Shikumen Lilong residencies were prevalent from the end of the 19th century until 1930. Combining the traits of southern Chinese dwellings and western row houses, it is the most representative of modern Shanghai residential architecture.

The book shows a unique residential kind of building in Shanghai called Shikumen and records its architectural style and the use of space. A travel guide to 40 of Shanghai's most representative Shikumen lanes is also provided and is compared with the Shanghai block map in the 1940s of the 20th century. The book also collects 120 pictures of the architecture and life of Shikumen Lilong, and the author has compiled 400 Shikumen Lilong directories based on his accumulation of years of visiting Shikumen, which can become a guide for readers to stroll through Shikumen Lilong houses and experience Shikumen City Life.

From 2004 to 2012, using casual photography to specific documentation, the authors have observed over 500 Shikumen Lilong, and will continue to record the heritage of this style of architecture.

Text in English and Chinese.