Tian Zi Fang
Tian Zi Fang
4
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Luwan
How to get there
- Dapuqiao • 3 min walk
- Madang Road • 10 min walk
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Restaurants
5,254 within 3 miles
Attractions
691 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
3,010 reviews
Excellent
1,253
Very good
1,233
Average
444
Poor
55
Terrible
25
SLE811
118 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Most people recommend Xintiandi and Tianzifang as Shanghai attractions. If time only permit you to go one place only, I would prefer Tianzifang. It is narrow, crowded and more lively. Lots of street food and nice souvenirs.
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne H
London, UK933 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I enjoyed doing some last-minute souvenir shopping in Tianzifang. It's a nice little area with all the usual Chinese souvenirs on offer (tea, silk, jade, pottery, etc). Worth popping by. Go early, it'll be quieter.
Written October 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo-Ann
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia17,214 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
I LOVED this area of Shanghai. Full of excitement. I get to make my own lipstick. You can have your cheongsam/qipao custom made here. Plenty of interesting shops and cafes. The little lanes all over are interesting enough to explore. Ohh and food are in abundance here too. We tried homemade potato noodles. Yum!
Written October 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leesah65
Singapore, Singapore135 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
I had been to Tian Zi Fang a few times but not in the past few years.
I was glad to find the place retaining its charm.
Other than the bustling atmosphere of old lanes, this is also a good shopping place. The variety of boutiques, art and craft shops, local food stores and restaurants is quite dazzling.
I think everyone can find something here to remind one of old Shanghai. For the not so romantic, there is enough modern ware to keep one interested.
To really appreciate Tian Zi Fang, one should allow at least 4-5 hours, with time for a meal.
I was glad to find the place retaining its charm.
Other than the bustling atmosphere of old lanes, this is also a good shopping place. The variety of boutiques, art and craft shops, local food stores and restaurants is quite dazzling.
I think everyone can find something here to remind one of old Shanghai. For the not so romantic, there is enough modern ware to keep one interested.
To really appreciate Tian Zi Fang, one should allow at least 4-5 hours, with time for a meal.
Written November 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brett
Papamoa, New Zealand2,042 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Tianzifang is a very hip little ghetto/enclave of extremely narrow and overbuilt alleys and and 19th century houses that has been gentrified into a small maze of curio, collectible and art/designer boutiques, hole-in-the-wall bars, and ethnic restaurants and cafes. It makes a very relaxed evening browsing, drinking and eating. The great thing about Tianzifang is that people still live here, and the majority of traditional shikumen style buildings have been renovated and rejunvenated, rather than flattened and completely rebuilt like so many other newly traditional tourist areas in urban China. It currently comprises of about 4 main cross lanes, but is obviously being expanded dramatically so will only get bigger and better. Many of the small bars have narrow wooden stairways in their rear, that lead up to delightful restaurants and dining spaces on multiple upper levels. There are Chinese restaurants in Tianzifang, but there are also India, Thai, and other ethnic eateries, and plenty of very hip wine bars and lounges. Look for the opium den styled Tai Thai restaurant, the extremely quirky and much larger than expected Teddy Bear Family Restaurant. Tianzifang is very easy to access, with its main entrance directly across the road from Exit 1 of Dapuqiao Metro station (Line 9) in the French Concession.
Written March 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ctm7944
Phoenix, AZ17,680 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
Take Metro line 9 get off at Dapuqiao (Exit 1). Tian Zi Fang entrance is directly across the street. We went on a weekday morning, so it was not crowded.
This part of old Shanghai is similiar to Beijing "hutongs". The alleyways are narrow & the residents live on top of the establishments (shops, restaurants etc.), so you will see the laundry hanging out the window. There are also local produce & meat markets to check out.
This part of old Shanghai is similiar to Beijing "hutongs". The alleyways are narrow & the residents live on top of the establishments (shops, restaurants etc.), so you will see the laundry hanging out the window. There are also local produce & meat markets to check out.
Written November 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irina K
Blagoveschensk791 contributions
Feb 2012 • Friends
Nice place for shopping and leisure, lots of boutiques, souvenirs, great tea stores. There’re amazing pieces, like double scarves – silk on one side, cashmere on the second, handmade embroidery, different patterns on both sides, and trimmed with fur! Each pattern is unique. It looks like a piece of art and the price is corresponding, more than four thousand Chinese Yuan.
Written March 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
disgrun
London, UK154 contributions
Sep 2011 • Friends
If you've been in China for a while, this is the kind of place you'll probably be avoiding. If you haven't been to China before, or are just passing through, then this place is worth it.
Tian Zi Fang is cute, and some of the buildings are actually old as well as looking old. It has a good atmosphere because of all the little lanes, shops, restaurants and teahouses. And it has some interesting arty-type shops and souvenir places. So, great for a tourist.
What's the downside? Well, consider the following:
- Authenticity: this place is a market, pure and simple. It's cuter and more sanitised than most Chinese markets, but it's essentially just a market for tourists.
- Prices: geared towards foreign tourists. Want to pay 65 RMB for a bowl of cheapo beef noodles which would cost you 12 RMB in a normal noodle shop? Come here. Want to pay 60 RMB for a drink? Come here.
- Food: this ain't the place to come if you're after great food. However, there is variety, with Thai, Italian and Japanese places as well as Chinese. Expect high prices and middling quality, however.
- Art: a lot of it is just stuff you can buy everywhere else in China, so why bother paying inflated prices here? Admittedly there are some original, e.g. photographers' shops, however.
Tian Zi Fang is cute, and some of the buildings are actually old as well as looking old. It has a good atmosphere because of all the little lanes, shops, restaurants and teahouses. And it has some interesting arty-type shops and souvenir places. So, great for a tourist.
What's the downside? Well, consider the following:
- Authenticity: this place is a market, pure and simple. It's cuter and more sanitised than most Chinese markets, but it's essentially just a market for tourists.
- Prices: geared towards foreign tourists. Want to pay 65 RMB for a bowl of cheapo beef noodles which would cost you 12 RMB in a normal noodle shop? Come here. Want to pay 60 RMB for a drink? Come here.
- Food: this ain't the place to come if you're after great food. However, there is variety, with Thai, Italian and Japanese places as well as Chinese. Expect high prices and middling quality, however.
- Art: a lot of it is just stuff you can buy everywhere else in China, so why bother paying inflated prices here? Admittedly there are some original, e.g. photographers' shops, however.
Written September 18, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris H
2 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
The alleys are full of various shops, restaurants, and bars selling various bits and bobs. Many are reproduced goods found in 99% of the retailers - such as hand painted fans and chopsticks. Walk about and inspect each vendors price, find the lowest and then barter your way down from there if you so wish.
My experience was made perfect by a visit to Jasmine City, a tea shop where a young man named Satoshi invited me to sample some of the teas I was interested in purchasing. I wondered if this sample may turn into an unspoken ceremony where I would eventually be charged for the experience - this was not the case.
We spoke for nearly 2 hours and enjoyed several cups of different teas together while he explained the preparation process, the history of the tea, the production process of the porcelain cups. We spoke about Brexit, we spoke about house prices, general chit chat about life.
Satoshi was genuinely enjoying our time together and repeatedly told me this.
The tea itself was high quality and delicious, and the prices are of very reasonable value considering.
I highly reccomend and visitors make a stop at Jasmine City. It was the highlight of my stop here at Tianzifang.
My experience was made perfect by a visit to Jasmine City, a tea shop where a young man named Satoshi invited me to sample some of the teas I was interested in purchasing. I wondered if this sample may turn into an unspoken ceremony where I would eventually be charged for the experience - this was not the case.
We spoke for nearly 2 hours and enjoyed several cups of different teas together while he explained the preparation process, the history of the tea, the production process of the porcelain cups. We spoke about Brexit, we spoke about house prices, general chit chat about life.
Satoshi was genuinely enjoying our time together and repeatedly told me this.
The tea itself was high quality and delicious, and the prices are of very reasonable value considering.
I highly reccomend and visitors make a stop at Jasmine City. It was the highlight of my stop here at Tianzifang.
Written November 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SanHec
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1,349 contributions
May 2013 • Family
Tian Zi Fang also known as Taikang Lu or Lane 210 for easy reference. This place is famous with it many narrows lanes, tea houses, cafes & pubs, local & international restaurants, arts & crafts shops, boutiques, antiques shops and many more. It is understand that the residents also live in the narrows lanes. The lanes are clean and beautifully decorated.
It also nests a small numbers of old buildings dating back 1920-1930s called 'Shikumen'. Shikumen building are house with stone door frames and solid wooden doors.
This place also look like artists village, like Montmartre, Paris. Spend some times there, have a cup of tea and enjoy the the atmosphere. It is also a very good place for photographs.
Recommend nice pizza shop in 248, Taikang Lu.
How to get there: Take subway to Dapuqiao Station (Exit 1).
No admission fee, business open from 10amc till night. Some shops may close early. The lanes is narrow but is still accessible for stroller and wheelchair. A comfortable place for non English speaking tourist, as English signboard is available for easy reference.
It also nests a small numbers of old buildings dating back 1920-1930s called 'Shikumen'. Shikumen building are house with stone door frames and solid wooden doors.
This place also look like artists village, like Montmartre, Paris. Spend some times there, have a cup of tea and enjoy the the atmosphere. It is also a very good place for photographs.
Recommend nice pizza shop in 248, Taikang Lu.
How to get there: Take subway to Dapuqiao Station (Exit 1).
No admission fee, business open from 10amc till night. Some shops may close early. The lanes is narrow but is still accessible for stroller and wheelchair. A comfortable place for non English speaking tourist, as English signboard is available for easy reference.
Written October 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this alley pet friendly?
dordor-Sin
Singapore, Singapore1,131 contributions
Yes this place is ok. There is a Cat cafe with 12 pretty cats too but this place is v pack on weekends so not advisable to bring pets. Even human also need to squeeze in the crowd.
sunmich2
Spring Lake, MI27 contributions
What time do the shops in Tian Zi Fang open?
Sebastien G
Bassenthwaite, UK110 contributions
Hello,
Usually the shops are open till 9 sometimes 10. Restaurants are open till later. But some days it closes around 8.
Travelogy510
Mumbai, India19 contributions
Till what time at night the market is open?
Eve Q
Malaysia100 contributions
Some shops open till 9 or 10pm
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