Old town

Slightly south of the Shanghai CBD is the Chinese Old Town. In a city intertwined with the outside world, the Old Town is the most traditionally Chinese area. Once surrounded by a 16th century city wall to keep out Japanese pirates, it is now a living historical enclave, amidst apartment blocks and big business buildings.

Old Town is a mecca for back alley aficionados. Cut by a few main streets is a labyrinth style network of alleys and lanes, I had started out heading for a temple however quickly lost my way and spent the next few hours wandering.

As with most of what I have seen of China, there are people everywhere. The alleys and lanes are not only used for transit, but for business, pleasure, hanging laundry, sleeping and keeping animals. There seems to be little distinction between public and private spaces. I found myself wandering down alleys that twisted, turned and became smaller and more personalised until I couldn't be sure that I hadn't wandered into someones home. There were many good photo opportunities I let slip as I was unsure of how the people would react. I turned one corner and there was a family having dinner at a small table in an alley, they all turned and looked at me with chopsticks in hand as if an alien had walked into their dining room.