HuaShengTou’s World

Unlike Western girls who dream about having healthy and tanned skins, the Chinese girls like to keep their skin pale. So you will notice that there is array of whitening cosmetics products in the Chinese department stores, and umbrellas are absolute daily necessity for girls in the summer to prevent from getting suntanned. Having suntanned skin indicates either rustic farmers or manual laborers, thus lacking elegance and sophistication.

Influenced consciously or unconsciously by the traditional values, Chinese girls are desired to be docile and family-oriented. Too much exposure of personal emotions is against the traditions. Most likely you will find the Chinese girls put their hands in front of their mouths to hide their teeth when they smile. They will turn bashful and bend their heads down when required to answer questions. They seldom have eye contact when talking to males.

In people’s minds, Beijing women are taller, bold, and uninhibited, while Shanghai women are smaller in figure, and always speak in a soft voice. The image of Beijing women is usually bigger than Shanghai women’s. However, it turns out to be just the other way round after I have worked in Beijing for some time.
Everybody goes Dutch in Shanghai; even at a grand party, but in Beijing it’s the men’s obligation to pay the bill. One can expect to hear “Gentlemen, bill please!” in restaurants very often. Then Beijing women at the table will sit there at ease, while Shanghai women at the table will sit there with their purses in their hands, wondering whether they should accept the treat.

It’s difficult to ask a Beijing girl out at night, as the city is too big and the shops close too early. The nightlife in this city is much too limited. It is impossible to invite a female friend who already has a boyfriend or a young married woman out, even if you promise to see her home that night. This is because Beijing women are more conscious of established Chinese conventions.

The conditions of the men in Beijing are no better at all. All their cells will ring one after another at 12 O’ clock sharp at night. The voice on the other end is usually loud enough for anyone within ten meters to hear clearly. “Where have you been! Do you remember that you’ve got a home? Now who’s with you?” and these three sentences are usually the main parts of the call.

Shanghai women could never understand this. If it’s a Shanghai woman who shouts in the phone, the Shanghai man on the other end must think that she is crazy (or drunk, perhaps). The Shanghainese go Dutch in life, and they appreciate the independence in both economic and love affairs. Even two lovers won’t interfere with the other’s private life.

While Shanghai women laugh at the tameness and dependency of Beijing women, the latter will think that all the Shanghai women are out of their minds, too.

Many of my friend girls in Shanghai are office ladies with very high income. Their fundamental rule of love is independence in both economic and love affairs. They never do any housework themselves, though all of them have bought more than one house. The tiredness of life cannot kill their pride in saying: “I don’t depend on any men.” Thus no men can command them, for example, to force them to come back home before 10 pm. Beijingers do not admire the Shanghai way of life, anyhow. They could not even understand it. In their minds, a couple must know each other thoroughly, though some personal space should be left. How can a couple be addressed as “a couple” when they don’t know where the other has been last night?

Source: www.veduchina.com

Known today as one of Shanghai’s most popular nightlife locations, the Hengshan Road region has gone through many major changes, as the area has been constantly redeveloped over the years. Looking far back into Shanghai’s 19th century past, the area was once was farmland, and as Shanghai expanded the area eventually became a neighborhood of humble homes holding thousands of the city’s poor Chinese laborers. As the French Concession grew, the boundaries expanded to include the region, and most of the poor houses were gradually replaced by fancy European style homes and apartment houses. Many of these buildings with their European architecture still line Hengshan Road today, contrasting with Shanghai’s more traditional Chinese homes. At two kilometers long, the road itself was built in 1922, although during those days of French control it was known as Avenue Petain.

In recent years as China’s economy began opening up, foreigners gradually returned to Shanghai, and a number of bars began to open along Hengshan Road. Some of these bars are located inside a few of the areas old historic mansions, with one example being Sasha’s restaurant and bar. This well preserved building was once owned by the Soong family, one of the most powerful families of 20th century China. One of the Soong family daughters married Sun Yat Sen, and another daughter married Chiang Kai Shek.

Today high rise apartments can be found right next to some of the older, crowded apartment blocks. But more noticeable are the old European buildings still standing along Hengshan. Many of these historic structures are now adorned with preservation plaques, assuring that they won’t be torn down by developers, and will remain part of the neighborhood landscape for future generations.

Many various food styles can be found in the restaurants located up and down Hengshan. Numerous ethnic eateries abound, from the Tibet Bar with its live Tibetan dance shows, to the Italian food next door at Pasta Fresca da Salvatore. For the Americans there is a TGIFriday’s, and British patrons favor a number of Irish pubs for fish and chips. From Cantonese,to Japanese, to Turkish kebabs, there’s something for just about everyone’s tastes around Hengshan.

Most of all, Hengshan Road is best known for hosting some of Shanghai’s most booming nightlife. A drive down the road on a weekend night sees the area packed with partygoers, with patrons scrambling for taxis, as bright colorful flashing lights shine down from the many area nightspots. There are the aforementioned Irish pubs, discos for dancing, as well as numerous smaller, quiet bars for those who prefer a more relaxed evening.

Qipao

Qipao (Ch’ipau) is one of the most typical, traditional costumes for Chinese women. Also known as cheongsam, it is like a wonderful flower in the Chinese colorful fashion scene because of its particular charm.

In the early 17th century in North China, Nurhachi, a great political and military strategist, unified the various Nuzhen tribes and set up the Eight Banner System. Later he led his troops into Beijing and overthrew the Ming Dynasty. Over the years, a collarless tube-shaped gown was developed, which was worn by men and women. This is the embryo of the Qipao. It became popular among the royal palace of the Qing Dynasty and the mansions of the Manchu nobility. At that time, it was loosely fitted and long enough to reach the insteps. Usually it was made of silk, and embroidered, with broad laces trimmed at the collar, sleeves and edges. The dress empresses of past dynasties wore them. Their style of dress was regarded as the highest of standards for Chinese women for several thousand years.

Qipao

The only medium to display the elegance of a human body is an elegant costume. Whatever costume a woman wears, in addition to magnificence and nobility, she must have a thirst for elegance or beauty. Perhaps that’s the reason why Qipao was born.

 In the past, the collar of the costume was made high and tight-fitting to keep warm. Qipao has incorporated this feature, not just for preventing coldness but also for beauty. The collar of Qipao generally takes the shape of a semicircle, its right and left sides being symmetrical, flattering the soft and slender neck of a woman. The collar of Qipao is meticulously made, especially the buttonhole loop on the collar, which serves as the finishing touch. We can’t help but admire the designers’ artistic originality. The design of the front of Qipao depicts the maturity of women properly, reminding people of the line of a Chinese poem ‘A garden full of the beauty of spring can not be prevented from being enjoyed.’

Qipao generally has two big slits at either side of the hem for convenient movement and display of the slender legs of women. Unlike a short-length skirt, the slits of Qipao expose a woman’s legs indistinctly when she walks, as if there was a blurred emotional appeal of ‘enjoying flowers in mist.’

Qipaos can display Chinese women’s modesty, softness and beauty. Like Chinese women’s temperament, Qipaos are elegant and gentle.

qipao

Like other costumes, the beauty of Qipao comes first. Simplicity is one of its features from the collar, loop, chest, waist and hips to the lower hem, and a Qipao almost varies with a woman’s figure. It not only lays stress on the natural beauty of a female figure, but also makes women’s legs appear more slender. Mature women in Qipaos can display their graceful refined manner.

Besides its simplicity, Qipao provides designers with vast, creative space: some short, some long, with low, high, or even no collars at all.

Practicality always goes with beauty. Qipaos are worn in both urban and rural areas, its long-standing elegance and serenity making wearers fascinating.

When wearing Qipao, women should pay attention to the match as a whole; particularly middle-aged or elderly women should do so. Hairstyles, jewelry, socks and shoes should match Qipaos properly in color and design.

Today, with the development of the market economy in China, designs or styles of fashions are so dazzling as the stars that the eye cannot take them all in. As a result, people are often at a loss what to choose when facing the vast sea of fashions. On the other hand, it is just a golden opportunity for Chinese national costumes to regain their popularity. Fashion culture has become a point of intersection of social culture, reflecting economic developments, social progress and educational level. It represents people’s spirit, living standards and aspirations towards beauty.

Beijing Nan Luo Gu Xiang

Shi Shahai Deshengmen from the North Bridge, the North Sea south to the back door, the same kind of water from the sea before and after the sea, the West Sea (Jishui Tan). Also known as “10-productive” because this area had 10 Baosha, therefore the name.

Humanities rich history here. Guan Hanqing the Yuan Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu, Ming Li Dongyang, Yuan Hongdao, the Qing Dynasty Nalanxingde, Cao Yin, Liu Yong, Zhang Zhidong, the modern summer sticks nest, Guo Moruo, Zhang Boju, often to this event or long Living in this. Shi Shahai to radiation as the center of the surrounding area is also available in the Mei Lanfang Hu Guosi Street house, to Tiananmen Square Hu Shih former places of residence within metres of grain, to Tiananmen Square, Johnston (Puyi’s English teacher) former places of residence, to Tiananmen Square Main Street East Wellington Koo former places of residence, east Maor backdoor alley-yu, is the University of disabilities, the home can park, the adjacent Queen’s Wanrong is the last of the family house.

Shisha Hai Haidong from the former northward along the way. “Barbecue quarter,” Restaurant advertising under the bridge is Yinding Qiao, where Lotus had been planted in the late Qing Guangxu years some Daguan elite, Wenrenmoke here Shanghe, Lake Tea Tour, so set-Habitat, Qingyinchashe, blasting belly Wang, barbecue season, will be appear from time to time-of Health. Then sit here and push window will be tabled in a Lotus.

Shi Shahai now is not only the public park, and attract many tourists. “Barbecue quarter” in front of rickshaws, bicycles, cars come and go, the river grinder of the boat came in from time to time, pipa, erhu the Golden Voice, two small guys from “barbecue quarter” in carrying delivery Mu Xia barrels of embarkation, a girl with Danfen Qipao sit on the bow gracefully on the vine Quanyi embrace pipa, Chuanpeng’s Cup in a note to listen or watch the boat, Zhuantou. Along the river bar sat a group blonde foreigner.

Shi Shahai retained the edge of many ancient streets. Like Yandaixiejie, Yin Dingqiao Xiecha it from the north into the axis of the bell Gulou the west side of Main Street, shape like a Yandai. This street, there are antique shops, a fish shop, jewellery shops, bath, Xiuju Pu, bookstores, Yan Mei Fong, and other shops, a cloud Shuige Liao Qi, the owner had his home is used to suit the garment shops, Beijing’s first suit is produced in this shop.

Yandaixiejie from entering after the Haibei along the Arthur children alley, gradually noisy sound strip, the You-alley in an open cement board on the roads Sazhaoguhuai Posuo mottled the Shuying. Shi Shahai preserved in the alley near a dozen blocks Baosha the only preserved the most complete, the Yuan Dynasty, founded in Beijing famous ancient temples in one of the eight-Huasi. Serve in the Forbidden City, Wan Rong Zhang eunuchs had also live here.

In Shi Shahai Xianbu, especially people Huaixiang Last Emperor Puyi. And here he has a special fate. He grew up in Wales after the House of alcohol; living Liu Yin Street Prince Gong Yi Xin Pu Yi is the grandfather of six, while Baylor old Tao Tao House are masters of Pu Yi is the Qi Shu; Shi Shahai former East Sea Maor alley Is the Queen’s Palace is the home Wanrong; Shufei Wenxiu and Puyi in the Puppet贵人Tan Yuling during the two were in the home of the North Prince Gong House Xiangfeng alley.

Apart from the forest of construction Palace, where the alley is definitely going to see the. South official alley, the alley Xiangfeng, the wire alley, three bridges alley, the former along the Haibei, Hainan after along with the various courtyard, because of the different grades, in the form of doors, the doors of the hall, the openings into the deep, Zan door, the threshold, Shek Mun pillow, Mendun, the Ying, Yingbi walls and Zhuandiao patterns, accessories of choice, both have different stresses.