Searching for memories in Shanghai's alleys
Longtang is a unique style of Shanghai neighborhood, found in small alleys. With the city's development, more and more old communities and buildings are disappearing.
According to the city's major policy goals for 2020, the government aims to complete the renovation of 550,000 square meters of dilapidated housing in downtown districts, benefiting 28,000 households.
Shanghai Daily photographer Jiang Xiaowei looks for memories of his childhood in old alleys like Zhaozhou Road and Xiamen Road in Huangpu District. Both communities will be renovated soon and their residents are waiting to move into new apartments.
A plastic bathtub hangs outside the window of an old building on Zhaozhou Road in Huangpu District. Residents take showers in such tubs as there are no bathrooms in their homes.
Two spittoons, which are used as portable toilets, are left under an outdoor sink.
A sign on the wall reminds residents to be well-mannered.
A faucet in a public corridor is fitted with a lock by its owner.
Four faucets for different households share a sink in a public kitchen.
More than 10 electricity meters line a wall of a shikumen building at Xiamen Road, each for a household in the building.
An old man sits in an alley. Residents of old neighborhoods love to spend time in public areas due to limited space at home.
A child sits in an old-fashioned stroller on Xiamen Road.
Two cats play on the roof of a shikumen building.
A smoke extraction pipe winds above old buildings on Xiamen Road.
