MyPlain

Author: Tami

  • No. 2 The Bund – The Shanghai Club Building & Waldorf Astoria

    No. 2 The Bund — widely known as the Shanghai Club Building — is an iconic landmark with a rich past. Founded in 1861, the club originally occupied a three-story brick-and-timber structure. The current building was constructed between 1909 and 1911.

    Architecturally, it’s a masterpiece of British Neoclassicism. The main facade follows a classic horizontal tripartite composition: the base features Baroque ornamentation at the entrance; the middle section is supported by six grand Ionic columns and adorned with pediment reliefs above the windows; and the roof is crowned with Baroque towers at both ends.

    Inside, the entrance hall is framed by eight pairs of Tuscan double columns spanning the first two floors.

    On the south side, a magnificent 34-meter bar — crafted from Italian marble and framed by 5-meter-high oak paneling — became legendary. Back then, it was said that a visit to Shanghai wasn’t complete without a drink here.

    In 1989, the ground floor made history again by hosting Shanghai’s first KFC. The original long bar was dismantled, and the interior was reconfigured to accommodate the fast-food restaurant.

    In 2009, the building was reimagined as the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, and the legendary long bar was meticulously restored to its former glory.

  • On the Bund, No. 3 is No. 4

    If you’ve been to Shanghai, you must know the Bund. But did you know that what is now known as No. 3 The Bund was actually No. 4 before?

    That’s a long story. Let me tell you from the beginning.

    It was completed in 1916, designed by George Wilson — his first project in Shanghai. Not a bad start, right? He went on to design some of the Bund’s biggest names, including No. 12, No. 13, and No. 20.

    The building is in the Free Renaissance style, and it was Shanghai’s first steel-frame structure. The Far Eastern Review called it “one of the most noteworthy architectural advances of the time.”

    This site goes back to 1860, when Adamson, Bell & Co. built a three-story brick house there. Then, two insurance companies bought it. In 1914, they tore it down and hired Palmer & Turner to build this one. When it opened in 1916, it was called the Union Building — named after the insurance companies that jointly funded it.

    In 1937, the Mercantile Bank (known in Chinese as 有利银行) bought the building and renamed it — which is why people started calling it the “Youli Building” (有利大楼).

    Now here’s the twist: the actual address is No. 4 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road. But in the early 2000s, Michael Graves led a restoration, and when it reopened in 2004, it was rebranded as “Three on the Bund” — or No. 3. The new name signaled a shift from bank to lifestyle hub — art, dining, fashion.

    Call it No. 3 or No. 4 — either way, it’s a Bund highlight. And if you get a chance, check out the terrace bar — great views, great vibe.

  • To Bless Is to Be Blessed

    This evening, I talked myself into going for a jog again, even though I had a few things to finish.

    Right now, I’m so glad I did — because a stranger gave me an entire bouquet of flowers.

    Here’s the story.

    When I finished jogging, I took off my AirPods, slowed down, and headed toward my neighborhood. Suddenly, I noticed a man standing by the road with several bouquets of fresh flowers at his feet. He looked a bit awkward. I walked up and asked if he was selling them.

    He smiled and said no — he had just left a yacht, and the flowers had been used for an event. Then he asked, “Would you like a bouquet?”

    Of course! Why not?

    So he gave me a big bouquet and a glass vase. I split the flowers into three vases, as you can see in the photos.

    Over 2,200 years ago, Jia Yi, a Han Dynasty philosopher, said: “福往者福来Fú wǎng zhě fú lái” — meaning, “To bless is to be blessed.”

    Maybe this bouquet is a blessing in return, because while jogging, I’ve helped quite a few lost people find their way. (If you’re standing on the east bank of the Huangpu River, near Lujiazui, looking confused and helpless, and a Chinese woman comes over to offer help — that might be me.)

    I hope the young man receives his blessing soon.

  • Drinking Tea

    I really like drinking tea, especially when it is brewed in the traditional way. A light flavor and an authentic aroma are what I look for.

    At home, particularly on weekends like today, I like to take out my favorite tea set. With water boiling and tea brewing, a slow, leisurely time unfolds for me.

    When I travel, especially in the Yangtze River Delta, South China, and Southwest China, which are home to many famous teas, I always bring a simple tea set. Local tea paired with local water creates a special experience that is hard to find in Shanghai.

    When wandering through small towns or villages, I usually keep a small teacup and some favorite tea leaves in my bag. Whenever a friendly host offers tea, I take out my own cup to enjoy local tea. If they want to know about tea from other places, I will take out my own tea and share it with them.

    You see, tea is a great companion for quiet thinking. It is also a great way to make new friends.

  • No.10《园冶·卷三·铺地》梳理

    This chapter from The Craft of Gardens discusses the art of paving in Chinese gardens. It describes various materials (stone, brick, pebbles) and patterns, emphasizing that paving should harmonize with the surrounding landscape, be both durable and elegant, and avoid overly kitschy or impractical designs.

    白话文：
    砌地铺路，花园和住宅一般有所不同。厅堂大殿里铺地，全部用磨过的砖。如果是曲折的小路，常用各种乱石铺砌。院子中间可铺成“叠胜”纹样，靠近台阶的地方也可以铺回纹。八角形的花纹嵌在方砖里，或用鹅卵石拼成蜀锦般的图案；楼阁前铺设台阶，依照花纹凿成瑶台模样。用瓦片和石板组合，像锦线一样交错，使得地面可供人席地赏花、对月酣醉。破瓦片也有用武之地，用在湖石边铺成水波起伏之状；碎方砖也有大用处，围绕梅花铺出冰裂纷纭的效果。路径虽然平常，但台阶应有脱俗之趣。脚步所至，如步步生莲；林深之处，春意从何而来？窄窄的花径适合用石头铺，宽大的空庭则要用砖。各种方圆的纹样，因地适宜铺砌，磨砖归瓦匠去做，杂碎活儿交给钩儿。

    （一）乱石路

    园林铺路，用小乱石铺成像石榴籽一样密实的路面，坚固而雅致。无论曲折高低，随山势沟壑而变化，都适用这种铺法。也有用鹅卵石夹着花纹铺路的，但那样既不坚固又容易俗气。

    （二）鹅子地

    鹅卵石宜铺在不常走动的地方，大小石子间杂铺砌为佳——不过恐怕工匠做不到。用砖或瓦嵌成各种锦纹也可以，但若嵌成鹤、鹿、狮球等图案，反而显得可笑。

    （三）冰裂地

    用青石板碎片拼成冰裂纹，适合用在山堂、水边、台榭、亭子旁。样式可参照前文“风窗”一节，随心意灵活变化，砌法不拘一格。用破碎方砖磨光后铺砌效果更好。

    （四）诸砖地

    用砖铺地，在屋内通常磨光后平铺；庭院里则宜立起来侧铺。方胜、叠胜、步步胜等纹样，都是古人常用的套路。现在的人字纹、席纹、斗纹，可以根据砖的长短灵活处理，也是有定式的。

    原文：
    大凡砌地铺街，小异花园住宅。惟厅堂广厦中铺，一概磨砖，如路径盘蹊，长砌多般乱石，中庭或宜叠胜，近砌亦可回文。八角嵌方，选鹅子铺成蜀锦；层楼出步，就花梢琢拟秦台。锦线瓦条，台全石版，吟花席地，醉月铺毡。废瓦片也有行时，当湖石削铺，波纹汹涌；破方砖可留大用，绕梅花磨斗，冰裂纷纭。路径寻常，阶除脱俗。莲生袜底，步出个中来；翠拾林深，春从何处是。花环窄路偏宜石，堂迥空庭须用砖。各式方圆，随宜铺砌，磨归瓦作，杂用钩儿。

    （一）乱石路
    园林砌路，做小乱石砌如榴子者，坚固而雅致，曲折高卑，从山摄壑，惟斯如一。有用鹅子石间花纹砌路，尚且不坚易俗。

    （二）鹅子地
    鹅子石，宜铺于不常走处，大小间砌者佳；恐匠之不能也。或砖或瓦，嵌成诸锦犹可。如嵌鹤、鹿、狮球，犹类狗者可笑。

    （三）冰裂地
    乱青版石，斗冰裂纹，宜于山堂、水坡、台端、亭际，见前风窗式，意随人活，砌法似无拘格，破方砖磨铺犹佳。

    （四）诸砖地
    诸砖砌地，屋内、或磨、扁铺；庭下，宜仄砌。方胜、叠胜、步步胜者，古之常套也。今之人字、席纹、斗纹，量砖长短合宜可也。有式。