Old Shanghai

After being met by our local guide at the joining point we travel by the extensive and efficient metro system to the heart of Old Shanghai. A short walk takes us to Lu Xun Park which at any time of the day is a hub for meeting, walking, relaxing and enjoying traditional pastimes. Join in one of the many ballroom dancing groups or test your tai chi skills with the locals.Leaving the park we start our exploration of one of Shanghai's nongtang districts, the old residential alleyways of the city. This style of housing blends Western and Chinese architecture and is unique to Shanghai and evidence of this city's internationally influenced past. We have the chance to see inside one such building with a visit to the former residence of Lu Xun - one of China's most beloved and prominent writers of the 20th century - as well as walk through a typical street market.We stop off at a popular street café to sample some of Shanghai's famous xiaolong bao or "soup dumplings" on the way to Duolun Road. Here we will see some magnificently restored mansions dating back to the early 1900s. We have the chance to take a peek inside a little antique shop displaying all kinds of bric-a-brac from that time, from old advertising signs, to telephones and toys. Further along the road we can step inside the Hongde Tang Church which still has regular Christian services but is built in the style of a Chinese temple.Our tour concludes here on Duolun Road at the Old Film Café where we can watch a screening of a black and white film from the golden age of Chinese cinema such as "Street Angel". Your guide can help you plan the rest of your time in the city while you sit and sip a coffee or tea in the sumptuous 1930s style surroundings. The rest of the day is free to explore more of Shanghai's sights on your own.