Streets with a distinctive flavor all their own
Print Edition
SOME areas of Shanghai have unique features that set them apart. The city recently named 67 “Featured Business Areas” that the Commerce Commission cited for their special features. Four are located in Minhang.
What’s so special about them? Well, have a look.
South Korea Street
Hongquan Road runs through an area inhabited by an enclave of South Koreans. It might be called “Little Seoul;” its ethnic charm adds considerable soul to the area. If you didn’t know better, you might indeed think yourself in Seoul or Jiji Island amid the array of signage in Korean over restaurants, stores and supermarkets.
Jingting Seoul Plaza is the landmark of this area. The four-story building is full of shops selling South Korean-brand cosmetics, medicine, clothing and accessories. Every weekend, it is jam-packed with Chinese and Korean women shopping for popular cosmetic brands like Sulwhasoo, Mamonde and Laneige, all available at quite reasonable prices.
Another must-visit landmark is the 1004 Supermarket. It features a superb collection of South Korean imported fruits, vegetables, seasonings and snacks — the commodities that remind local expats and immigrants of home.
In eateries, authentic South Korean cuisine and snacks, such as barbecue, bibimbap (mixed rice) and budae-jjigae (army stew) are popular all year-round.
The area is easily accessed by Metro lines 9 and 10.
Laowai Street 101
The formal name of this street is Hongmei Pedestrian Street, but laowai, which translates as “foreigner,” has become the popular nickname because of all the restaurants and bars catering to international tastes. Indeed, this is the “United Nations for dining.”
The cuisines of some 13 countries, including Japan, Germany, Mexican, Italian and Indian, can be found here. There are also six Chinese restaurants serving regional domestic cuisines.
The landmark of the area is a locomotive, with the number “101” emblazoned on the front. The locomotive belonged to a special train used by former Chairman Mao Zedong, and the street itself was once part of a railway line built especially for his transport. The last time Mao took the train through here was in 1971 on his final visit to Shanghai.
It is ironic perhaps that a site associated with memories of “Red China” should have evolved into a center for Western culture and lifestyles. History is nothing if not full of humor sometimes.
The Ten
Located on Longming Road between Pingyang and Gudai roads is the street known as The Ten. It’s a cluster of restaurants.
Like Xintiandi or Tianzifang in downtown Shanghai, the area features renovated buildings in the old Chinese style, reminiscent of the history of the Yangtze River Delta Region.
The area, brightly lit by neon at night, features cuisines from all over China, from the barbecues of the Northeast to the mushroom dishes of Yunnan Province. Many of these cuisines are actually rural family recipes, served in modern restaurant settings.
The only problem might be parking. According to people who live nearby, parking was adequate until The Ten took off as a popular night-out venue.
Qibao Old Street
No designation of streets with special features in Minhang would be complete without Qibao Old Street. Its popularity never diminishes. The area is now serviced by Metro Line 9 and more than 30 bus routes.
As one of the busiest scenic areas in Shanghai, Old Street is always solidly packed with tourists from all over the country and from abroad. It’s definitely on the tourist map.
One of the big attractions is the food. When people talk about Qibao, the first thing they usually say is, “Oh, nice tang yuan” or “I love the mutton.”
One of its most popular snacks is tang yuan, balls made from glutinous rice flour mixed with a small amount of water, then cooked and served in boiling water. Few visitors venture here without having a bite.
However, Old Street has much more to offer than just snacks. The northern part of the street is full of museums displaying the traditional cultures of the area, including shadow plays, textiles, ancient handicrafts and Chinese painting and calligraphy. The layout of the whole old street is a living replica of ancient Chinese towns.
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