Shanghai's largest heritage complex reopens after renovation(1/5)

A woman takes photos of the newly renovated Zhang Yuan, a former residential compound in Shanghai, Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Yin Liqin)

Built in 1882, Zhang Yuan or Zhang's Garden, a community filled with hundreds of shikumen houses in downtown Shanghai's Jing'an district is widely known as Shanghai's largest, best-preserved and most diverse shikumen compound. It is the first urban renewal project in Shanghai to implement a protective expropriation plan. After nearly four years of renovation, the western part of the compound reopened to the public on Thursday.

Residents visit the western part of the newly renovated Zhang Yuan, a former residential compound in Shanghai, Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Yin Liqin)

Residents visit the western part of the newly renovated Zhang Yuan, a former residential compound in Shanghai, Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Yin Liqin)

Residents visit the western part of the newly renovated Zhang Yuan, a former residential compound in Shanghai, Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Yin Liqin)

Residents visit the western part of the newly renovated Zhang Yuan, a former residential compound in Shanghai, Dec. 1, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Yin Liqin)