Lane 210 – as you turned down lane 210 from Taikang Road, you are on the main artery of the area. To the left are several interesting shops including a pottery workshop, specialty jewelers, Deke Ehr’s photo studio and a silk-robe shop (see photo) where the owner takes old silks and transforms them into beautiful robes and sashes. On the right are more shops including Marion Carston, a wonderful jeweler and Cho Lon, an import shop for all things Vietnamese. There is also an artists’ warehouse where you’ll find several floors of galleries and shops all to the right of the main lane.
Soon you’ll come to a chance to go left off the main laneway into a courtyard. Here you’ll find some of the oldest and most established of the Taikang Lu shops and cafes. Woo Cashmere on the left side of the courtyard is a great place to stock up on cashmere and silk scarves and wraps. Kommune café on the right has been there for years and serves a perfect latte as well as yummy lunches and snacks.
You can go to the next set of alleys by entering Kommune and going through the back exit or going back out the courtyard, turn left down the lane again and then hang the next left into a little alley. Here you’ll find the newer shops full of everything from tea and teapots to Buddhist statuary. Keep going back, don’t be shy to look behind corners in the alley because you’ll find that each alley connects to the next one and you’ll find a warren of other shops and cafes. Others to check out are
- Bohemia Café – home cooked food and great wines
- NuZi – imports from New Zealand
- S&Q Décor – wonderfully bright porcelains and tableware
