Taikang Lu is a cool little area made up of little alleyways that snake thru old low-rise brick buildings, some are residential, but most others have been converted into cafes, shops selling knick knacks and ethic stuff, artist studios, antique shops, indie fashion designers and other sorts of random places. Tourists and hipsters intermingle with local old ladies, dudes squatting in the street playing cards, and construction guys laying pipe.

Awesome burgers at Gourmet Cafe….

1933 is a mixed retail/cultural art space that was formerly a slaughterhouse. One of the coolest spaces I’ve ever been to. The building is circular and all concrete, with spiral staircases and curved pathways that make it feel like a real-life Escher building sometimes. Most of it is empty, but not for much longer….restaurants and ad agencies are soon to move into this space. The top floor has already hosted things like launch parties and artsy gatherings, and has a huge circular glass floor which is sure to be a hit with the perv upskirt photographer set.

(more…)