Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan
janaline's world journey

The old Shanghai is found in Gritty Alleyways

The alley is covered in washing, electrical cables and bicycles
Washing hanged outside to dry

For all its glitzy modern skyline, perhaps the real jewels of Shanghai can be found at street level, away from the hustle and bustle in the captivating back alleys. One of my favourite things to do in Shanghai is to explore the backstreets, either on foot or by bike. The narrow lanes behind the main streets are soaked with tradition and colour which offer a unique glimpse into local life.

Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan
Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan
Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan
Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan
Looks like the family parking space
Clothes drying in the breeze
Lady hanghing up her wet washing

In these narrow lanes, below masses of tangled electric wires, hanging laundry and meat hung out to dry, the slower paced life of the real people of Shanghai awaits to be discovered.

The street side before entering the alley
Washing drying even on the street side
Street side view

The small area around Yuyuan Garden area has the oldest type of alleyways you’ll find in Shanghai. As It feels like I have stepped back into time as I leave the touristy Yuyuan area and enter these old forgotten alleys.

This is Old Shanghai
Appartment block entrance in the Alleyway
Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan

A walk through these grungy streets is always filled with surprises, and most importantly unexpected encounters or finds. Though lacking many amenities, people still live here, going about their lives, brushing their teeth, hanging up laundry, chatting and chopping vegetables for dinner.

Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan
Entrance way into the appartment block

Unfortunately as the city grows exponentially, these lanes gradually get demolished, year after year, month after month. It saddens me that the unstoppable onset of modernism in Shanghai is unable to make room for the existence of alley life. Very soon, more and more high rise structures will invade the old city streets destroying a piece of what makes Shanghai so special.

Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan
Washing, electrical wires, bicycles, motorbikes and even discarded matrasses fill the alleyways of Shanghai.
Love the round windows
Gritty Alleyways of Yuyuan

“An invitation of a beautiful street is an invitation to walk within a dream!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

 

25 comments

  1. These are terrific Janaline – you’ve really captured the spirit of the place. Yes, it’s sad that the older, more traditional parts of the city are being destroyed. Maybe they will learn to preserve as they did the Hutongs of Beijing. Same thing here in the US though – rare to find appreciation for history.

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. Some great photos. I love walking and exploring little areas like this, it’d be a shame to see it disappear and push the locals out of Shanghai

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. These are very interesting photos and very cool to show how you can experience Shanghai in multiple ways. Do you feel safe walking through these back alleys? Have you ever had a bad encounter with someone and is it safe to walk through even at night? Any info is super helpful, thanks for posting!

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