Shanghai’s skyline is a constant reminder of the city’s rising status. Groundbreakings for office towers seem to occur every day and the demand for upscale apartments, while lower this year, is anticipated to continue its long-term upward trend.
But not everyone in Shanghai wants to live on the 30th floor or move to the distant suburbs of Pudong, regardless of the amenities that accompany the city’s more rarefied living spaces.
Founded in 1849, the former French Concession was returned to Chinese control in 1946. Despite its name, the area was home to merchants of many nationalities as well as a large Chinese population, including dignitaries such as Sun Yat-sen, considered the “father” of modern day China. Thought of as the most desirable place to live in Shanghai during the international settlement era, it continues to exert an almost otherworldly allure.