In the 1930s and 40s, semi-feudal, semi-colonial Shanghai was the most cosmopolitan city in Asia, the legendary "adventurers' paradise."
It was also home to the headquarters of the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), the country's first civilian airline and a joint venture between the Nationalist government and Pan American Airways.
As a director of the company, my Dad worked from an office a block off the southern end of The Bund. The Art Deco edifice still stands, today renamed "Entrepreneurs' Building" (photos 1 & 2 below).
Across the street, facing the Huangpu River, is the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (pic 3). Its earlier incarnation was the Shanghai Club, perhaps the toniest socializing spot for Western expats, much like the Hong Kong Club in the southern city.
After work, my Dad would join his pals at the renowned Long Bar there for a drink. Today, the bar remains a popular fixture at the Waldorf (pic 4).
I love the old colonial buildings, Phnom Penh used to have many, as did some of the streets and boulevards in Melbourne, sadly developers only see greed and many/most of the heritage buildings and the locations destroyed with maximum sq metre boxes with no architectural characteristics. Something I noticed in Kuala Lumpur is the number of new buildings with some flair, while I haven't been to Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries they also seem to have some stunning modern buildings. Meanwhile the west just destroys heritage and build future slums
Polin Thomas
It was also home to the headquarters of the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), the country's first civilian airline and a joint venture between the Nationalist government and Pan American Airways.
As a director of the company, my Dad worked from an office a block off the southern end of The Bund. The Art Deco edifice still stands, today renamed "Entrepreneurs' Building" (photos 1 & 2 below).
Across the street, facing the Huangpu River, is the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (pic 3). Its earlier incarnation was the Shanghai Club, perhaps the toniest socializing spot for Western expats, much like the Hong Kong Club in the southern city.
After work, my Dad would join his pals at the renowned Long Bar there for a drink. Today, the bar remains a popular fixture at the Waldorf (pic 4).
Something I noticed in Kuala Lumpur is the number of new buildings with some flair, while I haven't been to Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries they also seem to have some stunning modern buildings.
Meanwhile the west just destroys heritage and build future slums