The wind and flowers of Shanghai

Author: Chen Danyan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: Chen Danyan, in the guise of an explorer and nostalgia enthusiast, wanders through the century-long history of Shanghai, recording historical relics scattered across the streets and alleys, and looking back at the old times she had never experienced; while imagining the life stories of historical figures like Eileen Chang, Zhang Xueliang, and Yan Wenliang in the old houses they once lived in, she laments the endless changes of the times; through the new trends of contemporary Shanghai—coffee shops, bars, dance halls, and beauty salons—she captures the life interests and subtle psychology of modern Shanghai residents; from Ms. Zhang Ke, who has endured hardships yet remains noble and elegant, to the young lady of the Guo family, who once enjoyed great wealth and later fell into poverty yet still possessed exquisite and luxurious charm, she discovers the unique character of outstanding Shanghai women. A wealth of precious old photographs and text complement each other, making it a culturally rich and elegantly styled Shanghai unofficial history. Shanghai, once called the "Paris of the East," was once a dazzling and flamboyant world, and was once the epitome of fashion and exquisite living. Thirty years of isolation from the outside world buried the former splendor of Shanghai in the thick dust of history. Chen Danyan, in the guise of an explorer and nostalgia enthusiast, wanders through the century-long history of Shanghai, recording historical relics scattered across the streets and alleys, and looking back at the old times she had never experienced; while imagining the life stories of historical figures like Eileen Chang, Zhang Xueliang, and Yan Wenliang in the old houses they once lived in, she laments the endless changes of the times; through the new trends of contemporary Shanghai—coffee shops, bars, dance halls, and beauty salons—she captures the life interests and subtle psychology of modern Shanghai residents; from Ms. Zhang Ke, who has endured hardships yet remains noble and elegant, to the young lady of the Guo family, who once enjoyed great wealth and later fell into poverty yet still possessed exquisite and luxurious charm, she discovers the unique character of outstanding Shanghai women. A wealth of precious old photographs and text complement each other, making it a culturally rich and elegantly styled Shanghai unofficial history.