One of my favorite things about Shanghai are the endless mazes of quaint little lanes. When we first visited, we had no idea this other world existed. Shanghai was a megalopolis, a feverish, sprawling, Bladerunner set. Dizzying lights, piercing sounds, impending death at every intersection–the world’s worst place for a migraine headache.

But on every block of this insanity, there is an unmarked door to a hidden world. When we moved to Shanghai, we discovered that even outsiders like us could walk through the looking glass and see the other side of Shanghai. The alleys (or lanes as they’re called) are quiet, beautiful little communities–old ladies doing laundry, men doing tai chi, house cats prowling, and everyone gives you a friendly smile.