Tianzifang is a small area on the territory of the former French concession in Shanghai. Its narrow streets are home to numerous author's cafes, craft workshops, and art galleries. In recent years this place has become a popular tourist attraction where travelers can experience the bohemian life of the city.

Tianzifang was built in the thirties of the last century as a new residential area. However, less than a hundred years later it was under the threat of demolition. In 2005 the local authorities decided that Tianzifang was a thing of the past and that it was the time to get rid of it.

Locals came to defend the area. Among them was the famous Chinese artist and film director Chen Yifei who had a studio there. A unanimous protest saved Tianzifang and preserved its unique creative atmosphere and traditional architecture.

It was Chen Yifei who played a key role in the development of modern Tianzifang. At the end of the last century, he occupied two abandoned premises on Taikang Street and turned them into studios for painting, fashion, sculpture, and photography. Following his example, many artists and creative personalities from different parts of China came to this Shanghai district for inspiration.

Within just a decade the local creative underground and the beau monde transformed Tianzifang into one of the most attractive destinations of the city. Today, the area is famous for its designer boutiques and galleries, art schools and exhibition halls, unusual restaurants and cafes. There are many creative workshops where enthusiasts create works of modern art in all its manifestations.

Despite the abundance of trendy and popular establishments, Tianzifang has managed to maintain its authentic style. There are no modern buildings there. The narrow streets of the district look more like slums than the center of Shanghai's bohemian life. Electric cables hang everywhere, and the facades are a chaotic mix of air conditioners and pipes. These details – the special charm of Tianzifang which can only be appreciated by those who are used to looking at the world through the prism of beauty.