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Disappearing neighbourhoods of old Shanghai

Razing the Chinese commercial capital’s rundown areas to make way for luxury high-rise condos and shopping centres.

A section of a colonial-era building stands on the edge of an old residential block that has been cleared to make way for more high-rise development, such as those seen in the background. 

By Dave Tacon

Published On 4 Jan 2015

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Shanghai, China – The longtang communities of narrow interconnected passageways in this old city are fast being replaced with high-rise apartments and shopping malls.

Prior to 1990, Shanghai mainly consisted of alleyways interlacing basic low-rise houses, and according to Shanghai’s Fudan University the number of these homes shrank 60 percent from 2000 to 2008.

The number of luxury villas, meanwhile, rose more than 10 times. Simultaneously, some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers emerged over the city’s skyline, signalling Shanghai’s return as an economic powerhouse.

Life in Shanghai’s working class longtang neighbourhoods is a stark contrast to that in the luxury condominiums that often take their place. Many longtang buildings pre-date World War II, and most are in a state of utter disrepair. Residents still use chambre pots as the areas are only connected to the sewage system via public toilets. 

While many residents welcome the demolition of their old homes and the promise of relocation to new high-rise apartments on the city’s outskirts, some refuse to move and become involved in stand-offs with the authorities, demanding more compensation even as the homes of their neighbours are razed.

Students run past graffiti next to a section of Old Town, which has been mostly leveled to make way for high-rise apartments. The remaining sections of old Shanghai are fast disappearing.
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A migrant worker looks for recyclable material to load onto her bicycle cart parked in front of a billboard for a luxury apartment development on the edge of Old Town.
A demolition team works to remove an old low-rise building marked for demolition with red spray paint. The neighbourhood is one of the few remaining that has not yet been replaced with modern high-rise apartments.
Bystanders watch a demolition team working to remove an old building in one of the few remaining neighbourhoods with low-rise buildings.
A man and woman ride a scooter through a mostly demolished old neighbourhood bordering Suzhou Creek in Honghou district. This area is slated for considerable residential, commercial and cultural development with high-rise apartments, shopping centres, an art museum and even a marina. 
Children play in a section of Old Town that has been leveled to make way for new development. Shanghai(***)s village style (***)lilongs(***) are fast disappearing.
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Occupants of this (***)nail house(***) refused to relocate in the hope of receiving more compensation. 
Two dogs wait for their owner in a wheeled shopping basket at a street market in Old Town. 
A girl plays on a swing in a community exercise area at a partially demolished old neighborhood just a block away from the Xintiandi high end shopping and entertainment precinct.
View over one of the few remaining sections of Old Town. 
A man sells chickens in an Old Town neighbourhood of Shanghai.
A small restaurant with living quarters above it in Old Town. Many homes, most built 80 years ago, are in a state of disrepair. Residents have access to electricity and running water, but these old homes in Shanghai are not connected to the sewage system.
A worker stands on top of a truck loaded with scrap metal scavenged from a leveled section of Old Town.
A man rides a bicycle through the remains of a neigbourhood of old homes that have been partially demolished in Changning district.