The trendy Julu Road has gained much popularity in Shanghai. Spanning across the Huangpu and Jing'an districts, the road is 2.29 kilometres long, running east to west. Known as the "literary living room of Shanghai", the road has a rich literary atmosphere and is famous for its historical charm, cultural heritage and vibrant atmosphere.

Garden of Love. [Photo/meet-in-shanghai.net]

Located at No 675 Julu Road, the Shanghai Writers Association is housed in the former residence of renowned industrialist Liu Jisheng (1889-1962). It is one of Shanghai's top garden mansions. Due to the beautiful marble statue of a goddess in the garden and the fact that this building was a 40th birthday gift from Liu Jisheng to his wife Chen Dingzhen, it is known as the "Garden of Love".

The garden was known as one of the most beautiful garden residences in the city at the time. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the garden became a hub for Shanghai's literary professionals and the office of the Shanghai Writers Association.

Renowned writers such as Xia Yan, Ba Jin and Feng Zikai left their footprints here. High-quality literary publications from Shanghai continuously provide deep knowledge and entertainment to readers nationwide.

The Shanghai Writers Association. [Photo/meet-in-shanghai.net]

Adjacent to the Garden of Love is the Author Bookstore, which exudes the charm of old Shanghai and a strong artistic atmosphere. It has become a well-known cultural attraction and is referred to by literary enthusiasts as the "bookstore with the highest probability of encountering writers".

The Author Bookstore. [Photo/meet-in-shanghai.net]

Julu Road's Siming village is a microcosm of Shanghai's celebrity alleyways. Xu Zhimo, Lu Xiaoman, Zhang Taiyan and Rabindranath Tagore, who visited Shanghai, all resided here, giving it the reputation as the "Cultural Celebrity Village".

Unlike old traditional shikumen, the Siming village is a typical representative of the new-style shikumen alleyways in Shanghai. The layout inside is simple and compact, with a main alley running north-south, connecting Middle Yan'an Road and Julu Road.

[Photo/meet-in-shanghai.net]

One of the most famous stories of Siming Village is the residence of Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman. On March 29, 1929, Tagore, the famous Indian poet and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, came to Shanghai and stayed temporarily at Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman's home.

JULU758, originally built in 1960 as the Shanghai Hu Guang Instrument Factory, has transformed into a central attraction for its trendy shops, restaurants and stylish bars that serve afternoon tea, brunch and exquisite cocktails. With its reinforced concrete facade and strong industrial ambiance, it exudes the feeling of a bygone era.

JULU758 has become a popular hotspot on social media. [Photo/meet-in-shanghai.net]

As one of the rare old factory complex communities in the city centre, JULU758 is a popular destination on social media. It is perfect for hanging out, dining and taking photos with friends.

Source: meet-in-shanghai.net