Health & Safety in Shanghai's Lane Neighborhoods – Walking Tour

On May 12, we had a walking tour of Shanghai’s Old City led by Patrick Cranley, President of Historic Shanghai. This walk explored the format of Shanghai-style lane neighborhoods, their evolution over time, and the mechanisms and forms of social organization that affected the health and safety of their residents. Hundreds of these neighborhoods were built between 1860 and 1950, and they remain a significant portion of Shanghai's housing stock even today. The basic layout of lane neighborhoods is a city block, or a portion thereof, with only a few entrances from the main street, and a matrix of lanes within and all houses sharing walls along the lanes.  After the tour, our sponsor, Fisher & Paykel, kindly treated guests to a gourmet meal at their showroom. About 20 people attended.