Farewell, Tess
Tess Johnston, September 17, 1931 - September 14, 2025 It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Tess Johnston, our beloved friend, mentor, and co-founder. Tess pioneered the study of pre-1949 Shanghai, beginning at a time when the city’s historic buildings and their stories were ignored, and continuing ...
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Shanghai Art Deco Apartments: Five Fun Facts
Five fun facts about some of the most storied Art Deco apartment buildings in the former French Concession. Join us on Saturday for a walk through their stories - and many more! The Art Deco American Enclave ~ in the Former French Concession So what’s with all the French Concession Art Deco apartments named for ...
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The Tycoon & The Artist at No. 3 Baoqing Road
Psst! Wanna get inside two hard-to-get-into heritage villas? You’ve come to the right place. Getting inside the Shanghai Symphony Museum's heritage buildings is said to be one of the city's most difficult entrées, but this Saturday (July 12), Historic Shanghai is in. More info here. Read on for the story! The ...
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Paul French on “City of Devils”
Ahead of our City of Devils tour this Saturday (June 21, 2pm), here's author Paul French talking about the book ~ lots on interwar underworld Shanghai, rumor and gossip, old Shanghai's soundscape, plus some bonus reading recommendations. To book the walk, click here or email info@historic-shanghai.com Historic ...
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Shanghai Umbrellas for the Plum Rains
There are some things in life you can absolutely count on. Death, taxes … and the plum rains. Such a poetic name. Such a drippy season. Since there’s just no avoiding it, we at Historic Shanghai embrace it. Walks in the rain, big hair … and most importantly, a collection of Old Shanghai-themed umbrellas. We've ...
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Bookshelf: HOMESEEKING by Karissa Chen
Love, the Vicissitudes of History and the Shanghai Diaspora One of the most compelling ways of telling history is through its impact on individual lives, and that’s what Karissa Chen does so beautifully in Homeseeking, her debut novel. At one level, Homeseeking is a story about childhood sweethearts across a ...
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The Classical Gardens of Shanghai
Classical Chinese gardens in the springtime are a beautiful sight, but they’re an even more profound experience when you know what you’re looking at. On May 10, we’re visiting Qushui Garden 曲水园 with Shelly Bryant, author of The Classical Gardens of Shanghai. It’s a remarkable, revealing experience, as she ...
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