Tianzifang captures the soul of old Shanghai within a maze of narrow, stone-paved lanes. This regenerated corner of the former French Concession has become a bohemian enclave, where art galleries, craft workshops and intimate cafés occupy renovated shikumen houses. Wandering these alleys offers a welcome contrast to the city's modern skyline, revealing a more human-scale and creative side of this Chinese megalopolis.

Théodore Monod African Art Museum, once called IFAN Museum of African Arts, was promoted by Senegal's first president Léopold Senghor. It is one of the oldest and most important art museums in West Africa, containing artworks from across the Francophone countries of the continent, and boasting collections by contemporary African and diaspora artists. It also functions as a research institute for the study of African culture.

Xintiandi, an upscale car-free district in Shanghai, emerged in the late 1990s as a vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment hub. Originally a neighbourhood of traditional Shikumen houses, many were replaced with modern apartments to improve living conditions, sparking concerns about the potential loss of cultural heritage. In response, the government preserved some Shikumen structures, blending history with contemporary flair. Today, Xintiandi stands as a dazzling landmark, boasting fine restaurants, chic clubs and luxury boutiques, seamlessly integrating Shanghai's past with its cosmopolitan present.

The Hamptonne Country Life Museum recreates rural life within a number of painstakingly restored buildings, living history interpretations and demonstrations of traditional rural crafts. Learn all about the agrarian lifestyles with the museum's well-kept exhibits.