We’ve always had a soft spot for the Drum and Bell Towers – architecturally unique they look pretty spectacular no matter which season you see them in. Here’s a little shot of them on a clear February evening looking particularly majestic…
Huashan
Old City Secrets. Our Most Surprising Tour.
Ever since we launched our Old City Secrets tour it’s been a favorite Bespoke Shanghai experience, interweaving elements of architecture and history with fascinating personal stories in a part of Shanghai that is all too often overlooked. Led by inimitable expert Katya, who has published an excellent book on this very part of town and has another coming soon, the walk through the backstreets has even convinced numerous long-term Shanghai residents that there is still plenty to discover in the city. Think you know Shanghai? Here are a handful of the route’s most captivating stops that may have you reconsidering.
The Confucius Temple Book Market
A perennial Bespoke favorite, the Confucius Market rarely sees many visitors beyond the students that flock here come exam time to pray for good results (worth a try, eh?). But Sundays are particularly special for the weekly book market that begins at dawn and feels like an event from a different era entirely. Don’t come hunting for a particular title – you’ll never find it – but surrender yourself to the serendipity of digging through old recipe books, family photo albums, communist comics and far more besides and you’ll have a ball.
Reign on the Bund: A Touch of Vegas in Shanghai.
Remember when the Park Hyatt opened and we all ooohed and aaahed over its elegant white walls, blond wood furniture and subtle lighting. Shanghai was ready to embrace a future of tasteful elegance and refined sophistication. Well, folks, that was way back in 2008 and guest what – it turns out minimalism was simply a passing fad. Wanda’s new Reign on the Bund hotel leads the new charge of ‘more is more’ venues that reminds us just how much fun unbridled extravagance can be, and then some. Watch out Vegas, Shanghai is coming for you.
Wanda, the Chinese mega-conglomerate, has been busy furiously buying and developing commercial properties the world over, but it’s Shanghai that they’ve picked for their top level, flagship hotel. And when your CEO is Wang Jianlin, the country’s richest man, you don’t do things by halves that’s for sure. It’s very clear that no expense has been spared here – and whilst the building’s exterior has been overseen by none other than British ‘starchitects’ Foster and Partners, it’s the interior design by the company’s own Wanda Design Institute that is very much the star of the show here.
Tesla Time! We’ve Pimped our Rides
At Bespoke we’ve always put a lot of effort into making sure our vehicles are the best out there. In-car Wi-Fi as standard, besuited drivers, a choice of soundtrack and a bunch of other useful little knick-knacks like phone chargers and umbrellas. But now we’re attempting to up the game further with a couple of sexy new additions to our touring fleet.
From this month onward we’re unleashing a handful of hot red Tesla cars onto the city’s mean streets. Those touring with us will have the option of booking one of these natty numbers to cruise around town allowing then to relax in in the knowledge that not only are they clearly out-cooling the competition, but also that their entirely electric vehicle is giving the city’s sometimes-less-than-perfect air quality levels a bit of a break. Result!
Seven Shanghai Hidden Gems That You Should Know By Now
1. The Back Alley Bow Tie Showroom
Shanghai’s glam ladies enjoy a reputation as the nation’s most fashionable, but the city’s millennial gents are snapping at their heals thanks to up-and-coming designers like Weixu Wang. His quirky little studio is tucked down a narrow lane behind the elegant old Meilong Zhen restaurant just off Nanjing Xi Lu, and you’ll need to pass groups of knitting aunties and bathtubs full of goldfish in order to find it. Inside, you’ll find a dazzling array of bow ties made from almost every conceivable material (including plastic ceramic and metal) that cover all the bases from conservative to crazy! Weixu Wang is at 1 F, Building 72l Nanjing West Road 1081.
2. The Great (Free) Glass Elevator Ride
The glorious old Art Deco wing of the Okura Garden Hotel – formerly the ‘Cercle Sportif’ – is well worth exploring, however many ignore the modern tower block stuck on the back. It does offer one wonderful gift though: a glass elevator on the outside of the building that whizzes from the lobby to the 33rd floor, giving those inside wonderful views right across the rooftops of the former French Concession and across to the skyscrapers of Pudong. Even better, the staff doesn’t seem to mind outside guests bumbling about, as long as you keep it low key. The Okura Garden Hotel is at 58 Maoming Road.