BLOSSOMS Shanghai,” a TV series based on a novel by Jin Yucheng, quickly captured the nation’s imagination and became a hit after its premiere on Tencent Video late last month. The series, set in 1990s Shanghai and directed by Wong Kar-wai, revolves around a young man, Abao (played by Hu Ge), who rises from humble beginnings to become a successful entrepreneur in the space of 10 years. Here we invite readers to travel back in time to the legendary landmarks and cityscapes of Shanghai where the show’s characters made their romantic encounters and cut ruthless deals. Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai The first scene of the show was shot in the Fairmont Peace Hotel, situated at the famous Bund promenade and the unrivaled shopping area on Nanjing Road. A luxurious art-deco masterpiece with a history of nearly a century, the venue was reinvented for the 21st century where old-fashioned glamour sparkles with a new luster. With 270 distinctive guestrooms, including 39 luxurious suites, the hotel is the ideal place to explore Shanghai’s spectacular scenery and vibrant lifestyle, that is, if your pocket is deep enough. The suite No. 72 in the show is room 720 in reality, which costs some 17,000 yuan (US$2,361) a night. Six restaurants and lounges include the endearing Jazz Bar and a terrace on the ninth floor with unrivalled panoramic views. The hotel also markets a set meal for two based on the show. Priced at 1,460 yuan, it offers such signature Shanghai-flavored courses as pork chops with rice cakes. Huanghe Road and Jinxian Road Formerly known as a foodies’ paradise, Huanghe Road used to host over 100 restaurants, many of which served high-end fare that only the rich and famous could afford. But everything started to change in the mid-1990s when a spate of changes sapped the luster out of this bustling street. For safety considerations, the iconic neon signs that gave the street much of its character were torn from the buildings. The Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, the SARS pandemic in 2003, and the rise of other gourmet streets in the city subsequently resulted in many restaurants here closing down. The Tai Sheng Yuan restaurant that opened in 1993 serves as the archetype for Zhi Zhen Yuan, the most popular eatery on the road in the TV show, and its business has boomed since the show opened. Opposite Tai Sheng Yuan stands the Park Hotel, which opened in 1934 and was once known as the “tallest tower of the Far East” at 24 stories. Dishes at Yuelai restaurant and Jiajia Steamed Buns are also worth trying. Less than 400 meters in length, the retro-styled Jinxian Road is its namesake hidden gem in the show. A foodies’ treasure hunt destination recommended both by locals and by the Michelin Guide, the road is home to such Shanghai-flavor eateries as Lanxin, Chun and Maolong, as well as a plethora of romantic bars and boutique shops. Bund 27 The office building where Ms. Wang (played by Tiffany Tang) works in the show is Bund 27, also known today as the House of Roosevelt. It was a three-storied villa first built in 1845, and in 1920, after multiple renovations, it took its present form and served as the venue for Yihe, China’s then biggest foreign trade company. Today, the venue houses a wine cellar on the second floor, a private club on the third floor, a fine arts museum on the sixth floor, as well as a steak house and bar on the eighth and ninth floors, where diners can enjoy gourmet food while taking in a breathtaking view of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the city’s skyline. Nanjing Road One of China’s premier shopping streets, the 5.5-km-long Nanjing Road starts at the Bund in the east and ends in the west at the junction of Jing’an Temple and West Yan’an Street. It is a must-see metropolitan destination attracting thousands of fashion-seeking shoppers from all over the world. This century-old shopping street in Huangpu District has witnessed the city’s history. Big traditional stores no longer dominate the street since modern malls, specialty stores, theaters, and hotels have mushroomed on both sides of the street. For shopping convenience, its eastern end has an all-weather pedestrian arcade. Sinan Books on Gaolan Road First built in 1934 by Russians in Shanghai, the former Orthodox church also appears in the original novel on which the show was based. The poetry-focused shop offers more than 1,880 types of books such as poetry collections, essays, commentaries, biographies, and picture books. The vast collection of poems, towering domes, retro murals, and penetrating sunlight in the store make for a peaceful afternoon of reading. Suzhou River Suzhou River, a branch of the Yangtze River, originates from Taihu Lake and converges into the Huangpu River to the east of Waibaidu Bridge. About 53 kilometers of the 125-kilometer river courses through Shanghai. In the 1990s in the original novel it was black and odorous, but after years of effort to improve its environment, the river bank provides an ideal walk, where pedestrians can appreciate the old European-style bridges, Western-style buildings, new art spaces and traditional Shanghai-style neighborhoods. You can also take a boat ride to enjoy the landscapes. Zhujiajiao Zhujiajiao in Qingpu District is an ancient town with a history of more than 1,700 years. Covering an area of 47 square kilometers, this little fan-shaped town, known as Shanghai’s Venice, is a serene getaway with lakes and hills. A total of 36 old bridges, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with courtyards from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties all promise to transport people to a world of leisure and tranquility. The pickles craved by characters in the show can be found in Han Da Long, a time-honored pickle store in the town.(Li Dan) | 