The art scene in Shanghai is another place the ancient and the modern converge; this convergence is perfected in the work of Mi Qiu. Mi Qiu is a world renowned artist who has renovated 24 historical sites worldwide, he is able to combine the totality of the Chinese art scene, utilizing an understanding of traditional Chinese art and an understanding of western modernism to produce beautiful modern Chinese art. Mi Qiu has received numerous awards for his work, including the Movado Outstanding Contribution to Art Award and the Grand Prize of Golden Society. He is known as one of China’s ten most avant garde artists and at the same time he is able produce work that protects China’s ancient cultural heritage in the face of rapid urban development.

Shanghai is full of wonderful dining experiences. The Bund, on Shanghai’s waterfront, is known for its outstanding neoclassical architecture from its pre 1949 times. On The Bund there are some of the best restaurants and shops; it is my favorite place to experience the merging of the old and new Shanghai. The Cupola at Three on the Bund is a two-tiered dome atop a 1916 German Bank building, the lower dome seats 8 to 10 people and the upper dome seats only two people. The upper dome is probably the most romantic dining spot in the world and it comes with a private butler, who anticipates your every need before you can even ask. There are two terraces off this room that look out over the city and make you feel like you are part of Shanghai 1930, but better because it is Shanghai 2005 and even more alive and exciting. I had not only a great dining experience, but also a great shopping moment! I stopped by at the store on the ground floor of the building, Three Fashion Store, before going to dinner and found some wonderful must have fashions. While dining the shop tailored my selections and delivered them to The Cupola, at my request they brought a few other items for me to select from: “shopping heaven”! This was my favorite shop; there are designs for both men and women. The design of Three Fashion Store is special; it is in a neoclassical building but with a very modern interior. The dressing rooms are wicker cocoons that close over to look like an egg, and provide you with total privacy in the middle of the store. Three Fashion Store had the most beautiful collection of Vivienne Tam I have ever seen, slacks trimmed with jade, elaborate quilting and silver trimmings on coats. A Vivienne Tam boutique is opening this year in the French Concession in Shanghai; I can only imagine what she will do for her return to the home of her ancestors! M on The Bund, is another fantastic restaurant, it is on the rooftop of the 1920’s Nissin Shipping Building providing 360-degree views of Shanghai. The cuisine is Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influenced. T8 is a good choice for modern Thai and Chinese cuisine; the restaurant occupies an old stone gatehouse in Xintiandi, the French Concession. The Xintiandi is a good spot to shop and eat! For a more traditional Chinese dining experience try My Chinese Uncle and The Jade Buddha Temple. At the Jade Buddha Temple I enjoyed the most beautiful and delicious vegetarian food for both taste and presentation, lunch for four was about US $30.

A special treat was The Miuccia Prada: Art and Creativity Exhibit at The Peace Hotel. The exhibit pays homage to the skirt and takes over several suites in the legendary hotel. The skirt is put into motion in several unique displays and made to feel like a character in a movie set. The skirts are from Prada’s collections dating back to 1988. This is a touring exhibit, after its stop in Shanghai it will travel to other major cities in Europe and the U.S. Anyone who appreciates the movement in clothes or just loves clothes should keep on the lookout for this exhibit. These are just a few highlights of an ever changing city, the change is everyday and so one cannot get enough in just one visit. I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Puxi, just steps fro Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping street in Shanghai. The spa and the beauty salon were two good reasons to stay at this hotel not to mention the very spacious bathrooms and closets. Other spots not to be missed are the Yu Garden, Nan jing Lu and the Shanghai Museum.

Three Fashion Store
Three on the Bund
No. 3 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road
Tel: 86 21 6321 0101

Four Seasons Hotel
500 Weihai Lu, Jingan District 200041
Tel: 021/6256-8888

T8
House 8, North Block, Xintiandi
181 Taicang Lu
Luwan District

021/6355-8999