Streets Ahead
Monday, 25 January 2010 02:01
Written by Hailey Meng

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Most foreigners might think that southern Shanghai ends at IKEA, and anything further counts as the countryside. But that’s forgetting Longhua Lu, a street to the southeast of the Xujiahui monster malls. Built in AD 242, Longhua used to be one of the oldest towns in Shanghai, attracting thousands of visitors before most of it was burned down in 1966 in the Cultural Revolution. A new tourist town stands there now, but still holds two stunning,if heavily renovated, reminders of the original architecture.

Martyrs’ Cemetery (pictured)
180 Longhua Xi Lu, 6.30am-5pm, free entry
There probably isn’t a local kid in Shanghai who hasn’t been dragged here on at least one school trip. But as school outings go, we reckon it’s a pretty good one. The martyrs’ cemetery is located in the beautiful Longhua Park, which features hundreds of peach blossom trees and long soft grass, perfect for picnics in warmer weather. Brush up on your Chinese history at the memorial museum.

Longhua Temple and Pagoda
2853 Longhua Lu, 7am-4.30pm, RMB10
Longhua Temple was constructed about 1,800 years ago during the Three Kingdoms era, but since then has been rebuilt four times. Legend has it that a dragon once appeared on the site (hence the name long, meaning dragon) and returns each year to grant people’s wishes at the famous Peach Blossom fair. The gorgeous Longhua pagoda is just a stone’s throw away but sadly is too fragile inside for the public to be allowed access.

Fo Ci Tang Chinese Pharmacy
Look for the store with two huge golden Buddha statues in front of the door. Residents of the Longhua area are big on old Chinese customs, so this traditional two-storey pharmacy remains incredibly popular. There’s a huge array of bizarre medicines on offer, and if you’re a bit overwhelmed by the choice, just ask the laoban for her recommendation. She told us the sun-dried beetles and seahorses in jars are a guarantee for instant hangover relief. Er, we’ll stick with Panadol, thanks.

Wuxing Pottery
Room 12, 2577 Longhua Lu, 9am-9pm, 6468 0971, RMB30/50 per hour
Longhua Lu isn’t all about the old and traditional. This pottery studio brings a splash of lighthearted fun to the area. You can make your own unique mug or ashtray, or slip your hands seductively around the spinning wheel in memory of Patrick Swayze. If you’re feeling creative, try their colored clay – we saw people making clay hamburgers.

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