Built in 1913 under its old name of Route Francis Garnier, Dongping Road has been long favored by the city’s foreigners. Located in the core area of the Hengfu (Hengshan Road and Fuxing Road) historical protection zone in Xuhui District, the 400-meter long street bears a striking contrast to the hustle and bustle of the adjacent Xujiahui commercial center. The Chiang, Soong, Kung and Chen families all reportedly had private residences on this road. Dong Ping Road is a hidden gem that only the expats and locals know of.

A few months ago, it was still embellished with a collection of elegant and classy restaurants, offering from Thai to Irish to local cuisine and even a German café, as well as exquisite boutiques and an art gallery that attracted many foreigners, artists, trendsetters and young couples.

In recent months, however, the street has lost its vitality and most of its vibe, and an unusual quiet has descended, after many of its shops and restaurants closed at the end of last year.

The only shop still open is a café called Green and Safe on the northern side of the street.

The closed pub Sasha’s at No.11 Dongping Road

Sasha's in its glorious days

In the heart of the former French Concession, Sasha's, boasting an enormous garden is one of the area's longest-running restaurants and bars. The building was the former residence of famous businessman and politician, former Finance Minister and Premier of Republic of China, Soong Tzu-wen and owned by the powerful Soong Family during the 1920s.

After 14 years, Zapata’s Mexican Cantina，a Mexican-themed nightclub, had to leave their Dongping Road location.

The closed Madison Kitchen and Spanish eatery Pirata at No.9 Dongping Road

The closed Simply Thai,No.5 Dongping Road

Earlier photo of Simply Thai

What did the local government say?

As to the shutdown of the stores, the government of Xuhui District said, according to earlier report by Shanghai Daily, “the future commercial ecosystem is still being carefully planned and discussed."

The district’s head, Fang Shizhong, said Xuhui will encourage shops that provide good quality services for the community but it will also reinforce supervision of illegal operations.

The district’s commerce commission said whether businesses on Dongping Road leave or stay depends on relevant regulations. The district won’t interfere with arrangements between leaseholders and property owners.

The closures of the shops on Dongping Road also drew heated discussion at the City’s Two Sessions in January. Many argue that the renovation of historical zones of Shanghai should not all follow the same pattern and the city needs to embrace various types of culture and business.

What did the property owners say?

“The school decided to retrieve the rights last year so the shops couldn’t continue.” said a spokesman from the conservatory of music, according to the earlier report. He also said that the buildings of No.9 Dongping Road are now used as the affiliated primary school and middle school of the conservatory. He refused to comment on the closure of the shops.

 The Chiang Kai-shek’s former love nest is now part of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at No.9 Dongping Road.

Yun & Lanna, a restaurant specializing in Yunnan Cuisine, formerly located on 2nd Floor, No. 9 Dongping Road.

Lapis Lazuli, a well chosen ceramics shop downstairs in the building at No. 9 Dongping Road

Visitors selecting ceramics on sale before it ended its business last year

Zen Lifestore, a boutique and cafe that specializes in Chinese and Shanghai-style traditional art crafts, self-owned brands, high-end hand painted porcelain, fragrant oil diffusers, jewelry, light fixtures candles and furniture and other gifts, was also closed at the end of last year. It opened in 2006 at No.7 Dongping road and designs to promote a better life with the typical Shanghai style.

The closed Zen Lifestore

D.O.C, an Italian restaurant formerly located at No.5 Dongping Road

What are the opinions of expats or foreigners?

Many foreigners who once visited the street expressed their pities and worries for the closure of the businesses on Dongping Road as well as in other downtown areas.

One of the foreigners commented on Reddit, “So I just found out that Dongping Lu is being wiped out. End of an era - I've been going to that Di Shui Dong and Simply Thai for over 13 years. I remember when Zapatas was the place to be after Maoming Lu shut down circa 2004 or so. I live right in the area (around Hengshan metro), so it's been really depressing to see all the closures in the last few years.”

Another on Reddit said, “Is this for real? Does that mean Green & Safe is getting the axe, too? What fault could you possibly find there? Until you hit Zapatas, that block is very much so what many global cities aspire to foster: it's gentrified, to be sure, but it's hip, thriving, and home to businesses (with a cultural bent) servicing relatively affluent consumers. It's the sort of place that would fit in NYC, Berlin, or Tokyo.”

While the case is complicated due to the property rights and the future of these shops and restaurants - whether they will come back or not is still pending - we believe that we should try our best and have flexible regulations in place to protect those culturally diverse businesses, especially those that have been running successfully for many years in an area they are well-suited to. They are a great asset to the city to some extent. The city will be less colorful and boring if we have modern shopping complexes everywhere.