Taikang Road Art Street

Taikang Road Art Street

Taikang Road, located in the northwest of Dapuqiao, starts from Xujiahui Road in the east, runs through Sinan Road, and ends at Ruijin No. 2 Road. It is 464 meters long and 12.4 meters wide. Built in 1926, it was initially named Jiaxiyi Road after a French cruiser, and renamed to its current name in October 1943. Most buildings along the road are two-story old and new Shikumen residences. Since the French Concession era, the road has had numerous small factories. By 1949, there were 30 factories along the road, including Dahua & Zhongye Industrial Society, Fuhua Cigarette Factory, and Jianchen Flavor No. 2 Factory; in the late 1980s, there were still companies such as Huamei Wireless Factory, Watch Plastic Accessories Factory, People’s Needle Factory, Xinxing Belt Factory, Food Industry Machinery Factory, and Shanghai Electrolytic Manganese Plant, as well as a decades-old street market.

Following environmental improvements starting in the 1980s and factory reforms in the mid-1990s, a large number of factories along Taikang Road became vacant. The relocation of the street market into these abandoned spaces prompted deeper thinking about regional redevelopment. Given the construction of upscale residential communities like Haihua and Tiantian, the area saw a dramatic shift in its resident demographic, with Dapuqiao poised to become a community for Taiwanese and Hong Kong compatriots, white-collar workers, and middle- to upper-income residents. The Dapuqiao Subdistrict took the lead in proposing—without relying on state investment—to repurpose the vacant factories and develop Taikang Road into a crafts-focused specialty street. On January 13, 1999, the district government’s on-site office meeting reviewed and confirmed this redevelopment strategy. In March, a management committee composed of 15 district-level departments and bureaus was established, with an office set up underneath.

On December 28, Yilufa Culture Development Co., Ltd. was introduced. This ceramics and craft retail space covered 700 square meters and benefited from a ten-year rent-free policy. Subsequently, artists such as painter Chen Yifei, sculptor Xie Jianling, and photographer Er Dongqiang moved in, giving initial shape to the art street. In October 2001, the former Food Industry Machinery Factory building was renovated to establish an art creation center. On January 30, 2002, the cross-street sculpture “The Gate of Art,” designed by Chen Yifei, was officially unveiled at the intersection of Taikang Road and Xujiahui Road. On the same day, the Taikang Road Art Street Association was established, with internationally renowned artist Chen Yifei elected as its president. By July 2002, a total of 83 art shops, studios, and exhibition spaces had moved in, occupying over 10,000 square meters in total. These venues offered antiques, old books, paintings, calligraphy, photography works, ceramic sculptures, and other artworks and collectibles. An arts and culture street developed without state funding began to take shape, becoming one of Shanghai’s three markets and four art streets dedicated to antiques and collectibles. Since its opening, major events organized by the management committee have included the June 22–30, 2001 exhibition of works by French artist Didier Delmas, the January 15–25, 2002 “Masterpieces to Every Home” art sale event, the Wang Yin painting exhibition, the “Collecting Taikang Road” photography exhibition by Gao Yuwen, among others. From May 31 to June 9, 2000, the Shanghai Xianggeda Art Center hosted an exhibition by Canadian artist Jerry Kolacz, acclaimed as one of the “world’s top ten successful illustrators.”

Kolacz oil painting exhibition. Companies such as Hanyuan Culture, Yidian Painting, and Shunji Cultural Art Center have since held numerous cultural and artistic events since their establishment.

Chen Yifei Studio

No. 2A, Lane 210, Taikang Road. Established in August 1999. Chen Yifei, an American-Chinese, is a renowned painter whose oil painting “Twin Bridges of Zhouzhuang” was once gifted by the U.S. President to —. The studio includes four sections: sculpture, ceramics, oil painting, and the “Yifei Fashion” costume photography, covering a total area of 658 square meters. In 2000, the sculpture “Oriental Girl” was created here and sent to Paris, France, becoming the first artwork by an Asian artist to be displayed at the Musée National du Château de Fontainebleau.

Hanyuan Culture – Er Dongqiang Art Center

No. 2B, Lane 210, Taikang Road. Established by Er Dongqiang in early 2001. The center consists of two repurposed factory buildings, spanning around 800 square meters, and includes a printmaking studio, exhibition hall, and café seating. Since its establishment, it has hosted various art events, such as the 2001 “Expansion and Extension” Shanghai Printmaking Academic Exchange Exhibition, European Printmaking Exhibition, “Kanas & Ejina” Er Dongqiang Western Expedition Photography Exhibition, Gerhard Richter and Wang Jian Painting Exhibition, Zeng Hong Painting Exhibition, Nie Jun Piano Recital, “Gershwin Night” Jazz Concert by Tian Guoan, “Under the Silver Moonlight” Classic Opera Excerpt Performance, and more. Starting in March 2002, an opera salon was also launched, inviting outstanding Shanghai opera artists to perform on the last Saturday evening of every month.

Shunji Cultural Art Center

No. 15–17, Taikang Road. Established in May 2000 by Zheng Dengji. Engaged in the production, operation, and planning of arts and crafts, paintings, and art events. Since its opening, it has hosted events such as the “Welcome PLA Day” Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, the 3rd Comic Art Exchange Auction, auctions by Trust Auction Company featuring works by renowned painters and Chinese ink artists, the first auction of paintings and Chinese ink works by Public Auction Company, Luo Jun’s Wine Bottle Sculpture Collection Exhibition, Li Feng Painting Exhibition, Wang Dexin Chinese Painting Exhibition, Wang Miaoxin Mao Zedong Badge Exhibition, Ma Xijing & Lin Zhenzhi Painting Exhibition, Meng Yunhe Painting Exhibition, Fan Linpeng Painting Exhibition, Lin Qin Painting Exhibition, Chinese Wine Culture Festival Painting Exhibition, Shunji Family Treasure Watermelon Cultural Art Event, and Zhang Haiguo Ceramic Art Collection Exhibition.

Yidian Gallery

No. 25B, Taikang Road. Established by Zhang Jindi. A comprehensive arts and culture enterprise primarily focused on visual art sales, and also engaged in graphic design, planning of major art events, exhibition PR, environmental art design, and urban planning. Since its establishment, it has hosted exhibitions such as “History of Currency Symbols” by Jiang Hong, “Chinese Mythology” joint exhibition of 26 contemporary artists, “Surveying the Region” – a report on contemporary art from Xi’an, Imagery Landscape and Still Life Exhibition, Contemporary Ink Painting Exhibition, “Happy Times – Born in 1973” joint exhibition, Small Masterpiece Exhibition by Yang Zhongguang and Chen Shoufei, Invitational Exhibition of Works by Outstanding Female Artists, and Northern China Modern Art Exhibition.

Art Creation Center

Located at No. 3, Lane 210, Taikang Road. Originally the building of the Shanghai Food Machinery Factory, five stories high with a construction area of 4,500 square meters. Now divided by resident artists into independent creative spaces according to their needs. Artists from 13 countries and regions have established 34 creative and design studios here, including Yugoslavian photographer Long Faber, Australian fashion designer Zhang Yi, Danish pattern designer Trine

Petersen (Shen Cuina), and Gitte

Nielsen, as well as the studio of Pottery Workshop, the largest ceramic art center in Hong Kong.

Suggested Visit Duration

2–3 hours

Transportation

Take air-conditioned bus routes 146 or 17 and get off at Dapuqiao Station

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

All day

Location

Dapuqiao, Huangpu District, Shanghai