Following the first opium war which ended in 1842, the British opened a concession in Shanghai by way of a forced treaty with the Qing Dynasty. Each concession within the city was governed by an occupying country, namely the Brits, the French, and the Americans.

Fuelled by international trade in silk, tea and porcelain, Shanghai boomed and many opulent administrative buildings were constructed. The concessions also include gated residential communities, many of which date from the early 1900s.

Unfortunately unbridled development has taken its toll on Shanghai’s history but the clusters of three and four storey buildings that remain are an atmospheric network of alleys and a delight to explore.

A few such as Xintiadi and Tianzifang have recently enjoyed a resurgence of interested and are now home to trendy bars and boutiques. However, look hard enough and you’ll discover districts that are a little run but still purely residential. They are also a joy to explore with a camera.

The images here were taken in an enclave I stumbled upon in the Wujiang Road area. As is often the case it was the detail that appealed to me.