Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Former French Concession
RUIJIN GUESTHOUSE
Continue south along Sinan Road to Taikang Road and
Tianzifang
, a warren of lanes filled
with galleries, boutiques, restaurants and shops. One of the best is photographer Erh
Dongqiang's gallery, showcasing photographs of China's Western architecture.
Exit Tianzifang at Central Jianguo Road, turn left, and then right on to Ruijin No. 2 Road.
Continue past Shaoxing Road, a charming street home to a tucked-away urban park and
cute cafés, Vienna Café and Old China Hand Reading Room - worth a stop if you need a re-
viving coffee. One block further along Ruijin No. 2 Road and you'll reach the sprawling lawns
and grand manor houses of the former state-owned Ruijin Guesthouse, recently rebranded
Morriss Jr, son of the
North China Daily News
owner, built the estate with its four villas in
1928. Many buildings have been added on the grounds, but the originals remain: enter Build-
ing No. 3 to see the brilliant hues of a stained-glass window depicting a tiger in the jungle,
the only surviving stained glass from the Siccawei Orphanage workshop, the rest having
been lost during the Cultural Revolution. Shanghai's oldest Dao temple site, dating back 600
years, and a 14th-century water well can also be found on the pretty 100-acre grounds, sur-
rounded by ancient cinnamon trees and wisteria vines.
Exit the guesthouse grounds on to Maoming Road, on the other side of which is the futur-
istic oval structure of the
Shanghai Culture Square
(Wenhua Guangchang). The under-
ground concert hall was opened in 2011 after several years' construction.
SASSOON'S SHANGHAI
