上海 黄浦 石库门景区 【Shanghai - Shikumen Scenic Area】

The Shikumen Scenic Area showcases the most characteristic residential architecture of Shanghai. The old alleyways of Shanghai are typically lined with Shikumen buildings, which originated during the Taiping Rebellion. During that period, the chaos of the war forced wealthy merchants, landlords, and officials from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions to seek refuge in the foreign concessions of Shanghai. Seizing the opportunity, foreign property developers built numerous residences.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the enclosed courtyard layout remained a primary feature of Shanghai housing. However, the focus shifted from intricate carvings to simplicity, with multi-entry houses replaced by single-entry ones. This led to the emergence of Shikumen residences that combined Chinese and Western architectural elements.
These buildings adopted the styles of traditional Jiangnan (South of the Yangtze River) residences, using stone for door frames and solid, thick wooden doors lacquered in black. This unique architectural style was hence named "Shikumen," which literally means "stone gate."