Xintiandi Shanghai, the sitting room of this metropolis and an expression with deep expectation and affection, opens its gazing eyes of the history to the forthcoming future.

Before
Before Xintiandi was completed, this area was full of Stone Gate architectures with nearly 100 years’ history. This type of architectures dating back to the middle of the last century is a combination of eastern and western architectural styles and is also a landmark that can represent the modern history and culture of Shanghai.

The parlour on the ground floor usually served as a public living room for the whole family and also the place to receive neighbours or guests. Different from western residence, the parlour was also used for some other functional purpose. The memorial tablets for ancestors were placed here. And when there were big events like marriage or funeral, the large mortar door would be removed so as to form a larger space from the parlour to the dooryard.

Front and Back wing-rooms served as bedrooms. Front house, back house, principal room and wing-rooms were built at their appropriate locations, which present the order of family members’ status and seniority in a traditional Chinese family and is completely reflected in the Stone Gate architectures.

With the development of the metropolis, the dominant Stone Gate of yesterday can no longer satisfy the demands of residence and gradually faded out the historical stage. At Xintiandi, the unique appearance of brick walls and tile roofs of Stone Gate architecture are well retained, while the interior décor of each house is customized following the way of life, rhythm of living and world of sentiment of the urbanites in the 21st century.

Now
Today, when people walk into the alleys embraced in these Stone Gate architectures again, here remain blue brick pavements, red and blue brick walls, heavy and black paint doors with swirling flower pattern of Baroque-style on the lintels, rendering a feeling as if the time has walked back to the old days of Shanghai. But when your first leg is just stepping inside the Stone Gate, a completely new horizon has been opened in front of your eyes. The interior walls that used to separate one family from another have been totally removed, and a larger and brighter space is presented. Wandering about in the alley, fragrant scent of Latte flowing in the air, crystal necklaces sparkling in the shop windows, expatriates in fair hairs and with green eyes passing by, all of a sudden, you may find that times again has brought you through an amazing and wonderful world.

Of course, snack bars, international art galleries, boutiques, advanced cinema, spas as well as floats on the plaza have also moved into the Xintiandi with their distinct and unique individuality but aesthetic coordination. It seems a group of free-thinking symphony that welcomes and takes in multi-cultures all over the world.

A Combination of Chinese and Western Cultures
The essence of Xintiandi remains a typical Chinese style, as it has received and inherited the local cultures of more than one hundred years after all. Here promotes the oriental tea mettle and also refines the aromatic coffee beans. The aesthetic perceptions of Chinese costume and creative western fashion style seem two neighbours inhabiting one place that never compete. As such, it is no wonder to see an expatriate wearing Chinese-style costume here, traditional Chinese furniture like Baxian Table and Taishi Chair standing beside the western fireplace and sofa, and bars and cafe operating together with teahouse and Chinese food court. All these attractions, you cannot find anywhere in this city except the uniquely Xintiandi.

You may have the most authentic Americano in Starbucks or have a pot of premium Longjing Tea in Hongxi Teahouse, enjoy a western dinner in CJW or have steamed buns with crabmeat in Ding Tai Feng Restaurant. Different flavours can be tasted in a single day just at one place.

The vendor booths on the plaza are the favourite spots that expatriate will hop over to check it out, where they can find Chinese knots, Wuxi clay dolls, and satin clothes with bright colours. People say, what belong to the nation belong to the world and what seem the most vulgar is also the most elegant. Moreover, the booth owners speaking fluent Chinglish are also impressive and add in something special to the atmosphere of Xintiandi.

If you visit here early in the morning, you can pick a seat in a courtyard as if you were in your own neighbourhood and enjoy a piece of cake from La Maison. After breakfast, you may drop in at the Wulixiang Museum where you can find yellowing photo albums and ancient furniture, and pick up the memories dating back to the times as it is. Everything that the times left to us has already become a collection of the museum, but the strong atmosphere of a Shanghainese family is still permeating each and every corner of the house. Lunch at Ye Shanghai is luxury, but its well-known dishes of modified Shanghai cuisine and services will certainly worth your money. In the afternoon, you may walk into the deep alleys where the boutiques with local and foreign creative brands are attracting the eyes of trendy people in the city, but of course, blue bricks and black tiles of Stone Gate to fade out in Shanghai will ever be retained here. When evening is drawing close, a cup of coffee is strongly recommended. You may find a seat in Coffee Bean where the flavour of American-style coffee is just right. In order to ensure the same taste of coffee served at all chain-stores, all the ingredients including the butter are imported from overseas. As for dinners, the foods from all over the world here offer you a wide range of options. Nothing will be absent as long as you wish to get in this place.

Day
The sunshine falling onto the tiles and bricks of Stone Gate here seems even very brilliant and gorgeous although some Stone Gates still exist in other part of the city. It is hard to say whether this place is beautified by commercial business or re-boosted by its charm of a century-long history. When the sun is throwing its light down to this land, you can always feel something mixed with the scents of freshness, soil, erosion and fragrance, but cannot find where indeed they come. Perhaps many years later, it will remain so familiar when you call it up.

You are even crazy about Xintiandi more than your love stories. Sunlight shines on the familiar faces. Perhaps he is working, she is missing him, or they are yearning for something.

Night
Xintiandi at night seems like a charming female. Light or heavy makeups on it are both appealing. The nightlife here begins at 9 pm. You may choose to see a film first at UME International Cineplex where there is the world best audio-video facilities, lovers’ chairs, and the adjustable backrests that enable you to enjoy the film as if on your sofa at home. When the movie is over at around half past ten, you can enjoy the most splendid moments of Xintiandi when the place really resembles European streets with foreigners carousing beers and uttering English. At eleven o’clock, you may go to ARK Bar to shake your body to the live shows of Rock&Roll and enjoy yourself until midnight. If you are still in the mood for joy at 1 am, you can head to DR Bar for a glass of specially made martini. Calm down and stretch out on a bed for a sleep with a tipsy feeling, leaving you a beautiful memory of this marvellous night.