The area west of the former concessions – the so-called badlands – used to be home for a broad perspective of Shanghai society. In the 1920s, this was the place for many wealthy merchants. In the 1940s however, the Japanese invasion of Shanghai changed this district with numerous casinos, bars, dance halls and brothels and gave this place its negative connotation.
Almost nothing of all this can be seen today. But when we discover this area, we will find the beauty and coziness of this laid-back part of Shanghai. A stroll along the western border of the former concessions shows urbanity and rural idyllic atmosphere at the same time and will give a thrill of constant changes.