Thomas Gerbault, originally from France, loves exploring Shanghai through the lens of his camera. The Frenchman lives in a typical lane house on leafy Shaoxing Road with his wife Marie and two children, in the midst of locals. His neighborhood in Huangpu District is a fascinating playground that allows him to capture spontaneous and fleeting moments.
Thomas Gerbault lives in a typical lane house on leafy Shaoxing Road with his wife Marie and two children, in the midst of locals.
Could you introduce the neighborhood you live in?
After spending the first year in Shanghai on the 30th floor of a highrise building, we moved into a lane house on Shaoxing Road in Huangpu District. It is a very quiet and authentic neighborhood. Our street features beautiful Art Deco buildings as well as old Shanghainese houses. Shaoxing Road and our lane truly seem frozen in time. It's so peaceful even though we remain just a bike ride away from all the liveliness of the neighborhood.
Gerbault enjoys the tranquil and authentic Shaoxing Road on a rainy day.
His family loves walking back home through the local lanes in the neighborhood.
What's the best thing about living in this neighborhood?
What I love about our lane and the neighborhood in general is its authenticity. You can see laundry hanging in the lanes, elderly people doing their exercises in the park next to our house, Shaoxing Park, and street vendors selling steamed buns and fritters. There is a private restaurant (Jin House) on our lane whose kitchen is facing our house: smells and flavors of Chinese cuisine surround us (which is great 99 percent of time).
Gerbault is fascinated by the genuine authenticity of his lane and the neighborhood in general, with hanging laundry a real local scene.
There is a private restaurant (Jin House) on the lane whose kitchen faces Gerbault's house.
What are the not-to-be-missed attractions here?
Strolling along Shaoxing Road feels like a true journey into a preserved Shanghai. The highlight, of course, is Shaoxing Park, where all the locals gather before kids come and play after school. All along the street, there are plenty of charming little cafés where you can soak in the neighborhood's atmosphere.
Strolling along Shaoxing Road feels like a true journey into a preserved Shanghai as one soaks in the neighborhood's atmosphere.
People have different tastes, but all want a great cafe. What's your favorite cafe near home?
Metal Hands (37 Yongjia Rd 永嘉路37号) is a lovely little shop with nice creations. We like it there because it's just in front of the Shanghai Culture Square where kids can rollerblade. For a straight black coffee, Big Sur (227 Yongjia Rd 永嘉路227号) is the place to go to discover beans and flavors from all over the world.
Where should someone eat around here?
GubiGubi (271 Yongjia Rd 永嘉路271号) represents what Shanghai can be today: a beautiful historic building where influencers queue up to take photos in front of the façade, yet inside, the cuisine is absolutely excellent. Their fusion seafood dishes are really succulent and my personal favorite would be pepper sauce clams.
Jianguo 328 (328 Jianguo Rd W. 建国西路328号) is a true institution in the neighborhood. It's perfect for a midday lunch. It serves all the Shanghainese specialties like Hong shao rou (Shanghainese braised pork belly), crispy fried duck legs, or scallion noodles…Shanghainese comfort food.
From high fashion to emerging designers, from flowers to fresh produce, where do you shop in your neighborhood?
It's not strictly a shopping area with fashion or design stores but it is a neighborhood where you can find everything you need for everyday life. Small fruit and vegetable vendors, a baozi stand where my daughter buys her snack after school (Jiashan Market), little hardware stores, a little sewing workshop, a frame maker (useful for my photographs) and an old-fashioned barbershop where my son and I have been going since we moved to Shanghai (Thomas Barber Shop, No. 4, Lane 131 Maoming Rd S. 茂名南路131弄4号).
I sometimes browse through vintage shops such as Cosmos Retro (138 Jianguo Rd W. 建国西路138号), a vintage clothing store with an excellent selection of pieces from the 70s to the 90s, or Siyuan Bookstore (492 Shaanxi Rd S 陕西南路492号), an antique shop with old books, posters, maps or artifacts from the 1920s. The shop itself is nestled in a historical building worth the visit.
Gerbault captures the morning scene in Jiashan Market.
The baozi stand inside Jiashan Market, where Gerbault's daughter buys snacks after school.
Thomas Barber Shop is an old-fashioned saloon where Gerbault and his son have been going since they moved to Shanghai.
Is there a neighborhood place you recommend for a night out or simply a drink after work?
Root Down (145 Nanchang Rd 南昌路145号) is my favorite bar in the neighborhood. It's a vinyl bar where they play jazz or funk. The sound is great thanks to enormous vintage speakers but low enough to have a conversation. Their vinyl collection is impressive. I like the cosy yet lively atmosphere of the venue and needless to say the cocktails are designed and made by a master mixologist.
Have you made any new discoveries in your neighborhood lately?
Terrier (25 Shaoxing Rd 绍兴路25号) is a super original bar that opened recently: they offer a starters/mains/desserts menu…but all made up of cocktails. The owner, who's an architect, has created a brutalist yet warm setting: raw concrete, wooden elements, soft lighting. A great new venue for us as it closes late at night and it sits just opposite of our lane!
Terrier is a cocktail bar that recently opened on Shaoxing Road.