Pedestrians and traffic on Shanghai Old Street, remnant of a bygone age, Fuxing, Shanghai, China, Asia

Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery

Old Street

Top choice in Shanghai Old City


This renovated Qing dynasty stretch of Middle Fangbang Rd is lined with specialist tourist shops, spilling forth with shadow puppets, jade jewellery, embroidered fabrics, kites, horn combs, chopsticks, zǐshā teapots, old advertising posters, banknotes, Tibetan jewellery, the usual knock-off Mao memorabilia, reproduction 1930s posters, old illustrated books and calligraphy manuals, and surreal 3D-dazzle kitten photos.

Following the closure of the long-standing Dongtai Road Antique Market, some interesting items have shown up in these shops, but it's best to assume that nothing is a genuine antique.