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Home / The Urban Edit

The Urban Edit

Eat Like a Local – a Shanghai Foodie Adventure

April 16, 2015 Shanghai

Dumpling Steamers
Your dumplings await, m’lady

Shanghai’s foodie credentials have never been more prolific – featuring ever higher on ‘Best Restaurant’ lists and in the glossy write-ups in international travel mags. But of course that’s just a tiny part of the story – the vast majority of locals rarely make the trek to the Bund for fine dining, and why would they, when some of the best food in the city comes from a hole in the wall?

That’s right, the food we’d happily pole-vault the Great Wall of China for is in fact much more local. There are just a few things you need to experience it: an empty stomach, a willingness to veer off the beaten track, and, with nary a word of English spoken in most tiny local establishments (let alone written), a lot of guidance is key. Enter Bespoke and our foodie expert: an experienced, well-connected food critic who knows every culinary corner of the city. Roll up your sleeves and prepare to jostle for a red plastic stool – we’re taking you local.

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Design Shanghai

March 30, 2015 Shanghai

Shanghai Exhibition Centre Exterior
‘The Wedding Cake’

Quite frankly, we’re always happy to find an excuse to spend a bit of time in the Shanghai Exhibition Centre. The 1955 Soviet-style building, sometimes referred to as the ‘wedding cake’, has more charm than the multitude of new conference centres on the fringes of the city combined. Appropriate then, that this should be the venue of choice for the second Design Shanghai, a showcase of all things visually fabulous (not to mention fabulously expensive) that rolled back into town this past weekend.

Central Hall of Shanghai Exhibition Centre
The Central Hall

Shanghai has always played second fiddle to Beijing in the contemporary art world, but the organizers of this show seemed determined to proclaim Shanghai as the design capital of China. Locals turned out in full support – so packed was the building’s vast Central Hall that the usually unflappable army of Italian vendors in sharp suits, here to promote their wares to a new generation of style-conscious homeowners, looked distinctly harried. Ticket touts prowled the streets outside, selling entry passes to those who had come too late to register.

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A Tale of Three Water Towns

March 19, 2015 Shanghai

Wandering through Wuzhen
Wandering through Wuzhen

Shanghai’s a hard city to leave – not just because there is so much to do here, but also because it’s so darn big. The 24 million headcount doesn’t include the numerous (often very large) cities that sit just outside its borders, making for one of the most densely populated areas on earth.

If you’d like a day out of town, the ‘water towns’ are your best bet. Located on tributaries of the Grand Canal, you’ll find classic Chinese scenery here – wooden boats drift along winding waterways crossed by stone bridges. These scenes are a real treat for photographers and those who would like a taste of how this region would have looked in years gone by. What you’re seeing is a mix of preservation and restoration for visitors. Commercial development has been rapid in some of the towns – you’ll need to purchase a ticket to enter, for example, and most have a growing number of cafes and stores. In this respect, we’d say it’s best to think of these towns as ‘open museums’ rather than unspoiled, rural idylls.

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New Tour! The Story of Communism in China

March 16, 2015 Beijing

Chinese propaganda poster
He’s got his ticket, have you?

Communism is a mighty big subject. And a mighty touchy one too, if you decide to get into a discussion about its merits in China. But here at Bespoke we don’t shy away from the meaty topics. Which is why we’re so excited about our new tour: The Story of Communism in China. Join Bespoke’s experienced local guide and China history expert as he tells the country’s Communist story – from The Party’s surprising roots in radical academic journal La Jeunesse, to the rise of its most important player: Mao Zedong.

Tiananmen Gate at Night
Today. But what about yesterday? Where did it all begin?

You’ll visit the university where Mao got his first job as a librarian; hear the story of the incredible Soong Sisters, whose love lives would go on to shape modern China; and stand in the shadow of Mao’s portrait as you learn how Stalin’s big snub pushed the Great Leader to his limit. Crucially, this tour is led by a local Chinese history expert, who positively relishes answering those tricky questions you’ve always been too afraid to ask.

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Where to Get Your Mao Fix in Beijing

March 13, 2015 Beijing

Looking for some Communist Kitsch? Mao Memorabilia? Or just a few places to witness Beijing’s not so distant past? Well you’ve come to the right place. Read on for Bespoke Beijing’s ultimate guide.

Panjiayuan Market

with thanks to myshanghainoodles.wordpress.com
Buy a mini porcelain Great Helmsman to watch over you always…

It’s hard to beat Panjiayuan Market for the sheer number of Mao items on sale. From the Great Helmsman’s Little Red Book to genuine propaganda posters from the ’50s and ’60s (expect to pay around 1,800-4,000RMB per poster depending on age, rarity and quality).
Panjiayuan Market Panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang district. Open 4.30am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.

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The Inn Thing: NUO Hotel Beijing

March 10, 2015 Beijing

NUO Hotel Beijing

When you think about the world’s ultra-premium hotel chains, Hong Kong can claim a decent slice of the cake (Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, Langham etc.). Mainland China, on the other hand, lacks any brands with comparable global recognition. But that’s something the NUO Hotel Group is hoping to change this year with their flagship opening, NUO Hotel Beijing. And guess who got an exclusive peek? [Us, duh!]

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