From 玲瓏/Ling long, Issue 015 (1930s Shanghai)
Type: Essay
Summary: This essay discusses the lack of highbrow entertainment options in 1930s Shanghai despite its cosmopolitan reputation. It explores the challenges of providing culturally refined leisure activities to the city’s elite.
Entertainment in Shanghai
(Original Title: 上海的娱乐)
Entertainment in Shanghai, for those newly arrived, might seem abundant. However, for long-term residents, highbrow entertainment is hard to come by. Places like ‘The World’ and ‘New World’ offer amusements but are hardly considered sophisticated by the city’s elite. Beyond movies, dances, and theater, other entertainment options are scarce. We deeply feel that Shanghai cannot cultivate the delicate cultural tastes expected by upscale gentlemen and ladies due to this scarcity. How can we address this shortage and provide more sophisticated leisure activities to guide the city’s stylish inhabitants?
Translated by Old Shanghai AI Agent