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Home / The Urban Edit / Shanghai

The Urban Edit

Shanghai

China’s High-Speed Trains. Which Class?

May 23, 2017 Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an

High Speed Train

China’s train network really is a thing of wonder: the country boasts more high-speed rail than the rest of the world combined. And if zipping between megacities at 300 kilometers per hour wasn’t impressive enough, the fact they almost always arrive bang on time makes them an invaluable option for those that find themselves stressed out by seemingly endless delays on the country’s domestic flight routes. In fact, before you sit back and relax, you have just one decision to make. Which class? To help kick off your journey in the best possible way Bespoke presents a primer to picking the seat that is best for you!

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The Great World

May 22, 2017 Shanghai

The Great World
The Great World of the past. Pic credit: Chinese Posters.

Turning one hundred years old is no mean feat, so Bespoke’s hearty congratulations go out to the lovely Great World building near People’s Square that was built in 1917. Now, whilst you’ve no doubt whizzed past this grand old dame countless times (and seen the bright white spire that looms over the elevated highway) you might not know that back in her youth she was a bit of a goer.

Opened as the city’s premier ‘entertainment complex’ and later taken over by corrupt-policeman-turned-mob boss ‘Pockmarked Huang’, the Great World was said to be teeming with life of every kind – contemporary accounts tell of everything from opera performances and tightrope walkers to fortune tellers, pickpockets and pimps!

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Xixi Bistro and the Xintiandi Renaissance

May 22, 2017 Shanghai

Xixi Xintiandi

The original Xixi Bistro was a real Bespoke fave when it opened back in 2015 and its closing left us somewhat bereft – just where were we supposed to get our Shanghai Italian fusion food now? The good news is that Xixi is back and she’s on as fine form as ever, having relocated from scruffy-but-charming Wuyuan Road to some seriously swanky new digs in none other than Xintiandi.

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3 Old School Shanghai Hotels

May 14, 2017 Shanghai

Taiyuan Villa, Ruijin Hotel Shanghai
Nice lawn, Taiyuan Villa

Shanghai’s stock of fabulous old buildings sometimes seems to dwindle by the day. As the city marches relentlessly toward its prosperous and harmonious future, one of two fates seems to befall our historical gems:

  • They are razed to the ground by teams of bulldozers and replaced by office blocks.
  • They are ‘restored to their original to condition’ (i.e. the architectural equivalent of a lobotomy is performed – we’re looking at you, Ruijin Intercontinental Hotel!).

There are still a handful of historic Shanghai hotels that, whilst bearing the brutal scars of decades of government management, retain just enough charm for lovers of creaky floorboards and original plasterwork for ‘Old Shanghai’ geeks like Bespoke to enjoy sneaking around. Here are a few of our heritage favorites with a big caveat: do not expect five star service at these joints (The Peninsula is full for a reason, right?). In fact, the lower you set your expectations, the better you’ll fare.

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New Hotels to Know: Shanghai & Beijing

May 14, 2017 Beijing, Shanghai

Let’s face it, from fluffy bathrooms and breakfast buffets through to the knowledge that there will always be someone to clean up after you, a fabulous hotel stay is one of the highlights of a proper holiday. Accommodation options at the top end in China have increased exponentially in the last decade but, in a country that seems to constantly reinvent itself, new options are always welcome. What’s more, 2017 is shaping up to see a bumper crop of openings from some leading players. Here’s the lowdown:

Capella
(Shanghai, Early Summer 2017)

Capella Shanghai
Capella Shanghai. Photo Credit: Capella Hotels.

Hurrah! We’ve been waiting forever for a proper boutique hotel in the leafy French Concession. Fifty-five rooms housed in a historic block of old shikumen lane homes and access to the city’s most eclectic shopping and dining should make this a winner with those that like low key luxury. Foodie bonus: Michelin favorite Pierre Gagnaire is opening a French resto here too.

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Wonderland

May 4, 2017 Shanghai

Wonderland Shanghai

If you want a great cocktail but aren’t in the mood to navigate the complex world of hidden doorways, vintage whiskies and expensive libations that 2017 bar-going seems to expect of you, then new Jing’an lounge Wonderland might just be the place for you.

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