Shikumen in Shanghai

Shikumen, literally stone gate, is a traditional Shanghai architectural style combining Western and Chinese elements, which appeared in the 1860s. At the peak of its popularity, there were 9,000 shikumen style buildings in Shanghai, representing 60% of all homes in the city.

Architectural Art of Shikumen

Shikumen buildings are two or three stories high, characterized by their brick walls that surround a small front courtyard. The name "stone gate" refers to these gates. There is an attic window in the sloping roof. It has a stone frame and wooden doors. Two copper knockers resonate throughout the street when struck. As the residences are often joined together, an alley is naturally formed. At the end of the street there is usually a traditional arch.

Upon passing through the stone gate, you enter a patio from which the sunlight illuminates the entire room area. The main rooms are on both sides of the patio. Just in front of the patio, there is a room six meters long and four meters wide where the hosts meet or entertain their guests. On each side there are two side rooms, from which you can go up to the upper floor. Crossing the living room, another patio appears where the cooking bench is placed.

The general framework of the residence follows the architectural style of southern Chinese courtyards. The position of the necessary utensils and furniture is also designed according to the representative architectural style. From the outside, the residence looks like a Western-style semi-detached chalet. Furthermore, the lintel is built with traditional Chinese bricks and black tiles. Later, under the influence of Western architecture, the doors were gradually decorated with triangular, circular, arc-shaped or rectangular carvings. Even the outer walls were covered with Western paintings and carvings.

Culture of Shikumen

The traditional culture of Shikumen gives great influence on the politics, economy, literature, arts and lifestyle of Shanghai. At the same time, architecture also provided abundant opportunities for artistic creativity, so that many films and musical works were enriched under the architectural background. Furthermore, due to their complicated and diverse residences, the local inhabitants have formed a distinct lifestyle, which lays a solid foundation for their abundant costumes, diets and living habits.

With the passage of time, Shikumen has gradually become the cultural heritage of this city. Every day, tourists can visit Shikumen to experience typical Shanghai lifestyle.