20 Mar 2012

Shanghai's Traditional Architecture











Shikumen
石庫門

Shikumen (Stone Gate) is a traditional Shanghainese architectural style combining Western and Chinese elements that first appeared in the 1860s. The two- or three-story structures resembling Anglo-American terrace houses or townhouses, distinguished by high brick walls enclosing a narrow front yard. The name "stone gate" references these strong gateways. At the height of their popularity, there were 9000 shikumen-style buildings in Shanghai, comprising 60% of the total housing stock of the city, but today the proportion is much lower as most Shanghainese live in large apartment buildings.

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