Susan Blumberg-Kason

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Shanghai Art Deco in the Old City

November 11, 2015 By Susan Blumberg-Kason 4 Comments

After eleven fabulous days in Shanghai and Hong Kong, I’m home and quickly adjusting to Chicago time. My mom, good friend Mary, and I attended the World Congress on Art Deco from November 1-6 and had so much fun.

We attended lectures in the morning at the Shanghai Peninsula and walking tours in the afternoon. Each night (except for one) included dinner at an Art Deco landmark. Our last night concluded with a gala at the Peace Hotel, where we stayed.

I have so many photos to share, so I’ll start with my first walking tour in Shanghai last week: the Old City.

Shanghai lane

Art Deco is everywhere in Shanghai, including the detailing in these lanes. See the vertical Art Deco lines on the building?

deco details on building

The lower part of this balcony features more vertical lines, but also stars and what I think are sunbeams.

deco details on porch

More Art Deco lines.

lane archway

This isn’t Art Deco, but the lattice work is beautiful and tucked away in a courtyard. Our guide said it’s a miracle it survived the Cultural Revolution.

courtyard lattice work

I like the rounded balcony and wooden shutters, but just to the left of this building you can see more Art Deco detailing.

rounded balcony

I also liked these old window shutters.

window shutters

In the Old City, there are some old Art Deco mansions, like this one that used to be occupied by a tycoon and his two wives and their families. I love the rounded balconies. (I’ll post more photos of homes with round features in the days to come.)

deco mansion

As a history nerd, I also appreciated this Republican-era banner. The date is three years after the Republic began, so 1912+3=1915.

Three years into the republic

And this partially covered banner is from the Cultural Revolution (1966-76).

Cultural Revolution banner

Up next, Art Deco in the Former French Concession. For more about the World Congress on Art Deco in Shanghai, check out their website.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: China, My Family's Travels

Comments

  1. Maria Deng says

    November 12, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    I love the upside-down hearts, very cute touch! Did you get a chance to visit any nice restaurants during your stay?

    Reply
    • Susan Blumberg-Kason says

      November 17, 2015 at 7:34 pm

      Yes! Every night we went to a banquet at a historical building. It was so much fun. We also had a large banquet for lunch one day when we met my ex-husband and his new wife!

      Reply
      • Maria Deng says

        November 19, 2015 at 7:38 pm

        Wow! How was that? Possibly a story to add for a future book! 😉

        Reply
        • Susan Blumberg-Kason says

          November 19, 2015 at 10:46 pm

          It went really well and, yes, that’s my plan!

          Reply

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