Local news reports say all vendors will be out by Chinese New Year

Jiefang Daily, Eastday, and even TV stations are covering the closure of the last remaining shops on Shanghai’s beloved street food destination, Wujiang Lu. While we’ve known for months that the eastern section of Wujiang was about to be swallowed by the ravenous Expo-beautification-machine and homogenized into an upscale sanitized open air mall, in step with Wujiang's western arm and its recent transmogrification, the official close date of Chinese New Year has only just been announced and demolition crews are now at work dismantling the eastern side's shop fronts.

Reports Eastday: People are rushing to have their last “farewell meal” on this street filled with memories for many locals. Jiefang Daily notes nostalgically: “In a few days, Wujiang Lu, Shanghai’s liveliest snack food street will only permanently exist in the hearts of gluttons.” Their words, not mine! But, as a fan of Wujiang’s casual, raucous, rowdy, smoky, stimulating atmosphere, I too mourn the passing of one our last centrally-located food streets. Shouning Lu may be the last refuge and haven for me and my fellow gluttons.

We can take comfort that Xiao Yang’s will still have at least 13 branches to satisfy our shengjian cravings, including one at the cleaned-up, mall-ified, Western end of Wujiang Lu:

Xiao Yang's Shengjian

269 Wujiang Lu, 2nd Floor

Huang Pu Hui Building, near Maoming Bei Lu

吴江路269号湟普汇2楼(近茂名北路)

My favorite morning street food is still at Tianping Lu, near Guangyuan Lu.

Back to index for my dining blog - The Dish