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

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