Streets Ahead
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:12
Written by Hailey Meng

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Once called Rue de la Porte de l'Ouest (Westgate Road), Zizhong Lu is a street that links the poor and the rich in Shanghai. The shabbiest Shikumen houses coexist with RMB70,000 sqm uber-luxury serviced apartments. The variety of its residents and the history behind it have given Zizhong Lu a mixed character, from chic fashion boutiques to antique markets, from DIY bakeries to Shandong dumpling restaurants, it’s just like a synecdoche Shanghai.

Vintage Vehicle Models, No. 34
Pay attention to this place, model fans. This shop, right on the corner of Dongtai Lu market and Zizhong Lu, has some seriously good deals to offer. The owner is an old Shanghainese man who taught himself to make vintage vehicle models from scratch. With models from 40s military jeeps to 30s St. Louis Cardinal aircraft, this guy can make everything just from a picture. Not to mention these models are a steal, prices range from only RMB150-RMB500.

Choice DIY Bakery, No.349
Don’t let the pink doors and Hello Kitty decorations deceive you, this place is much more fun than any stuffed toy shop. Choice offers do-it-yourselfstyle cakes, with a huge selection of chocolate figurines, colored icing and decorations for you to play with. If you need inspiration check out their portfolio of amazing cakes shaped like Louis Vuitton bags, big booties and even an iPhone. We bet they taste just as good as they look, but can you bring yourself to eat these beautiful pieces of art?

Taiping Bridge Park
This park was a Shikumen-style residential area ten years ago. Now it’s got a small lake, a sightseeing stand and  a walk made of bluestones and is one of the few parks you can relax on the grass in without the baoan whistling you out.

Funny Slipper Shop, No.19
These crazy funny slippers really made our day; we actually bought a pair of the creepy wolves (RMB48) to protect our feet on the cold winter days. They also have poodle slippers if you prefer something cuter. Or how about a pair of RMB5 teddy bear slippers to match your pajamas?

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