Changle Road, an important address for Shanghai nightlife, is facing major changes, with demolition set to commence in the area at the end of July. Long a key site for youth culture in the city, the street rose to an even higher level of popularity in the immediate post-Covid era, as revellers flocked to tiny bars where the party often spilled on to the street.
However, due to an urban renewal initiative, demolition of old Longtang (laneway) architecture along Changle Road is set to begin, with 80% of residents already having already signed relocation agreements. The demolition plan targets a section of the road packed with bars, stretching from the Shanghai Post Hospital on the West to Xiangyang North Road on the East. Close to Shanghai nightlife staples like ALL Club, the strip has been a magnet for locals and out-of-towners alike.
Changle Road also has a strong pedigree in Shanghai’s fashion scene. Trendsetting establishments like ACU and INNERSECT (both linked to Edison Chen), the first Vans store in China, renowned skate shop Fly, and Beijing-founded tattoo parlor Hengci, all once operated on Changle Road. Emblematic of its more recent era was the bar 624changle & On The Road Store, established in 2014. The two halves of the business have since separated, with On The Road Store (公路商店), taking the streetside drinking concept around the country as a chain.
Beyond its bars, Changle Road’s street culture is a tapestry of contrasts, where old and new collide. As businesses relocate to nearby lanes and alleys, there is anticipation for a rejuvenated Changle Road and the revitalization of adjacent areas. New York streetwear brand Supreme recently opened a massive store just beyond the area slated for demolitions, suggesting that Changle Road will remain relevant for youth culture, albeit perhaps in more formal manner than before. The future of this once-bustling thoroughfare remains uncertain, but its legacy as a cornerstone of Shanghai’s nightlife is sure to endure in the city’s collective memory.
All photos by Mia Fan.
