Longtangs: unchanged face of Shanghai

A skinny boy with shiny Kalashnikov appeared from behind of a corner and headed towards me with an unbearable scream. His red scarf rippled in the gust of wind blowing against him. The noise and smell of the street was far behind me. I could immediately notice I am not welcomed in this place, I could see the determination in the boy's eyes. Fortunately the Kalashnikov was made in China.

Shanghai is a bustling city with all what belongs to it. Not really different from any other big city in Asia, it kind of reminds me Seoul, or rather Busan (which slightly more ran down than Seoul). Yet, there is one unique detail which actually charmed me: the Longtangs of Shanghai.

Longtangs are alleys/units of houses or rather whole quartiers closed within itself built in the beginning of 20th century in Shanghai. The streets in these quartiers are so narrow that neighbors across the street live basically in the same household. Children are running around, groups of men are playing cards, people are drying clothes at any "hangable" spot, women are gossiping through the windows of their house, a family is just dining on the street.

When you cross the gate protecting one of these Longtangs, you really feel like appearing in someones living room. Very big living room. And that's the magic.

If I did things the normal way I probably wouldn't even notice. Try this self-guided walk.