3-Day Off-the-Beaten-Path Historical and Cultural Slow Travel Itinerary in Shanghai: Deep in Sycamore-Shaded Areas and the Vibrant Local Atmosphere of the Old Town
Exploration
Visit Ke Ling's Former Residence
The former residence of Mr. Ke Ling is a British-style garden villa. The interior retains spaces including Mr. Ke's study and bedroom used during his lifetime, and displays his manuscripts and book collections, showing the living style of literati in old Shanghai.
Stroll through the Old Villa Cluster on Yongjia Road
Dozens of old villas with diverse styles are distributed along Yongjia Road, including Spanish-style and French-style ones. Most are former residences of wealthy merchants and literati from the Republic of China period. There are few tourists here, making it suitable for slow walks to appreciate architectural details.
Lunch of Authentic Shanghai Local Cuisine in Longtang
This is a long-established Shanghai local cuisine restaurant hidden in longtang (traditional Shanghai alley). It mainly serves classic dishes such as soy sauce duck, caotou quanzi (braised pork rings with alfalfa), and fried shrimp, with authentic taste and affordable prices.
Visit Xu Weiren's Former Residence (Little Lanting)
The former residence of Xu Weiren, a collector from the Qing Dynasty, is one of the few remaining Qing Dynasty private gardens in Shanghai. The garden is equipped with rockeries, pavilions and ancient steles, full of the charm of Jiangnan (regions south of the lower Yangtze River) gardens.
Exploration
Visit the Memorial Hall of the Former Site of China League of Left-Wing Writers
This is the place where the China League of Left-Wing Writers was founded. The hall displays cultural relics including manuscripts, books and photos of left-wing writers, presenting the literary and revolutionary history of the Republic of China period.
Leisure Tour of Duolun Road Cultural Celebrities Street
Avoid the crowds on the main street of Duolun Road, walk into this quiet Shikumen (stone-gate house) alley. It retains the architectural style of the Republic of China period and was once the residence of many literati.
Lunch of Local Shanghai Cuisine at Parker Restaurant
It is a century-old time-honored Shanghai cuisine restaurant, specializing in classic dishes such as Eight-Treasure Duck, Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, and Sliced Fish in Rice Wine Sauce, with authentic taste and moderate price.
Explore the Old Alleys of Shanyin Road
This old alley next to Lu Xun's Former Residence is a new-style Shikumen (stone-gate house) building built in the Republic of China period, retaining the complete alley style. There are many historical protected buildings inside and few tourists here.
Exploration
Visit Xiaonanmen Ancient City Wall (Dajing Pavilion)
It is the only remaining ancient city wall site of the Ming Dynasty in Shanghai. The Dajing Pavilion on it is a Taoist temple of the Qing Dynasty. Historical cultural relics recording the urban development of Shanghai are displayed in the pavilion, where you can overlook the civilian life style of the old town.
Visit Dongjiadu Catholic Church
It is the first Catholic church in China that can accommodate 1,000 people. Built in the Qing Dynasty, it adopts Baroque architectural style with gorgeous interior decoration, and is an important historical and religious building in Shanghai.
Have Lunch with Old Town Snacks
This is a century-old time-honored snack shop, specializing in traditional Shanghai dim sum such as eight-treasure rice, tiantiao cake, double-stuffed glutinous rice balls, as well as Shanghai-style rice bowls, with affordable prices.
Stroll in the Old Alleys of Middle Fangbang Road
Avoid the crowds in Yuyuan Garden, walk into this Shikumen alley in the old town, which retains the civilian life atmosphere of old Shanghai, and has many traditional handicraft shops.