Shanghai Art Deco in the Old City

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.

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

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

More Art Deco lines.

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.

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

I also liked these old 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.)

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

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

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