Text from Cintia’s personal diary

This Japanese house used to be the place where the Japanese monks lived. We were lucky to meet the current owner of the house, a middle aged Shanghainese man who bought the house recently at a very low price of just RMB 400,000!

He told us as a kid, he lived nearby and was envious of the residents inside the house. He began to question himself, "Why can this people live in this beautiful house? And if they can do so, why can’t I?"

To celebrate his 52th birthday, he decided to purchase this house as a gift for himself, something he had wanted all his life!

The place is still undergoing renovation, and he even promised to invite us there when it’s done!

According to E. Denison and Y. R. Guang’s BUILDING SHANGHAI, the original site for the Gurdwara was a graveyard thus construction had been delayed again and again as they need approval to remove the graves. Built by Robert Turner, the Gurdwara (A Sikh Temple) was opened on 30th June, 1908.

An Art Deco Building Standing on Kiangse Road, it was designed by the Chinese American architect Poy Gum Lee (1900~1968) and constructed completed in 1933.

Built in 1925 by the North American Presbyterian in memory of the famous missionary George F Fitch (1845-1923), whose Chinese name is 费启鸿 (Pronounced as FAY-CHEE-HONG), thus resulting its Chinese name as HONG DE Church. One of the most interesting things about this church is its mixture of Chinese and Western styles which can be seen in the bell tower, which resembles the top of a Chinese pagoda. According to the plaque, this is something rare and unique.

Located on No.147 Ward Road (the present Changyang Road), Hongkew District, the first jail building was constructed in 1901 and went into service in 1903. It continued to expand and by 1935, the complex comprises of 10 buildings surrounded by walls of 5 metre high.

It was under the management of the Shanghai Municipal Council (the British) for 38 years and only British, Indian and Russian were recruited as guards in the jail. But in 1930, a group of Indians went on a strike and thus were dismissed. 40 Chinese guards were immediately employed and since then, the number of Chinese seen in this jail increased.

In the beginning, the prisoners were either British or some other westerners. During the 1940s, a lot of revolutionaries were locked and some traitors and Japanese after 1945.

The Shanghai Government invested about 3 million Yuan and converted one of the 6-storey concrete jail into a museum in 1999.

Epilogue: Would you like to take a look when you come to Shanghai next time?

Photo Credit :John Meckley

Also known as the Atlantic Café, it was popular among many Jewish that time. Some musicians frequented that café and played instruments there. The old commercial sign was salvaged in 2004 from being overpainted.

*UPDATE: IT IS NOW A DISAPPEARED CORNER.

One of the largest shelters for Jewish Refugees during WWII. Established in 1939, it was once used as a hospital.

Built in 1917, it was also another favourite gathering spot for Jewish Refugees during WWII. It is now a residential compound occupied by many local families.

Part of the building was demolished in 1986, thus it is no longer a symmetrical structure but still it is one of the most well-preserved historical school halls in Shanghai.

This Queen Anne style mansion was built in 1923. Now part of the building is used as a rubbish chute.

Completed in 1923, this Methodist Church was founded by an American Missionary. The legendary Charlie Soong (The father of Madame Soong QIng Ling) once preached in this church.

Designed in 1931 by Ogano Shigehisa. It became an internet bar for young people for a while and was vacant for a long time until September 2009, when it was converted into a posh club called CHINATOWN.

An apartment building erected in 1931. Known us PuXi Apartments today.

Embankment Building was built by the film of Palmer and Turner in 1933. At the time, it was famed for its style and size. At almost a quarter of a mile long, this Streamline Art Deco structure was the largest apartment building in the Far East, with wide balconies, eight elevators, an servants’ quarters for most apartments.

The roof garden, located at the top of the Broadway Theatre was a popular gathering spot for Jewish Refeugees throughout the 1930s to 40s. It is currently an internet game café frequently by teenagers living nearby the area. Traces of the theatre can still be founded inside the main game area.

It is now a creative hub founded by ex-members of the House of Three.