Shanghai’s ‘Old West Gate’ neighbourhood emptied for demolition and redevelopment

One of Shanghai’s oldest neighbourhoods faces demolition as the city’s authorities press ahead with redevelopment plans. Laoximen or “Old West Gate”, named for its position in Shanghai’s 16th century defensive walls, was once the city’s cultural centre. Thousands of residents, a mix of old Shanghai families and migrant workers, were ordered to move out of their homes in 2017, though some have clung on for years past the deadline. The final demolition was apparently delayed by the pandemic, but diggers have resumed work after Shanghai emerged from lockdown in June 2022.