Duolun Road

A primarily residential street, the golden age of the road was in the 1920s and 30s, when it attracted writers and other prominent residents, giving it a reputation as a vibrant centre of thought and literature.

In 1943, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the puppet government collaborating with the Japanese occupation changed the road name to "Duolun", after a county in Inner Mongolia.

In the surrounding blocks, there is a well-preserved area of dense lilong housing (including both Shikumen and newer styles), showcasing the typical urban texture of Shanghai-style residential architecture.

In order to counter degrading infrastructures and to rejuvenate the area, the local government launched a project of regeneration at the end of the century.

A project began in 1998 to conserve and restore the historic buildings and turn them into museums, galleries, cafes or craft shops.