In 2002, Taikang Road was a narrow, one-way residential lane in Shanghai, characterized by modest buildings and light foot traffic. A small community of artists had begun to occupy the area, working quietly in spaces adapted from everyday urban use.

In the years that followed, Taikang Road was transformed into one of Shanghai’s largest tourist destinations and a recognized art district. This photograph captures the street before that shift, preserving a moment of relative calm before its redevelopment and commercialization.