They reminisced about Zhangyuan's living conditions. What appears today as spacious, bright buildings were once divided into many cramped living spaces. A single hall might house several families, side rooms were further partitioned, and areas with higher ceilings even had mezzanines added.
Families of five, six, or more lived in rooms of just over 10 square meters. They shared the kitchen, and sanitary facilities were limited. To manage daily life, neighbors would schedule usage times, coordinating one after the other.
"Now, the entire neighborhood is both trendy and down-to-earth. The old houses have been given new life while retaining a sense of history," said her neighbor Sun Zhiwei, whose father worked at a car dealership at the entrance of Zhangyuan in the 1940s.
French company LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) invited the former residents to visit after launching the sixth LVMH Les Journees Particulieres, opening its doors to the public to showcase the immense wealth of heritage and know-how across generations at LVMH Maisons. The sixth edition, under the theme "At the Source of Dreams", launched across 71 venues in 13 countries. The Shanghai leg featured exhibitions, live demonstrations and over 20 master classes.
Businessman Zhang Shuhe purchased and built Zhangyuan in 1882. After opening to the public in 1885, it became Shanghai's largest activity center in between the 19th and 20th centuries. Zhangyuan was the site where Shanghai's first commercial electric lamp was lit, the first outdoor photo studio was opened, and the first public film screening for Chinese audiences took place.
