In the middle of our street
Just off the Zhao Jia Bang Rd in the French Concession – one of Shanghai’s more leafy and attractive areas lies the imaginatively named lane 688 (it has a real name but I can’t say it yet). This is a local low rise ‘community’ with people walking around in pyjamas and a security gate that plays "it’s a small world" at night time. We have a 5th floor balcony, intelligent aircon, a spare bathroom, a water cooler, resident mosquitos and no oven. Having looked at a dozen or more places this one was the outright winner coming top of the pile for size, location and minimalism – most of the contenders had absolutely terrible furniture.
Across the road is a wet market for those essential toads, snakes and live chickens (one day I will); around the corner is a row of food stands including jioze (dumplings), baozie (steamed buns), pancakes (pancakes) and roast duck. With a 5 minute walk we could eat in a new place every day for a month or two.
