Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2017 | Page 67

second tallest in the world. Most of the buildings along the river side are filled with banks, finance and insurance
companies. The Shanghai Stock Exchange, the world’s 5th largest stock market by market capitalization at
US$3.5 trillion as of February 2016, is also located in Pudong. After its closure following the establishment of the
PRC, the stock exchange was finally re-established on November 26, 1990 after a 41-year hiatus. However,
unlike the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, it is still not entirely open to foreign investors due to tight capital
account controls imposed by the mainland authorities. These decisions are subject to manipulation by the Central
Government with little to no transparency.
Apart from the financial industry, Shanghai is also hailed as the centre of fashion in China. From Mao Suits to
Victoria Beckham, the city is on track to becoming the Fashion Capital of the Orient.
The Shanghai fashion story found its roots in 1843 when it was opened as a commercial port. It quickly became
one of the first cities to be exposed to western thoughts and cultures, including fashion. It was the first city that
dared to try something new. The iconic “Cheongsam / Qipao”, which remains the most recognized symbol of
the Shanghai fashion scene, is a perfect example of “east meets west”. Modernized from the traditional
Manchurian qipao, the new style contrasts sharply with its inspiration which was designed to intentionally
conceal the figure and be worn regardless of age. The Shanghai qipao went along well with the western
overcoat and the scarf, portraying a unique East Asian modernity and epitomizing the boldness of the
Shanghainese population. The Shanghainese styles have seen a recent revival of stylish party dresses and the
fashion industry has been rapidly revitalized in the past decade. When China’s first lady Peng Liyuan wore a
cobalt blue qipao-style knee length dress during her visit to Spain in 2016, her attire was praised by international
media for its elegance and dignified image. Her style has quickly become a fashion statement which is now
widely followed by Chinese women across the country and even overseas.
Besides nurturing its own unique designs, Shanghai is the target of global luxury brands like Hermes and Louis
Vuitton as well as affordable brands such as Zara and H&M. Shanghai Fashion Week, held in April and October,
is a major semi-annual business and cultural event of national class hosted by the Shanghai Municipal
Government. The event, where many renowned international designers present their latest work, has become a
venue for designers targeting the Chinese market. However, the primary purpose is to showcase homegrown
Chinese designers. If Michelle Obama has Jason Wu, Peng has mainland designer Ma Ke, who is the head of the
Exception de Mixmind label! As a result, more and more Chinese designers are exploring the international
fashion world.
Shanghai was the birthplace of Chinese cinema when motion pictures were introduced to China in 1896. The
first Chinese film, The Battle of Dingjunshan, was made in November 1905. In 1909, Asia Film Company,
which is China’s first film company, was established in Shanghai as a joint venture between American
businessman Benjamin Polaski, Chinese comprador Zhang Shichuan, and Chinese theatrical talent Zhen
Zhengqiu. Shanghai’s film industry went on to blossom during the early 1930s, generating Marilyn Monroe-like
stars such as Zhou Xuan. Shanghai’s film industry continued to develop into the bright star in the world film
industry that it is today. Shanghai is no longer simply a film backdrop for foreign blockbuster movies; it has
developed into an incubator for original content and a center for film shooting and post-production.
Furthermore, the Shanghai international film festival is gaining acclaim as one of the biggest film festivals in
Asia. SIFF focuses on awards, markets, forums and film exhibitions, with the goal to build an international
platform, and promote the development of the Chinese film industry as well as the exchange and cooperation
between Chinese and foreign films. In recent years, with the growth of China’s economic strength and the rise of
its international status, Chinese films have attracted more and more attention from a global audience. SIFF, held
in June annually, has become a great event for filmmakers worldwide, whose universal industry appeal and
international influence on the world’s multicultural film culture and development of the film industry have also
been praised by people inside and outside the industry.
Have you ever wondered how everything you buy from China comes to your country? It is thanks to Shanghai’s
comprehensive infrastructure development. The Port of Shanghai, which covers the size of 470 football pitches
and handles more than 736 million tonnes of cargo annually, is the busiest port in the world and will remain so
with China’s breakneck economic growth. Shanghai also has two international airports, something no other city
in China can boast. Pudong International Airport handles 60% of flights, while the remaining 40% uses
Hongqiao International Airport. As one of the main Chinese airline hubs, the city has opened connections with
nearly two hundred cities, half domestic and half international. Direct flights connect the city with dozens of
international air terminals, facilitating both business and leisure travel.