Dong Tai Antique Market and Fang Bang Road

Lovely soft autumnal sunshine, the perfect day for a ramble along the antique stalls around Dongtai Lu, with visiting friend. Can't believe I'd not ventured down here before, but great to have company and share the experience. Quite relaxed, without the hard sell normally associated with Shanghai markets. Is it repro? A mix, I think, with genuine old deco lights, rusty old tins, mahjong sets, decorative paint brushes, teapots and ornaments that you never knew you wanted.

Mixed with a plentiful helping of new Maoist memorabilia, great kitsch clocks, watches and ceramics.

 Shanghai Starlets..

An abacus or two..

Minority embroideries a plenty, again old worn pieces with newer bits.

Friend nearly tempted with panda alarm clock (for colleague with a passion for the black and white cuddly bear), glass orb watch and various rusty coat hooks. Finally succumbed to a great vintage tin which clunked around with us for the rest of the day!

The colourful old enamel tin bowls took me back to my first flat and the similar ones I bought in London's China town.

Love the ceramic Peoples Army...

tin toys

sewing machines and cameras

sister would love all the frosted glass cake stands

Ornate repro bound foot slippers..

may have to go back for decorative pot..

couldn't decide..the blue and white or the celadon?

After buying our few treasures, we wandered down the Midddle Fang Bang Lu. Before it reaches the tourist hell of the old town, Yu Yuan Garden, it's an atmospheric stretch of old city life. Old folk sitting watching the world go by, families out and about, shop keepers, traders, locals eating at the street cafes..

Dumpling production...

Street life...like a film set

And the winter pyjamas are coming out now

my favourite so far..

a good wash day..

Where did she get her hair done?

Exta-ordinary!

A much needed refreshing glass of sugar cane juice

Would have had a sweet potato too but..

 carried on to the Bund and had afternoon tea at the Peninsular

 Plenty of earl grey tea and a fabulous array of tiny sandwiches, quiche, cakes  macaroons, scones, chocolates and cookies..

only one remained...