry shops, tea houses,and theatre stages gather here. It has connected Shiliupu (small east gate), the City God Temple with Yu Garden due to its unique geographical location.
• Architectural characteristics: It is divided into east and west sections with the Guanyi Street as the boundary. The eastern section has retainedthe features of the residential architectures of the late Qing dynasty and the early Republic of China. And the architectures of the west section are modeled after the buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The whole street is an architectural history book.
• Cultural highlights: When you stroll around the old street, you will feel as if you have been back to the bustling market of 100 years ago of Shanghai.Shanghai Old Street reproduces many China time-honored stores and opens some shops with traditional Chinese features. It presents a “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” of old Shanghai.
• Local life: The KangjiaLongbeside Shanghai Old Street fully shows the long-standing history and culture of Shanghai. In the traditional“tile rooms” and winding alleys, many Shanghai local people still live here, so, if you have a tour in Shanghai Old Street, you should pay a visit to it and approach to the authentic culture of old Shanghai.

Top Things to Do

• Appreciate the architectures: both sides of the old street have been restored with ancient lattice windows, antique doors, characteristic railings, cornice and rake angle, Ma Tau Wall and so on. All the details show the folk customs of the old city of Shanghai.
• Explore the time-honored stores: along the street, several time-honored brands are reproduced, such as Tong Hanchun Pharmacy, Qiu Tianbao Silver House, Laotongsheng food store, Xishi toufu, etc. You can buy some traditional handicrafts as souvenirs or taste special local snacks here.
• Enjoy your time in a tea house: when feeling tired, step into a tea house to savor a cup of tea. The Old Shanghai Teahouse displays over 50 cheongsams from Shanghai in the 1930s collected by the owner. Chunfengdeyi Lou is famous for the signature tea of Yuan Bao tea (18 yuan per cup) offers the authentic performance of Suzhou Pingtan, traditional drama form of story-telling in Wu dialect, every Saturday and Sunday from 14:00 to 16:00.
• Experience the nearby alleys: besides the prosperous main street, the alleys and lanes are also worth exploring, where the more genuine and common life of local people is hidden.
• Plan a tour with nearby attractions: Shanghai Old Street is located in the center of the old city of Shanghai, it is very suitable to combine it with City God Temple and Yu Garden in one tour. In this way, you can have a deep understanding of the culture and charm of old Shanghai.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Shanghai Old Street is Spring and Autumn, because weather is pleasant during these months, which is conducive for people to stroll and take photos.

Tips: Visitors had better avoid the official holiday in China, because many Chinese citizens choose to travel on official holidays to ease the pressure of their work. As a result, many Chinese tourist attractions are overcrowded and traffic jams are common. Therefore, visiting China at this time will bring tourists a less pleasant travel experience.

How to Get to and Travel around

How to get to

• Subway

Visitors can take Subway Line 10 or 14 and get off at Yu Garden Station, and exit from the Exit 3, then walk toward south for about 5 – 10 minutes to the west end of the street.

• Bus

Visitors can take Bus No.11, 64, 304, 736, 926 and 930 and get off at Xiaodongmen Station.

How to travel around: Walking

The whole street is only about 800 meters long, so it is very suitable to enjoy a leisurely stroll to explore the stores and lanes at a slow pace. The distances to the nearby attractions are also not far, so a perfect city walk route is formed. The recommended route is Yu Garden – City God Temple – Shanghai Old Street – the Bund.

Essential Travel Tips for Visitors

1. It is not recommended to get there by taxi on weekends, since there is a large possibility of traffic jams.
2. Though the street is open all day, the stores and tea houses are usually closed in the evening.
3. The road is mostly paved with slabstone, so wearing comfortable and anti-slippery shoes is suggested.
4. The street and its surrounding area are basically crowded all year round, the early morning and late afternoon are the best time to enjoy a quiet experience.
5. Visitors can get to the Xiaotaoyuan mosque(Opening time: 4:30~18:00) fromhereon foot, and there are many halal food nearby.

Attractions Nearby Shanghai Old Street

• Yu Garden: a classic Jiangnan garden of the Ming Dynasty. This small garden gathers the essence of the ancient classic garden. During the tour, discover the details of the pavilions, rockery, halls, etc.
• City God Temple: an important Taoist temple in Shanghai. The surrounding business district sells various traditional handicrafts and local snacks. You can experience the local life here.
• The Bund: the city landmark and a must-visit scenic spot during Shanghai travel, where you can see the skyscrapers of Lujiazui and various western architectures of different styles.

Plan Your Shanghai Tour with China Xian Tour

No matter you want to board the skyscraper to overlook the modern Shanghai or explore the old Shanghai in the lanes, China Xian Tour can meet your needs. What’s more, we specialize in tailored service for many years, all your other needs in hotels and foods can also be satisfied. To ensure you have a deep understanding of the city and enjoy a seamless tour, we will also assign a guide and a driver for you. Are you planning a Shanghai tour now? Do not hesitate to contact us to start your worry-free tour.