Some people say: Chinese history looks at Xi'an for two thousand years, Beijing for a thousand years, and Shanghai for a hundred years. Shanghai's history is the epitome of China's modern history. It used to be a public concession, and dozens of classical revival buildings with different styles stand on the edge of the Bund, vividly writing the Shanghai customs of the 1920s and 1930s. It is known as the Bund's "International Architecture Expo Group". How many gorgeous turns in movie scenes and how many thrilling stories of midnight dreams have fallen into this legendary city, where classics have been interpreted and have never been surpassed.

The Bund has a total length of 1.5 kilometers. It starts from Yan 'an East Road in the south and ends at Waibaidu Bridge on the Suzhou River in the north. The Huangpu River in the east is the Huangpu River, and the west is the concentration of old Shanghai's financial and foreign trade institutions. Come to the Bund to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Huangpu River and see old buildings have become must-check-in items for tourists. Among the dozens of old buildings on the Bund, this "First Tower of the Far East" with green roofs has to be mentioned. In 1929, Alice, a British Jew on the wealthy side at that time. Victor Sassoon built a hotel on the Bund in Shanghai, bringing almost all of Europe to it. It was called the "Chinachem Hotel" at the time.

More than 90 years have passed, but now it still stands on the edge of the Bund in the form of a "Peace Hotel". Its value far exceeds that of ordinary hotels. Walking into it is like walking into the old Shanghai years. Now even if you don't stay here, you can visit this most representative building in China and taste the style of Shanghai Beach. For a classic tour of the Peace Hotel, you can visit the lobby, Molly Lee, Jazz Bar, Peace Museum, East District Corridor and East Gate of the Bund, Chinachem Pavilion, Dragon and Phoenix Hall, Ralik Corridor, and Peace Hall.

Shanghai writer Chen Danyan wrote in her book "Becoming Peace Hotel":"There is no monument more competent to make a monument to Shanghai than the Peace Hotel. In an open, simple, and knowledgeable way to connect and prove the vicissitudes of the old era. This is a richness and authenticity that no simple monument can match." It can be said that the stories of Shanghai Beach and the celebrities of the past century have all been condensed here. During this trip to Shanghai, I had the honor to stay at this legendary hotel and feel the feelings of old Shanghai.

[Lobby: Octagonal dome and Shanghai miniature silver prints]

For a long time, the octagonal dome on the top of the lobby was closed. During the major renovation in 2007, the glass skylight of the lobby was seen again. In the middle of the tall and spacious lobby, the stained glass on the roof is so gorgeous that one can't help but stop and look up. Stained glass with gold and pink and green is inlaid on the octagonal courtyard, allowing light to flow clearly from the sky, making it warm and bright. On the dome, you can also see the symbol of the Victor family, the "Hound". He himself is also keen on horse racing and hunting, and originally named the bar "Horse and Hound".

The central "dove of peace" was donated by artists during the 90th anniversary of the Peace Hotel. It is made of 1580 pieces of glass. It relies on traditional glass craftsmanship to shape the body. It uses a deconstructive modern art language to convey the beautiful posture of the dove of peace to spread its wings. It is avant-garde yet dignified, calm yet romantic. Its meaning coincides with the "Peace Hotel". The dove of peace represents peace and is also the best symbol of the image of the Peace Hotel.

On all sides of the dove of peace, there are four miniature silver prints of Shanghai, showing the style of the Bund in the 1920s and 1930s, which makes people think of it elegant.

The east gate of the Peace Hotel is not open on weekdays. It is said that feng shui says that all assets will be scattered against the Huangpu River. This retro staircase has become a good check-in point for tourists, and Chaplin's wedding ceremony area is also here. The elevator leading to the restaurant also goes up from here.

There is also a photo exhibition in the corridor leading to the East Gate. You can see the classic pictures taken here,"The City that Never Sleeps","Tiny Times 3","Listening to the Wind","Mei Lanfang" and "Untouchable" and so on.

[Peace Museum, the first hotel-style museum in China]

Did you ever know that this most landmark hotel in Shanghai houses a museum? This is probably the first museum established in the form of a hotel in China? There is an inconspicuous staircase hidden on the corner of the first floor. Guests can visit it for free. The museum is not large in size, but it condenses the 91-year history of the Peace Hotel.

The museum displays a number of "antique" supplies such as copper ice cones engraved with the words "Chinachem Hotel"(the predecessor of the North Building of the Peace Hotel), copper key tags, copper thermos, copper ashtrays, and silver spoons, as well as famous calligraphy and paintings such as Wu Changshuo, Fu Baoshi, and Liu Haisu.

Various time-sensitive instruments, full of mottled historical marks, record the glory left by the original owner Sassoon and his celebrity and political friends. Looking at these old photos in front of you, historical pictures will flash before your eyes. From Sun Yat-sen to Lu Xun, from Chaplin to Montgomery, the celebrity anecdotes in "Old Peace" add some interesting topics when people look back on the years. Playwright Bernard Shaw visited, General Weidemeyer of the United States visited, General Marshall stayed there, and even President Stuart and the famous Indian poet Tagore stayed here; American comedy master Charlie Chaplin and the actress Pauline Gauday of "Modern Times" stayed in Room 51; after the founding of New China, the Peace Hotel also received Queen Elizabeth II of England, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and other leaders.

This small museum can be said to display historical records and humanistic legends from the Chinachem Hotel to the Peace Hotel. Its profound historical heritage and rich cultural heritage have made the Peace Hotel an "architectural prop" for 33 movies and TV series.

Now the Peace Hotel Museum is open to guests, and tourists can also pay a visit to experience Shanghai's most landmark buildings and enter the extraordinary years of Shanghai Beach.

In this peaceful space, the historical and humanistic stories of the Chinachem Hotel (1929 to 1952) and the Peace Hotel (1956 to 2007) are told, as well as the hotel's new look after careful renovation and reopening on July 28, 2010., allowing people to understand the building's nearly a century of ups and downs. Stroll around the museum and enjoy the feeling of time flow, look at the Sassoon period writing desk, and flip through old Shanghai books. The taste is really good.

[Nine-Country Suite, the luxury feeling of living in the 1930s]

Staying at the Peace Hotel for one night is the first choice for many tourists visiting Shanghai. Only here can you feel the most original flavor of Shanghai and the feelings of old Shanghai.

There are 270 unique luxury rooms and suites in the hotel, equipped with furniture in a combination of Art Deco style and modern living facilities. What is more worth mentioning is the Nine-Country Suite located on the 567th floor. These suites are Sassoon's imagination and philosophy. He wants to incorporate the customs of different countries into the Chinachem Hotel. Now Indian, British, Chinese and American suites directly follow the original style of the Peace Hotel, while French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and German suites have been redesigned while maintaining the original concept of different national and historical styles. Each suite covers an area of approximately 178 square meters. During this trip to Shanghai, I had the honor to stay in the French Suite. Follow my camera to see what it looks like inside?

The French Suite is located on the 6th floor. Guests staying in the suite can go directly to the Jinzun Executive Floor on the 9th floor to check in and enter the Jinzun Lounge for free to enjoy continental breakfast and afternoon tea snacks. Opening the door, a suite with an area of about 178 square meters appeared in front of you. First, there is a corridor with a wine bar at the end of the corridor.

The overall layout of the French suite is an elegant and fashionable style, decorated with classical wallpaper in the style of art and movement. In addition, there are walnut carved furniture and luxurious design fabrics. The living room was the scene setting for the first episode of the TV series "Negotiator", and Yang Mi was sitting on the sofa here at that time. The design of the fireplace also highlights the European style and has a strong retro charm.

The dining room can see the view of the Bund, facing the Oriental Pearl Tower, especially when the lights are on at night, it is beautiful.

An old-fashioned clock placed in the corner of the dining room brings people to Shanghai's distant memories of the 1930s. It is particularly elegant to take photos wearing a cheongsam.

There is a comfortable queen bed in the middle of the bedroom. The mattress is soft, but there is no feeling of falling down when lying down. Even a person like me who usually has a bad lumbar disc feels very comfortable.

The charming marble bathroom has a large bathtub, and all toiletries are Le Labo's ROSE 31 series. The unique aroma teaches people to enter the prosperous olfactory space.

Many dignitaries, celebrities and stars have stayed in these suites, and many movies and TV series are also set here. The "Nine Countries Suite" presents tourists with the style of another era in this bustling metropolis of Shanghai, a kind of charm and extraordinary taste. The elegance of the 1930s can be seen from the solemn oak wall decorations and wooden window sills. Leaning on the windowsill, looking at the Huangpu River, listening to the honking of passing ships and the clock telling of the Bund Customs Building, I was filled with emotion.

[Chinachem Pavilion, the most beautiful viewing platform on the Bund]

The predecessor of Chinachem Pavilion was the "steak house" of the Peace Hotel. At that time, it meant the top Western restaurant, and rich people from all over the world came to check in. To this day, the open-air private room 6000, the best viewing position, still needs to be booked in advance for one night, and window seats need to be booked more than one week in advance.

This is a great place to see the Shanghai Bund. The meals presented in the form of set meals are also very delicious. Lunch is 388 yuan/person +15% service charge, with one choice of starter, main course and dessert.

Appetizers: Baked eggs with Spanish sausage, Spanish sausage with spicy sauce, and side dishes with mushrooms and baked potatoes.

Main course: Lamb chops, optional degree of ripeness, choose 7th rare, two large pieces of Australia lamb frame bones, paired with green vegetable puree and rosemary sauce, make the lamb chops taste better in the mouth. The yellow one is a thousand-layer potato (I almost didn't know it was a potato), with a layered taste and a little crispy feeling. The red color is vinegar pickled red onions, with a sweet and sour taste.

Desserts: Pavlova cake, a rectangular cake that will not be sweet, has a refreshing taste, and is also paired with a ball of chocolate ice cream. It is my favorite in summer!

Afternoon tea is also in the form of set meals. The desserts at the dessert counter are well matched, and you can choose freely! very comfortable

The open-air cocktail lounge on the roof is also an important member of the Bund skyline. Standing here, you can enjoy both sides of the Huangpu River and enjoy the most beautiful urban landscape in Shanghai.

When night falls, the lights are on, and the light and shadow flow on both sides of the Bund, making it beautiful.

This is also the best location for portraits. With the Bund as the background, it feels too modern (two girls took no less than 100 pictures here... Hahaha)

[Dragon and Phoenix Hall, Classic Luxury Chinese Restaurant]

The Dragon and Phoenix Hall located on the 8th floor, with traditional Chinese red pillars and green walls, Khitan gold patterns and the famous Dragon and Phoenix Roof, create a classic and luxurious style and atmosphere, allowing guests to travel through time and space, as if they were in a gourmet paradise enjoyed by the royal family.

Longfeng Hall is a well-known high-end Chinese restaurant that serves the most classic Shanghai and Cantonese cuisine. The ingredients are exquisite, the service is thoughtful, and the retro exquisiteness makes you feel like you have returned to the extraordinary years of that year.

Old Shanghai Smoked Fish, as the most classic cold dish series in Shanghai cuisine, the taste of this smoked fish is still quite acceptable to southerners, not too sweet, and the fish is just right crispy

Xiangzao Bo Dou, a unique local dish in Shanghai-Chao Bo Dou, a delicacy that only old Shanghai diners know about. The Chao Zui series has a wide variety of varieties, and various raw materials can be filled into it. It is really a very delicious and classic "miscellaneous home". Duck tongue, shrimp, broad beans, and Arctic shellfish are added here, which can be said to be a combination of meat and vegetables. When eating, roll in the gravy below. It brings a faint aroma of wine into the mouth. It is very delicious!

Double-flavored Xiaolongbao is filled with smoke when served. There are four dumplings on each layer, which are wrapped in shrimp and pork respectively. Gently lift, open the window first before drinking the soup, and finally eat the stuffing.

Charcoal grilled silver cod, my favorite dish. The fish is very tender and the sauce is also very unique.

On the edge of the Dragon and Phoenix Hall is the Ralik Corridor. Regarding Lalik Art Glass, Chinese young people today may feel unfamiliar, but for those "Lao Kela" and "The Last Xiaokai" who have lived in Shanghai for more than half a century, it is really a distant and beautiful dream.

Lalik Art Glass was a precious special glass art that became popular around the world in the last century, especially intoxicating in Europe. Its most famous product is a glass art called Opalescent glass that dissolves antimony, arsenic and cobalt during firing. Works fired using this process contain special color effects, including transparent and matte. These products are milky white when viewed from a distance, dark blue when viewed up close, and bright red when viewed against the light, like a ball of fire, which is extremely wonderful. These Lalik art glass ornaments in the Peace Hotel include flower-and-bird screens, flying pigeons spreading their wings, and fish flying on shallow bottoms. When you are in them, you realize that you are in a crystal world and are even more valuable.

[Elderly jazz band, retro echo on the Bund]

Whenever night falls, familiar melodies come from the Peace Hotel in the C-position on Shanghai Beach. The retro old Shanghai customs of the 1920s and 1930s are slowly flowing out in the familiar old songs one after another. When you walk into this jazz bar and see the group of people performing on the stage, the shock at that moment is really indescribable. They are white-haired but dressed in energetic blue suits. They look focused and their thin fingers stroke the instruments in their arms. They are the elderly jazz band of the Peace Hotel.

The Peace Hotel Senior Jazz Band was established in 1980. It is one of the most famous jazz bands in Shanghai and the only senior jazz band in China. The average age has reached 80 years old. For 40 years, rain or shine, he brings classic jazz music to the jazz bar on the first floor of the Peace Hotel every night. You can't see the decadence of 80-year-old octogenarians. Their love for music and enjoyment of life are displayed in them. Such a state really makes us young people who often shout tired feel ashamed.

Why was the Jazz Bar of Peace Hotel rated one of the best bars in the world by Newsweek in the United States in 1996? In the past 40 years, why has it been included in the tourist manuals as must-see attractions, and has become the scenery of Shanghai from political figures of various countries to the hearts of the common people? This old musician, known as the "evergreen tree in the art world", is particularly good at playing famous jazz songs from the 1930s and 1940s and famous songs from all over the world. Their "legend of not aging" has also become a beautiful scenery of the Shanghai Peace Hotel.

Today's North Building of the Peace Hotel was historically known as the Chinachem Hotel and the Sassoon Building. It is known as the "First Building in the Far East". It is the first high-rise building built by Jewish businessman Victor Sassoon in Shanghai. It is also the first modern building in the history of modern architecture in Shanghai and can be said to be the most worth visiting building on the Bund. Now even non-hotel guests can pay a visit and see the style of old Shanghai. In 1980, jazz music, which had been suspended for nearly 40 years, echoed in Shanghai again. The foreign guests felt that this was not only a band that could play foreign music, but also a signal of China's reform and opening up. Soon, the elderly jazz band became the signature of the Peace Hotel. The band in front of me has old musicians, outdated instruments, and yellowed music. But such a combination of "three old people" has a particularly touching charm.

As the music played, many people couldn't help but dance. A song of middle three or rumba made this small jazz bar look even more romantic, as if it had returned to a dance held in an old house in the 1930s. While listening to the song, you can also sit close at the bar and watch the handsome bartender mix drinks.

The minimum consumption per person entering the Jazz Bar is one glass of wine, which is about 100 per person. It is actually a very cost-effective one. Drinking a romantic cocktail in the jazz style of old Shanghai is also a unique experience.

Compared with the small fresh meats, these "old bacon" are more evocative. Knowing that we were from Xiamen, the current group leader came to chat with us. He felt their feelings in his words and manners, liked new things and was happy to share their joy.

"People say that seeing us is like seeing the prosperity of old Shanghai. Actually, it's not. What we are witnessing is a brand new Shanghai."

If you are in Shanghai, if you pass by the Bund at night, even if you haven't checked into the Peace Hotel, I strongly recommend that you come to the Jazz Bar and listen to a live performance by an elderly jazz band. Drinking a glass of Sassoon cocktail accompanied by classic jazz music makes people feel like returning to the "golden age" of the last century. The candlelight swayed and the musical notes fluttered, vividly interpreting the dream of old Shanghai.

[Write at the end]

If the building that best represents Shanghai, the Peace Hotel must be mentioned. Its existence is far more than just a hotel, but it embodies Shanghai's nearly a century of historical customs. Brick by brick, even every tableware and musical instrument, has its unique charm. It is accurate to say that it is a monument in Shanghai.

A rotating wooden door separates the Peace Hotel from the noisy Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street outside. This wall seems to suddenly return to Shanghai's past. From the present to the past, only those who understand her can appreciate the legend after leaving the house., the story among legends.
Shanghai trip| Stay at the Peace Hotel, walk into the stories of old Shanghai, and see the prosperity and vicissitudes of the Bund!