The Shikumen or literally "stone gate" is a style of housing in Shanghai, China. In the past, up to 80% of the city's population lived in these types of houses, but today the proportion is much lower. Shikumen houses are two or three-story townhouses, with a high brick wall to protect against fighting and looting. The Shikumen is a cultural blend of the elements found in Western architecture with traditional Lower Chinese Yangtze architecture and social behaviour. All traditional Chinese dwellings had a courtyard, and the Shikumen was no exception. Yet, to compromise with its urban nature, it was much smaller and provided an "interior haven" to the commotions in the streets, allowing for raindrops to fall and vegetation to grow freely within a residence.The courtyard also allowed sunlight and adequate ventilation into the rooms. The whole resembles terrace houses.

Xintiandi, a car-free shopping, eating and entertainment district in Shaghai, is composed of an area restored traditional shikumen houses on narrow alleys.

Types of houses in Shanghai

New apartment mansions

Old apartments (Most of them built before 1949, designed by Western architects)

Old garden villas (may be able to see polished brown floor board and well decorated fireplace, even the chimneys and pipes are also working if owners protected them well)

Townhouses

Independent lane house

Duplex house
Service apartment

Privatized public apartment (Most of them have a similar appearance as their Russian or East European peers)

I am surprised that old houses like Shikumen are not totally destroyed but are tranformed into modern shops etc. Although they look modern, it still gives people an idea or enables them to imagine what the houses look like in the past, the alleys are also still narrow. There are also a variety of choices to choose from when it comes to looking for accomodation in Shanghai, it allows people to choose the type of experience they would like to have living there.

By Weiyong