Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2017 | Page 71

Shanghai Glamour Singapore International School, Tam, Andrea – 16 The Extravagance of Old Shanghai H umble, at the same time extravagant, and at its heart overflowing with style. She is defined with elegance, while embracing tradition with open arms - this is the spirit of Old Shanghai; the fusion between the new and the classical, and where western style begins to meet the east. Nanjing Road Endless cars passing like the flow of water, shopfronts glimmering in neon lights… When speaking of Shanghai, the mention of Nanjing Road is unavoidable. Located in the city center, and extending from the Bund to Xizang Road - it remains to be the main and most popular shopping street in the whole of Shanghai. So then you may ask: how did this all come to be? Curiously, Nanjing Road had its beginnings with a race of horses. In the 19th century, businessmen from the west began to see immense economic potential in Shanghai, and many decided to settle in the city. With an influx of westerners followed a spread of leisure culture from the west to the local people of Old Shanghai - and horse-racing became a part of this. A racetrack was consequently established near the Bund, spanning around 500m. This marks the beginning of Nanjing Road. To local Chinese residents, this track was known as “ma lu” - which when directly translated, means “Horse Road”; this is now also the colloquial expression for the main road of any street. When “Shanghai Jockey Club” was established around this area, “Horse Road” was remodeled to become the entrance road to the club building, and was renamed to be “Park Lane”. The club included a large garden, and an encircling lane for horseracing; this not only provided a new source of entertainment, but also had the enticing prospect of winning money. Thus, it gained popularity fast with locals - and this area soon became the entertainment hub of the city. Afterwards, high-end department stores began to emerge, eight in total, along with numerous franchised shops. Many western restaurants appeared around the area as well. Every weekend, or whenever a horse race occurred, street-hawkers would line the sidewalks, as the street bustled with people! Subsequently, the road underwent its second name change: when the Municipal Council officially named it as “Nanjing Road”. And as the city prospered, the road was further widened - with an increasing number of high-end stores, becoming even more lively and hectic (especially at night!). Poster Commercials, Beautiful Women Another mark of the full glamour of Old Shanghai would be poster commercials of the time. Poster commercials were hand-drawn advertisements, including: bold imagery of women in their swimsuits, women in long qipao, film stars, singing stars, extravagant beauty. Focused on indulgence and the luxury life, commercials of the time became synonymous with beautiful women, and only depicted the most fashionable clothing and hair. The sweeping reach attained by all poster commercials is simply astounding: they were seen all over the streets of Shanghai, where the painted pieces of beautiful women and the advertised product (often tobacco, cosmetics) lined the walls. Complementing their commercial purpose, the posters were drawn with such detail that their