Graffiti artists paint paradise of love stories on Shanghai street

A team of graffiti artists have recently turned Tian’ai Road, considered by many to be the most romantic road in Shanghai, into a paradise of love stories by painting artworks on roadside walls.

“Tian’ai” directly translates to “sweet love” and, adding to its popularity, the road is well shaded by orderly lines of trees on both sides and has numerous love poems inscribed on decorative stone slates along the street.

At the entrance of Tian’ai Road, there is a mail drop in which every sent letter will be marked with a specially designed post mark, bearing the affection from the sender to the recipient.

“I noticed that the trees and the mail drop have remained here no matter how much time passes. I think they can tell something poignant, so I made two paintings, which look like the shadows of the trees and the mail box on the wall,” said Sun Zhen, a graffiti artist, referring to his painting which depicts a man waiting for his letter from the mail drop.

Another prominent graffiti shows a young couple on a bike flying a kite which seats three goddesses. The goddesses are seemingly watching over and protecting the lovers from above.

Cao Wei, another graffiti artist, said she wanted to capture the excited feeling that occurs in the hearts of lovers through her work.

“If you meet the one that you like, you heart will leap up with joy and jump just like a deer, so I have painted the head of the deer on the heart to represent that feeling of inner happiness,” said Cao Wei.

The most popular painting features an aerosol paint can spraying a space scene across a building, which centers on an astronaut holding roses in his hands as chases his beloved one. Reports say that one woman accepted her fiancee’s marriage proposal after he arranged candlelights and roses in front of the picture.

“I think it is a very refreshing way to paint on the wall. They made it look like a real work of art,” said a tourist.

Over 10 graffiti artworks are scheduled to be completed before China’s Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 8 this year.

It is said that couples walking along the road hand in hand will have a long and happy marriage, a belief shared by many citizens and tourists in Shanghai.