A PHOTO exhibition featuring black-and-white images of crowded streets, stylish malls and typical local neighborhoods of Jing’an District has appeared along bustling Nanjing Road W.

The photos were all taken by Italian photographer Aldo Fallai, who has worked with renowned Italian designer Giorgio Armani for decades.

Through his lens, senior citizens practice tai chi at downtown Jing’an Park, small alleyways are under beautiful dramatic tree shadows, and modern skyscrapers amid historical villas form a unique city landscape.

Fallai’s photos are simple, but still capture the spirit of Jing’an, an international downtown area featuring cultural fusion.

The exhibition will run through December 5 on the sidewalk of Nanjing Road W., just in front of the Shanghai Centre. It’s part of a series of events in the district to celebrate the 40-year relationship between Shanghai and Milan. Milan and Shanghai are both fashion hubs with trendy lifestyles.

“Jing’an plays an important role in the Sino-Italian cooperation. Italy is Jing’an’s No. 1 partner in cross-border trading. The Milan Furniture Fair has been held in Jing’an for years,” said Zhang Jun, deputy director of Jing’an.

On Wednesday, the second gala night organized in cooperation with Via Monte Napoleone, the Italian luxury street in Milan, was held at the Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai in Jing’an.