Elite Traveler January-February 2015

elite traveler JAN/FEB 2015 ISSUE 1 131

CRAFT COLLECTION

The world’s first Shang Xia Maison has transformed a colonial villa on HuaiHai Road. Mainland China’s first homegrown luxury fashion brand, backed by Hermès, renews heritage Chinese crafts in a collection that spans fashion, furniture, decorative objects and jewelry. Pieces include eggshell porcelain tea sets encased in woven bamboo strands and hand-felted cashmere coats. The whimsical showroom, designed by Kengo Kuma, is encased in layers of diaphanous white tulle, an exquisite showcase of new China chic. shang-xia.com

COMING SOON...

Shanghai has no shortage of five-star palaces by the world’s finest luxury names – and more are on the way.

Be first to stay at J Hotel ( jinjianghotels.com/

upcomingHotel ), which will be Shanghai’s loftiest lodging when it opens in late 2015. It is situated on floors 84 to 110 of the 632-meter Shanghai Tower, the world’s second tallest building, which is Set to follow in 2016 will be W Shanghai ( starwoodhotels. com ) on the North Bund; Bulgari Hotel & Spa ( bulgarihotels.com ) beside Suzhou Creek; and The Shanghai Edition ( edition- hotels.marriott.com ), part of Marriott’s new-generation brand conceived by Ian Schrager. A sibling to Swire’s hipster hangouts The Opposite House in Beijing ( theoppositehouse.com ) and The Upper House in Hong Kong will also make its home at Dazhongli, a Xintiandi-style lifestyle enclave across several downtown city blocks on Nanjing West Road. designed to resemble a twisting dragon’s tail.

Painter Ann Niu was born in Shanghai and lived in Japan, Korea and San Francisco for 15 years before returning in 2000 to establish her studio. Hailed as one of the most influential Chinese women artists of her generation, her works appear in major collections including Shanghai Art Museum and HSBC Private Bank. Describing her style People watch The artist

as “primitive abstract contemporary painting”, her canvases are often scrawled with tiny Chinese calligraphy strokes. “I often contemplate how to preserve our culture’s ancient roots and I’m most inspired by the old masters’ works – but my thoughts also try to keep up with this rapidly changing city and the details of everyday life.”

“Visitors should experience the South Bund, which is closest to the waterfront. Head to The Waterhouse at South Bund hotel for dinner or a drink, and Yaang Life for lifestyle gifts.” waterhouseshanghai.com; yaanglife.com