HERITAGE HAUNTS
Rebecca has a deep appreciation for Shanghai, as her mother, Mary, is from the city, and she spent quite a bit of time there when she was younger. The Fairmont Peace Hotel, an art deco landmark on the Bund, “was my Shanghainese grandmother’s favourite hotel. I remember running around the halls like a crazy princess”, Rebecca quips. To indulge in a taste of old Shanghai, Rebecca urges a visit to The Jazz Bar at the Fairmont Peace Hotel and the Long Bar at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund for its jazz bands. “These are beautiful venues for enjoying live music, it feels like you’re stepping into a scene from The Great Gatsby.” Mary is also a co-owner of The Waterhouse at South Bund, a boutique hotel that was converted from old military bunkers. Not surprisingly, this is also one of Rebecca’s favourite places to stay in Shanghai.
The French Concession is a great neighbourhood for soaking up Shanghai’s history. The area is so named because it was once ceded to the French as a settlement area, and it’s known for its European architecture. It’s a favourite spot for Taha. He explains, “I have always been drawn to places steeped in history, where I could imagine myself living in another time.” For Lydia, the best streets in this neighbourhood are Huaihai Road, Xintiandi, Tianzifang and Xuhui— all lined with interesting architecture and shops. To go even further back in time, the charming water towns a few hours outside of Shanghai boast dwellings, waterways and bridges first built hundreds of years ago. Of these, Taha enjoys Zhujiajiao’s picturesque atmosphere, while Tze Tze favours Wuzhen, which is known as the Venice of China. The latter is good for travellers who cannot unplug—a World Internet Conference was held here in 2014, which led to this very traditionallooking town being wired for Wifi connection.