Xīntiāndì

Lonely Planet review

It brought a stylish twist to the fêted French Concession, and this restaurant, bar, entertainment and cultural complex quickly became an epicentre for fashionable alfresco diners and well-heeled Shanghai shoppers - uniformed security was at hand to shoo-shoo the hobos and keep a lid on downwardly mobile behaviour. It was only a matter of time before the tourist hordes turned it into a victim of its own success.

The layout - divided by alleys (lòngtáng) and pedestrianised lanes - is inviting, but Xīntiāndì is self-consciously trendy and cracks have started to appear. The name Xīntiāndì - New Heaven and Earth - is little more than a modern brand name and the locale has been calculatingly prettified, so don't expect any of the creaking, rickety simplicity of the Old Town or the lived-in charm of the Taikang Rd Art Centre. Where some see style and substance, others see a phoney overture and high prices.

Diners will be tripping over menu stands from some of Shanghai's best restaurants, with aperitifs, cocktails and late night drinks being served at a choice of trendy, unrowdy bars.

The heart of the complex - which is divided into a north and south block - just off South Huangpi Rd, consists of renovated (largely rebuilt) traditional shíkūmén houses, brought bang up-to-date with a stylish modern spin.