French Concession at night

In 1849, French diplomat Charles de Montigny got this proclamation from the governor of Shanghai to cede over a piece of land for French settlement. Most of the architecture remaining there is from the 1920s, when it was considered the premier residential area of Shanghai. Today, it's sort of a tourist trap.

Nestled in a normal-looking Shanghai neighborhood is an intricate maze of alleyways festooned with bright lanterns and elaborate decor. Small shops hawking memorabilia, small gifts, photographs line the corridors.

Throughout the Concession are various nooks featuring restaurants and bars with prices rivaling those of XinTianDi. It's a tourist trap, alright. But these establishments attracted foreigners and locals alike.

I actually prefer the atmosphere here over that of XinTianDi. If you're looking for a rowdy bar, this really isn't the place. The tune here is far more moderate and relaxed. The way I see it is, you go to XinTianDi to meet Shanghai girls. And you take them to the French Concession for a first or second date.

Chinese New Year is only a day or two away, depending on what part of the world you live in. It's the year of the rabbit, so these freaky-looking bunnies are on sale...

This place has a completely different feel during the daytime. One of these days, I'll show ya.