Bringing craftsmanship to the forefront

French group showcases its own heritage alongside Zhangyuan's modernized cultural history, report Chen Jie and He Qi.

Yu Jianing was born in Zhangyuan in Jing'an district, Shanghai. Her mother worked at a community-run factory in the neighborhood. After the government began renovating and restoring this old community of shikumen, Shanghai's traditional stone-gate alleyway houses built between the 1860s and 1940s, in 2019, her family was relocated. On Oct 16, she and more than a dozen old neighbors were invited back for a tour.

"My family has deep feelings for this place, and seeing the renovation done so well feels very comforting," she said.

For tourists, Zhangyuan is one of Shanghai's most interesting historical and cultural landmarks. The renovated shikumen buildings, intricately arranged alleyways, and emerging cultural and artistic events have revitalized this century-old district. But for former residents like Yu, Zhangyuan was first and foremost a home.