Xintiandi

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View of Xintiandi

Renovated shikumen lanes in Xintiandi

Xintiandi (Chinese: 新天地; pinyin: xīn tiān dì) is a car-free shopping, eating and entertainment area of Shanghai, China. It is composed of an area of restored traditional shikumen ("stone gate") houses on narrow alleys, a modern shopping mall with a cinema complex, and some ad joining houses which now serve as book stores, cafes and restaurants. Most of the cafes and restaurants feature both indoor and outdoor seatings. Xintiandi has an active nightlife on weekdays as well as weekends, though romantic settings are more common than loud music and dance places. Xintiandi means "New Heaven and Earth", and is considered one of the first lifestyle centers in China.

Xintiandi is near the site of the First Conference of the Communist Party of China.

The area was developed by the Shui On Group during the re-development of the surrounding area, when similar shikumen houses were demolished wholesale. The houses in Xintiandi were then restored, and now house an art gallery, cafes, and restaurants. The marketing of xintiandi is mainly targeted towards overseas visitors, especially visitors from Hong Kong, who seek to experience the romanticised atmosphere of old Shanghai. As a result, prices in this area are high, even by international standards. Eating or shopping in this area is seen as a status symbol by affluent local residents. Many tour groups both domestic and from abroad also visit Xintiandi as one of the main attractions in Shanghai.

[edit] Transportation

The closest metro station to Xintiandi is South Huangpi Road, on Line 1, walking down South Huangpi Road or Madang Road for about 5 minutes.

[edit] References

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