Given the history of this city as a international business center, most of it’s famous neighborhoods were shaped in a Western style. Even after the foreign concessions were discontinued, the modern trend continued. Probably, being built of wood, the old Chinese houses gradually fell to decay and were replaced with even more high rise structures. As a result, it is nearly impossible to find preserved traditional areas in Shanghai. Two notable exceptions are the Yuyuan Garden (and surroundings, first 3 pictures) and the area known as Tianzifang (last picture).