Destruction Reveals in Hongkou

Sometimes the act of destruction can reveal what was previously hidden. Clearance of perfectly refurbishable lilongs and shikumen along Fujian Road North (Fokien Road North) that had been left to rot for several years to allow for demolition has revealed the previously hidden backs of the residential properties that front onto Zhejiang Road North (Chekiang Road North). These are, for the most part, in good condition – however, given the policy of creating slums by intent in Shanghai at the moment as the prelude to clearing large swatches of former residential property for the property developers, one has to ask how long these can be expected to be left alone.

And so we see the construction date of 1931 revealed. Some properties in this development are slightly older, going back to 1927. Originally this area of Chekiang Road North was dominated by legal buildings and many lawyers lived in these peroperties to be close to the courts – the Shanghai Special Area District Court (Chinese residing in the International Settlement were under the jurisdiction of the two Chinese Provisional Courts, the Shanghai Special Area District Court and a “Second Branch” of the Kiangsu Province High Court) dominated the street and was a busy congregating point for the litigious.

The clearing of the former properties on Fujian Road North is now complete – save for some migrant workers clearing away the last debris. Presumably a new high rise will be erected and once again blot out the rear of the structures on Zhejiang Road North…if indeed they survive 2011.

At present these 1931 buildings look to be in good condition…as are the 1927 ones next door…however, so were the structures on Fujian Road a couple of years ago and now they’re history!!