How to connect people of all ages from all walks of life in a street? Longhua Social Workers Street has the answer.

Residents play in Longhua Social Workers Street. A large mural vividly captures residents’ lives and stories at Dahe Village in Longhua District. Photos by Sun Yuchen

Dahe Village, location of the 100-meter-long street, used to be an old Hakka village in Longhua District. In 2018, a house on the street was transformed into a social work station, with hundreds of social workers providing services to villagers and migrants.

The signature mural at Longhua Social Workers Street.

In 2020, a design team of Peking University graduates spent five months to renovate the street, painting colorful murals on shabby facades and setting up artistic yet useful installations for the residents. The street is thus called “Social Workers Street” or “Rainbow Street.”

Residents can pick up a telephone receiver to listen to anti-fraud tips.

One eye-catching installation is the waste-sorting wall composed by numerous bottle caps pieced together into a painting depicting Hakka diaolou buildings in a starry night. Seven colored chairs in front of the wall represent seven waste-sorting groups.

A wall is decorated with numerous drink bottle caps pieced together into a painting depicting Hakka diaolou buildings in a starry night. Seven colored chairs in front of the wall represent seven waste-sorting groups.

Another wall features facial expressions, using optical illusion to display persons’ different moods. Visitor can scan the QR codes beside the images and receive psychological consulting services from social workers.

The street also displays handicrafts made by seniors since the community regularly holds hands-on activities such as gardening and crafts to benefit seniors’ health.

The entrance to Longhua Social Workers Street.

The street, which integrates creative activities, mental health and waste sorting into fun installations and murals, not only produces a grand artistic place but also strengthens social connections and reduces stress.

To get there, take Metro Line 4 to Qinghu Station (清湖站), then take a tram (Xinlan-bound 新澜方向) and get off at Shiji Guangchang Station (世纪广场站).