Jinqiao Road Station
This year is the 21st anniversary of the opening of the Shanghai metro. The subway has facilitated more than 13 billion journeys during its 21 years, and half of Shanghai citizens cite the metro as their favored mode of transport. To commemorate the anniversary, each week the Global Times will take an in-depth look at one metro station and its surroundings. In the case of downtown stations, we will focus on points of interest within walking distance; while for suburban areas, we will cast our net a little wider.
Jinqiao Road Station in Pudong New Area is one of the busiest metro stations on Line 6. Close to the Jinqiao residential area where many expats live, the station sits adjacent to the huge commercial center Life Hub@Jinqiao, which houses fashion brands, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and a children's playground.
Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow
Art installations
For the coming Year of the Horse, an art exhibition featuring numerous horse-themed installations is being held in the open space at the commercial hub from January 11. Both established artists and promising young talents are taking part in this group show that aims to showcase Chinese folk art through contemporary installations.
For example, Tang Hui's wooden sculpture, standing at the entrance of Life Hub@Jinqiao (Lane 3611 Zhangyang Road North, 2023-3000) is a recreation of the famous Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) bronze statue, Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow (pictured top). The installation reproduces the spectacular power of the original statue, but also adds a delicate touch with different layers of wood. Glass artist Xue Lü presents four horse sculptures of different colors, made of glass beads rubbed with special techniques. Wang Xieda used rattan to weave an abstract image of a horse, inspired by the Chinese character for "horse," provoking viewers to ponder Chinese folk art and traditional culture.
A multimedia music and light show will mark the opening of the exhibition in the central plaza on the night of January 11. Admission to both the light show and the exhibition is free. The exhibition will run through to April.
Tea Mine
High tea time
Although tucked away at one end of the commercial hub, the blue and gold exterior furnishings of Tea Mine (Room 102, Bldg 6, Lane 3611 Zhangyang Road North, 2023-3298) will immediately catch your eye when you pass by. Open the door, and two dog statues dressed in sleek suits will greet you at the doorstep. The teahouse is a popular destination in the area for meeting friends and enjoying afternoon tea, especially during weekends, when you might face a long wait for a vacant table. During January, if you opt to take away your purchase, you can enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free deal.
Run by a Taiwanese owner, Tea Mine serves a wide selection of milk teas using Twinings black tea from London. Standing in front of the counter, you can see how the tea ladies boil milk tea at the stove. Customers can choose different flavors according to the aroma of tea, milk and fruit. The blended milk teas Breakfast and Yorkshire have a stronger taste of tea, while Earl Grey and Rose have more milky tastes. Lady Grey and Wildberries have a fruitier aroma, as fruits like lemon, orange and berries have been added.
For those who prefer tea leaves rather than tea bags, the teahouse also offers green tea, floral tea and oolong tea from Taiwan.
A basketball court inside Action and Fun
Taste buds
Taiwanese restaurant Longmen Kezhan (2/F, Bldg 2, Lane 3611 Zhangyang Road North, 2023-3708) is named after a 1967 Taiwanese martial arts film of the same name, considered a milestone in Chinese cinema history. Dominated by red, the restaurant is decorated in traditional Chinese style with a New Year ambience. The signature dish is, undoubtedly, sanbeiji, literally "three cups chicken." Sanbei, or "three cups," refers to a cup of sesame oil, a cup of soy sauce and a cup of rice wine used to cook the dish. The stewed chicken meat, coated with aromatic sauce, is a perfect accompaniment to a bowl of rice. Another dish, the oyster omelet, is praised by foodies on dianping.com (the Chinese version of Yelp) as one of the most authentic renditions of this Taiwanese classic in town. Other popular dishes include codfish with crisp beans, pineapple with shrimp-stuffed dough parcels, and Taiwan-style braised pork. A meal costs about 80 yuan ($13.22) per person.
Sichuan restaurant Wangchi Chuancai sits just beside Longmen Kezhan. Wooden doors with doornails indicate that the restaurant is decorated in the architectural style of Southeast China. Signature dishes include Xishuang Banna shrimps and roasted black fish with lemongrass.
Kids play at the indoor amusement park Action and Fun Photos: Zhao Dan/GT and courtesy of Life Hub@Jinqiao
Fun for kids
Action and Fun (3/F, Bldg 1, Lane 3611 Zhangyang Road North, 2023-3158) is an indoor amusement park and playground for kids aged from 3 to 12. Covering a huge two-storey area, the park includes a small basketball court, a bouncing bed, ball pools and slides, which cause children to shout and scream excitingly as they slide down with their legs in a sack. There is also a cottage, a castle and a fake forest, where kids can have their own adventures. For those who prefer quieter activities, the playground also offers a small library, jigsaw puzzles, and even Wii games for children to participate in. Entrance is 25 yuan per hour for one child plus an accompanying adult.
Laozhou Rosewood
Established in 1997, the award-winning furniture maker Laozhou Rosewood (999 Jinqiao Road) is known for creating both traditional Chinese-style and European-style furniture from rosewood, a cherished timber that has long been favored by traditional Chinese. Laozhou Rosewood's showroom is located at the intersection of Jinqiao Road and Zhangyang Road North. The furniture combines elegant and classic Chinese elements with functional and contemporary design through traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.