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English version La première fois que je suis venu à Shanghai, il y a dix ans, j'ai été très impressionné par le Peace Hotel, le joyau art-deco du célèbre Victor Sassoon. Je ne pensais pas alors qu'il puisse exister d'héritage architectural plus prestigieux pour cette famille, parfois surnommée les "Rothschild d'Orient". Pourtant récemment, lors d'un voyage en Inde, j'ai visité la Librairie David Sassoon de Mumbai (à gauche) et j'ai été aussi impressionné que lors de mon premier séjour à Shanghai. La Librairie David Sassoon... [Lire la suite]

Version Française When I first arrived in Shanghai, ten years ago, I was impressed by the magnificent Peace Hotel, gem of the notorious Victor Sassoon on the Bund. I could hardly imagine a more prestigious legacy for this family, also called the “Rothschild of the East”, as they made most of their fortune in Asia. However, I was recently on a journey to India and visited the Mumbai David Sassoon Library (left) and I was equally impressed as on my first visit to Shanghai. The David Sassoon Library is only one tiny part... [Lire la suite]

Version Française Among my preferate books about Shanghai, Albert Londres "War in Shanghai" ranks top of the list. a series of articles written during the 1932 shanghai incident. Albert Londres came to shanghai between November 1931 and April 1932 to comment the events of the invasion of Manchuria by Japan. When he arrived, he was eventually caught in the first battle of Shanghai between Japanese Marine Corp and Chinese Republican Army. His report of these dramatic episode is a unique insight on Shanghai communities of the time at a... [Lire la suite]

Beginning of article In the heart of the action "The Asian madness has just struck Shanghai", he wirites on 31st January 1932. "War is in the streets!". Following the boycott of Japanese goods, the Empire of Japan Marine Corps suddenly launched its troops on Shanghai. This conflct will last one month and result in some 30000 dead among them two thirds are civilians. Albert Londres was staying in the Palace Hotel, opposite today's Peace Hotel, which made it easy to walk to war scene on  Broadway Avenue or the nearby French... [Lire la suite]

English version Parmi les livres qui m’ont le plus inspiré dans ma quête du Shanghai d’hier et d’aujourd’hui, “La guerre à Shanghai”, recueil d’articles d’Albert Londres figure en bonne place. Le célèbre reporter est en effet venu a Shanghai entre Novembre 1931 et Avril 1932 afin de commenter les "événements" liés à l'invasion de la Manchourie par le Japon. A travers une série d’articles quotidiens particulierement vivants et bien documentés, on decouvre par le détail le Shanghai des années 30 avec un oeil neuf captant... [Lire la suite]

Début de l'article Au coeur de l'action "La folie asiatique vient de toucher Shanghai, écrit-il le 31 Janvier 1932. La guerre est dans les rues". Suite au boycott des biens Japonais par la population locale, la Marine Japonaise vient en effet de lancer une offensive dans la ville. C'est le début d'un mois de conflit sanglant qui fera plus de 30000 morts dont les deux-tiers sont des civils. Descendu au Palace sur le Bund (en face du Peace Hotel actuel), notre journaliste peut se rendre facilement à pied à la fois sur... [Lire la suite]

Version Française Today I would like to share with you some of the pleasures of Shanghai winter. It is true that temperature can go down to 2 degrees Celsius some day but winter gives Shanghai a unique charm. Art Deco unveil itself Shanghai has a world reputation for its Art Deco architecture. In 1925, the Paris Salon des Arts Decoratifs would launch a new style for designers and construction builders, featuring progress and modernity. As Shanghai's economy was booming in the late 20's up to mid 30's, this style was rapidly... [Lire la suite]

English version Aujourd’hui, j’aimerais partager avec vous les joies de l’hiver shanghaien. S’il est vrai que les températures baissent un peu à Shanghai au mois de Décembre et de Janvier (2 degrés certains jours), l’hiver à Shanghai permet d’apprécier la ville de manière différente et même mieux selon moi qu'à d’autres saisons L’Art Deco se dévoile en hiver Comme chacun le sait, Shanghai est reputée pour son architecture des années 30, l’une des périodes les plus prospères de la ville. Le Salon des Arts Decoratifs de Paris de 1925... [Lire la suite]

The republican elites After Chiang Kai Shek coup in 1927, it will not be long for the new rulers to take personal advantage of their links with finance in the fight against communism. Chiang himself had a couple of villas built in Shanghai for his wife and family. His brother in law and also finance minister of the Kuomintang, TV Soong,  and most of all the banker HH Kong who married one of the Soong sisters like Chiang largely used their positions to get richer. The minister of... [Lire la suite]

Version Française You might already have noticed that I am fascinated by the glamour side of Shanghai 30's. No wonder then that I tell you today about the tycoons and the wealthy people of these years who gave the city some of its most beautiful buildings and landmarks. One question is to know how they got rich? Another one is who were they? I mean were they only some westerners coming into Shanghai to take advantage of the "Unfair Treaties" or were there also some Chinese among them to get the best of those golden years?... [Lire la suite]