Finding Shanghai - Yuyuan Road

More than 100 years old, Yuyuan Road is located on the outskirts of the former International Settlement. The road brought together people with diverse political beliefs from all parts of the world who built luxurious villas and dream homes along the road, transforming it into one of the most impressive neighborhoods in the city. Chinese and foreign artists, scholars, scientists, and politicians such as Kang Youwei, Cai Yuanpei, Rewi Alley, Mao Dun, Qian Xuesen, Zhang Ailing, Zhou Xuan all called Yu Yuan road home.

On Nov. 2, Chai Jing, Gu Beilei and Bi Jinghong of NYU Shanghai’s Chinese Language Program led a group of students, faculty and staff on a visit to Shanghai’s historic Yuyuan Road. The visit was the latest in a series of Language and Cultural Activities sponsored by NYU Shanghai’s Language Program.

Chai Jing, a language lecturer in the Chinese Language Program, grew up on Yu Yuan Road and is passionate about Shanghai’s historic neighborhoods. She led students through the winding lanes and introduced them to local neighborhood life. She regaled students with stories about the section of Yu Yuan Road dubbed “ Spy Lane” in the 1930s because of its many secret passageways, making it easy for spies to hide or make quick escapes.

Bi Jinghong, assistant director of the Chinese Language Program, helped the students to figure out how to use new Chinese terms and expressions in storytelling.

Branden Chang ‘19, a study away student from New York who is in the middle of his third semester at NYU Shanghai, captures some neighborhood color.

Gu Beilei, a Chinese Language Lecturer at NYU Shanghai who grew up on Yu Yuan Road’s Lane 611, has researched the Lane’s history extensively. She was able to track down the descendants of a Portuguese tenant who lived in the lane 70 years ago, who were surprised to find out about their family’s history. The story is featured in a new book, Yu Yuan Road.

Senior Song Yuanchu ‘19 took the tour as a chance to show his freshman year roommate and friend Sohrob Moslehi ‘19 what he likes about the old Shanghai life.

Moslehi, an American who now speaks fluent Chinese, impressed local residents with his language skills and his use of the common greeting, “Have you eaten?”

Josh Jensen ‘21 said that the Yu Yuan Road visit was a perfect field trip for students at NYU Shanghai since it showed how the history of the road has been enriched by both its Chinese and foreign residents, just as the NYU Shanghai community is enriched by its international student body.