Sea Breeze - Shanghai Nightlife Map

Author: Jiang Yi■
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Shanghai boasts a large number of municipal and district-level performing arts troupes, as well as internationally and domestically renowned directors and actors. The most beloved theatrical genres include Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Hu Opera, Yue Opera, Huai Opera,, xiaojuxi, and Pingtan, along with music, dance, circus, and acrobatics. Each genre has its own loyal audience and fans. In communities, parks, cultural centers, and clubs, there are many opera enthusiasts and music lovers who sing and dance for their own enjoyment. Shanghai offers a rich variety of film and television programs. The city has 2 radio stations, 4 television stations, 4 film studios, and excellent filming facilities. "Dazhongshijie" (Great World) is a typical representation of Shanghai's Huai-style art. Once known as the "Far East Amusement Park," "Dazhongshijie" was built in 1917 and originally founded by Shanghai tycoon Huang Chujiu, later acquired by Huang Jinrong. Inside "Dazhongshijie," there are cinemas, large and small theaters, variety shows, funhouse mirrors, and more. In the 1960s, visitors only needed to spend 2 cents on a ticket to wander around and enjoy themselves all day. Today, the area around "Dazhongshijie" has been, but the building still stands proudly at the center of Shanghai's streets. Currently, "Dazhongshijie" is closed for renovation, but it will soon once again showcase its unique Huai-style cultural and artistic charm to the public. Huai-style art is innovative. Over the past century, Shanghai has produced countless Huai-style art masters who dared to forge their own paths. One such master is the legendary Peking Opera artist Zhou Xinfang. After losing his voice, he carved out a new niche, establishing the Qipai—a non-mainstream branch of Peking Opera. Qipai has many followers, with ticket holders rivaling those of any other school. Another pioneer is the renowned painter Liu Haisu, who boldly introduced female nude models to art schools as early as March 1915, shaking the entire Chinese continent. From then on, models began to be formally incorporated into art education. The term "Huai-style" has become a symbol of inclusivity. It is thoroughly "foreign" yet deeply "local," blending tradition and modernity to create a distinctive style. As a result, Shanghai writers are called "Huai-style writers," Shanghai novels are labeled "Huai-style novels," Shanghai-style cuisine is known as "Huai-style food," and Huai-style fashion has become a trendsetting symbol. Of course, the most iconic "Huai-style" work in Shanghai is the fusion of Chinese and Western architecture. (2) Modern and Traditional Convergence: The Bund, known as the "Exposition of International Architecture," is a showcase of architectural diversity. The dozens of buildings along the west bank of the Huangpu River, each with a unique style, can be seen as a microcosm of the history of world architectural development. If we expand the scope of this "exposition" to include all of Shanghai's architecture, we can see the city's diverse, trendy, and personalized characteristics. Therefore, when visiting Shanghai, it is essential to savor its various urban buildings. Beyond the Bund's visually stunning and richly meaningful architecture, there are five other highlights to explore. P7-9