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Books

Roar, China! Langston Hughes in Shanghai

February is Black History month, and Shanghai has a fascinating, hidden history of Black American poets, activists, and musicians. Our inaugural Shanghai Black History walk is sold out, but you can sign up for the wait list here. Langston Hughes, the poet laureate of the Harlem Renaissance, spent three months in ...

The Classical Gardens of Shanghai

A Chinese garden is not a western garden -- there are tricks to “seeing” a classical Chinese garden, explains Shelly Bryant, author of The Classical Gardens of Shanghai. Bryant does just this in her brilliant book, opening the reader’s eyes to an appreciation of Chinese gardens. [caption id="attachment_952" ...

Memoirs: Russians in old Shanghai

Shanghai's extraordinary Russian community left its mark on the city's architecture, cuisine, lore, and in richly described memoirs of an unique period in history.  Historic Shanghai reviews a few of our favorite memoirs of Russians in old Shanghai. Russian at Heart: Sonechka's Story, by Olga Hawkes with John ...

Father’s Day Gift Guide

Put down the ugly tie. Step away from the cologne. June 19th is Father’s Day, and this year, give him a gift with a difference. A present that he will actually love. A Historic Shanghai gift. To order or book any of these items, email info@historic-shanghai.com Membership in Historic Shanghai  Research shows ...

Bookshelf: Death in Shanghai

MJ Lee’s Death in Shanghai is a delicious crime novel set in old Shanghai. Terrific plot, great characters, superb writing – and oh, the historical detail! It truly brings old Shanghai to life, infusing the characters, and even the crime. We wanted to know more, and author Martin Lee obliged us with an ...

The Interview: Katya Knyazeva on Shanghai’s Old Town

The original Shanghai – the “old town” – is hidden in plain sight, in center of China’s wealthiest city. Yet it is but a shadow, unexplored territory for both foreigners and locals. And it's vanishing quickly. Journalist, photographer, tour guide, and blogger Katya Knyazeva has spent six years painstakingly ...

Historic Shanghai’s Best Books of 2015

Our annual roundup of the year's best books on Shanghai's history. 2015 has produced an exceptional crop of books -- several that have been in the works for many years, by authors with impeccable Shanghai creds, and an unparalleled knowledge of Shanghai history. Instant classics! When True Love Came to China, Lynn ...