The streets of "old" Shanghai.

There are many new, wide, anonymous streets in Shanghai, especially in the "upgraded" section,  but I love the lus (pronounced as "loos") or old streets in the former French Concession.

People use them for anything and everything.
You can understand why.
Their homes are usually very small, and often shared with many other people, so the streets serve as an outdoor area.

Sales are conducted on the streets.

China-ware is often seen, ready for sale.

Belts, underwear, T-shirts etc etc all displayed along the footpath of this street.


Washing is dried, and aired, on the streets.
As soon as a sunny day is observed, the doonas, and washing, appears to dry, or to air. And no-one interferes with anyone else's property as far as I could tell, even though the clothes and bedding were strung out on lines along public streets or lanes.

Doonas being aired, on lines strung up between power poles.

It seems as if nothing is stolen.

Bedding out to air, and undies out to dry.

Repairs are carried out on the streets. 

This is a bicycle repair corner. Also note that washing is in the background. It's a fine day!

Although the gentleman in the foreground is blocking much of the activity (my fault, as the photographer) the man in the background, in the dark blue shirt, is repairing shoes.

Food is made and sold and consumed on the streets.

On my last day in Shanghai, on my last trip (March 2012), our family went to a favourite outdoor eating place. These are some photos of us setting up the table and small chairs (they're all small in China), and enjoying our chosen dishes, washed down with the easy-to drink light Chinese beer.

The food is freshly cooked, and so delicious. An experience not to be missed.

Hair is cut on the streets.

People beg on the streets...although I did not see many beggars.

Wedding photos are taken on the streets.

The following three photos were all taken within 300 metres, on the one street.
It was a sunny day, so there were wedding photos galore!
The couples would have been married in a typical Chinese manner weeks, or even months, before.
But then they choose to have photos taken in western wedding gear. (It is a huge industry in the cities....shops where you go and choose your outfit for the "photo day")

I snapped this poor girl in the middle of a facial contortion!

And of course, social gatherings occur on the streets.

Again, after days of cold, when the sun comes out, so do the people.
These ladies had brought their own chairs, to sit in the sun outside a shop. Lots of conversations were underway.

And Mah Jong is played a lot.
In the streets, usually.
These two games were almost adjacent.
And as well as the players, there are always many observers.

Here in Australia, with our large houses, and shops, activities become private and personal. I think that we have a colourless life in these aspects, compared with many other countries, where the streets and squares are places of social interaction.

I love wandering the streets of the "old" Shanghai.