Shanghai

Taiwanese art historian Chiang Hsun recalls his memories of his dear friend Ching-ti, from the lectures he conducted in her bakery to the death of her beloved husband. Ching-ti was a generous woman unbothered by life’s trivialities, but was unprepared to face the death of her loved one.

Academic Ying Zhu observes that in Blossoms Shanghai directed by Wong Kar-wai, Shanghai is vivid, vibrant and evocative of both the glamour of a colonial Hong Kong and the hustle and bustle of a gilded-age Shanghai. The TV drama speaks of the historical relationship between the two cities, and when the bright lights have dimmed, the ruins of the spectacle and the broken dreams. If geopolitical reshuffling in recent years has diminished Hong Kong’s lustre as a first-tier global city and the link between China and the rest of the world, what does the future have in store for Shanghai?

One of Shanghai’s commercial areas has seen a boost in consumption since the New Year, partly driven by the popularity of the Blossoms Shanghai television series. Even as consumption returns to pre-pandemic levels, officials will need to do more to ensure that this recovery remains sustainable over the long term. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing tells us more.

The TV series Blossoms Shanghai has revived interest in what life was like in Shanghai during the 1990s, in particular the lanes and shikumen houses unique to Shanghai that became a melting pot of people from different social statuses. Writer Shen Jialu takes us on a journey through old Shanghai.

As the popular TV series Blossoms Shanghai shows the thriving Shanghai of the 1990s, the Shanghai of today is a far cry from the TV series. How can Shanghai find its rhythm again?

The real estate sector in China’s first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai has recorded declining performance since the pandemic, with a full rebound still nowhere to be seen. Given the usual lag in the effectiveness of policies after implementation, will the real estate market see a silver lining ahead? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing tells us more.

Academic Zhang Tiankan notes that crowded children’s hospitals in Beijing actually reflect social conditions, such as mindsets towards hospital treatment being the best and also the stressful education system, as children do their homework even while hooked up to IV drips. In many cases, rushing to the hospital as an immediate response could do more harm than good and be a great drain on public resources.

This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Shanghai, China’s largest financial centre, has sent strong signals of the leadership’s emphasis on the country’s economic development. And it is clear from the itinerary the importance the higher-ups are placing on the three areas of finance, technology and livelihood. Nonetheless, Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes more research needs to be done before the introduction of more powerful policies that can turn the tide of the sluggish economy.

Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing recaps this year’s Halloween parade in Shanghai, which saw young people expressing their thoughts on current affairs through their costumes. Will Halloween celebrations be as boisterous next year?