The Bund lately has a lot of changes. I am talking about in the recent 10 years. For example, 3 on the Bund have brought in the trendy restaurant, fashion clubs and fashion boutique for example the Georgio Armani store. Then there is 18th on the Bund built beautiful clubs and restaurants. And there is upcoming 5th on the Bund. So, there are a lots of things happened on the Bund. But this is not new, back to 1920s the Bund used to be the center, the commercial center for business especially for westerners. Let鈥檚 go to take a look at everything.

So, what is your concept to setup the business in Shanghai such as 3 on the Bund?

Handle Lee-Co Chairman of 3 on the Bund: The concept was to do something on the Bund, which is the most historically important part of Shanghai. To do something that is dedicated to culture鈥ifestyle, the new contemporary culture that is China.

On the first page of press release kit from Mr. Lee鈥檚 business, it said: Three on the Bund is a celebration of contemporary living, where art, culture, food, fashion and music converge to inspire a richer life 鈥an elegant, sophisticated gathering place for vibrant people and stimulating ideas.

Lee added that 鈥淲ithin the four walls of the Three on the Bund, you are in a different world, a place that exudes energy and passion that come from the heart,鈥鈥淭hat鈥檚 the experience they want people to have.鈥

Angelo Negro 鈥Commercial Director of House of Thee Limited: The material is the best material you can find whatever you are talking about. It鈥檚 really the best. Very expensive, super fine. The fabrics are really expensive and really important. So this is why.

How expensive?

鈥淎 lot expensive. Lets say the fabric they are using is like from 200 dollars up to 400, 500 dollars per meter. Its US dollars, 500 dollars per meter. This is really expensive, but they are really super fine. Usually in the fashion retail design wise, they are working like more technical like a super 100. It鈥檚 twisted, super 100. This company works for super 200, so that is double (the treads).

Mr. Angelo Negro, Commercial Director of Three on The Bund gave me his professional advice on fashion. He emphasized China market in terms of fashion trend, retail business and the costumer interest. What I learned from him was that an Italian designer made jacket could be my next wish from Santa Clause.

鈥I like the word FASHION cause when we talk about Shanghai, we talk about fashion even back to 1920s fashion modern and up scale staff. This is a perfect example. Before we saw a lot of movies promoting around the world all about the old China. So, what do you see this kind of up scale fashion such as Armani to fit in the current China?鈥/font>

Mr. Handle Lee 鈥Co Chairman of 3 on the Bund: I think what you see here is again expressions of this current spirit, and the current spirit that is here in Shanghai and actually all over China. Its exuberance of vitality of incredible optimism and drive and so that is being expressed individually.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a 鈥渓egend鈥 one of the 鈥0 Hottest Chefs Alive鈥(Food & Wine), 4-time award winner of The James Beard Foundation and 4th Restaurant in the World (Restaurant Magazine 鈥UK), Jean George Shanghai is setup right on the Bund, it offers customer relaxation and be able to lift your spirit with a magic touch.

Mr. Eric Johnson: Jean George actually has 15 or 16 restaurants and that is growing all the time but only 2 of them are called 鈥淩estaurant Jean George鈥- the original one in New York City and this one here. Well we are lucky enough to get the top food rating in Zagat鈥檚 Survey which is an international guide book brand that rates restaurants pretty much in most major cities in the world.

鈥I am very lucky to have this chance sit down with the best and youngest chef in the world and taste the new Shanghainese style food. 鈥/font>

Jereme Leung 鈥Head Chef of Whampoa Club: Well, I guess I am probably not one of the youngest anymore! But generally.

鈥淓verybody will get old sooner or later鈥/font>

鈥淩ight, people tend to say that I was one of the Chinese chef in Asia.鈥/font>

鈥淪o, tell me about the food and the new concept you mentioned before.鈥/font>

鈥淲ell basically in this restaurant I call the food in this restaurant the 鈥榃hampoa Club鈥檚 Cuisine鈥The dishes that we create I call them the Whampoa Club鈥檚 Dishes. Its main element is actually based on Shanghainese cuisine. It is a cuisine which I have developed based on the inspiration of Shanghainese food. So all our dishes here have Shanghainese elements although they are always being presented differently and the taste is still very much Shanghainese. These are all actually traditional Shanghainese classics this is Drunken Hairy Crab.

If you visit Shanghai you have to come to the Bund. This is 3 on the Bund. Every day every week there are modern art exhibition, activities, and events. Right now this is called Three Worlds right on the Bund. There are 3 famous artists from China have this exhibition right here. Now is the Press Conference.

Modern art can be anything, sometimes it is hard to interpret it. For this one it鈥檚 very easy for me to understand. This is a copy of Chinese registration book, and even a copy of Chinese passport and this is a college certificate, and here is an art association membership card. But I found this piece is very interesting. It is a healthy certificate for international travelers. Hey, international travelers out there you need one of those. If you come to China, this is exactly a copy of the international healthy certificate, every one needs one like that.

Roberto Dominici 鈥Managing Director of Classico Italia: Who is seeking revenge who is proud of being what he is. It is something that every time I see it I feel touched. The energy that I felt when I came here in 1971. It was absolutely fantastic! I was touched by it. Now there is something else beautiful about this... usually, the icons of China鈥/font>

Today the Bund consists of a spectacular promenade, stretching from Suzhou Creek in the north to Jinling Lu in the south, the perfect platform for walking along the busy river

Personally I enjoy walking or driving through Zhong Shan Dong Yi Lu, the major street of Shanghai鈥檚 new developments. Every building on the road has its unique background story that recorded at Shanghai Museum.

When the lower section of the Huangpu River, which rises from the Taihu Lake, flows through the city of Shanghai for 39km, its water surface extends as wide as 400 metres. A cruise on the river involves a 60-km-long round trip, which runs past some of the major landmarks of shanghai as a port city.

The Shanghai Club, built in 1909 for an English club, which had been founded in 1865. It was said that the Club had the longest bar in the world, or at least Asia. Reputedly it was 34 metres (111 ft) long. A part of the bar still remains in the Seamen's Club upstairs.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. Opened in 1925. Mentioned in the Shanghai Guide of that year as the largest bank of the Far East. In front of the building was a pair of magnificent bronze lions.

In the early years of the century, Shanghai was the worst and the best of everything

The Bund used to be the center stage for underground business. "Big Ears" Du was one of the key characters in Shanghai's life from the early 1920s to 1950s.

He was from the main underworld societies of old Shanghai and rose to become its leader and the ultimate Chinese Godfather. One of his favorite phrases was "You have my word".

The name of the Bund, the premier street in the city, is originally an Anglo-Indian word.

In 1920s a streetcar was built by the British like this (In Shanghai). Most Chinese either unwilling or afraid to get on the car like this. Actually the only people take advantage of this is foreigners.鈥

The Yangzi River separate Shanghai in 2 parts. West of it is called Historical Bund; East of the Yangzi River is called the new development area PuDong. If you have a chance visit Shanghai, you can come here and take advantage of few things. The Grand Hyatt 5 star hotel offers the tallest bar in the world called Cloud 9. And the Presidential Suit or called Chairman鈥檚 Suit is also the tallest Chairman suit in the world. It is located right on the 82nd floor. Its about 300 meters above the ground level.

Grand Hyatt Shanghai has been included in the 2000 Millennium edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the highest hotel in the world. Crowning the prestigious 88-storey Jin Mao Tower the hotel commences on the 53rd floor and rises to the 87th floor, surpassing the height of all other hotels worldwide.

Entry into Grand Hyatt Shanghai is through an intimate yet impressive forecourt; its assertive style is a complimenting contrast to the ultra modern high-tech exterior skin of the architecture.

Astor House Hotel銆r Richard's Hotel銆s it was known before銆as established in 1846銆uring Qing Dynasty by the Richard's family. It is the very first western hotel property all over China since Shanghai became a trading port.

Many world famous people checked in Astor House Hotel that includes Charlie Chaplin, Einstein, and American President Grant.

The hotel moved to where it is now on the north end of Baidu Bridge formerly "Weiersi Bridge"銆nd renamed to Astor House Hotel in 1857銆uring Qing Dynasty,

To make it the most deluxe western hotel in the city and one of the best in China and in the Far East alike銆he hotel was restored in 1907銆o a neo-classic extravagant structure.

Over the past 150 years銆stor House Hotel retains its glorious architectural spirit銆nd helps to epitomize the historical nature of the city of Shanghai.

Currently Astor House Hotel still has about 100 various types of rooms including deluxe rooms and business suites. Some rooms are decorated in Barloke style of Victoria times in 19th century. Others are designed in 20th century modern style with satellite TV air conditioner and other modern equipments. However, the glamour of its past adds considerable value to the present business.

Astor House Hotel is one of the famous and oldest hotels in Shanghai. There are so many world well-known people lived in this hotel before. In 1922, Albert Einstein stayed right in this room. In 1879, American President Grant also visited Astor House Hotel Shanghai. In 1920, British philosopher Rusell also spent time here. In 1931, the greatest comedian Charlie Charplin also visited the Astor House Hotel. In 1936 he came back again with his wife on honey moon, they stayed in room 404 and today if you are lucky you can check in room 404 and the hotel prepared some great works of Charlie Chaplin such as the City Lights. You can sit back enjoy the movie right in this room.鈥

Come to party if you are ready or you come to shanghai for travel.

Shanghai鈥檚 weather sometime is just a little tough especially for February and March. These are the raining day, raining every day, but wintertime is not that cold and there is no snow, but you know, summertime is also hot as well. Hey it鈥檚 just everywhere.

The city of Shanghai was once the most modern city in the world and could have competed against any major cities in the world for the title of 'Sleepless Town with Endless Party'.

From the bars, it is off to the discos. While many interesting places where I suggest you to check it out on Friday and Saturday nights, such as 18th on the Bund, Park 97, Dragon are all surprisingly crowded with party goers from all over the world.

Amid all this increased competition, Park 97 has remained the biggest name in Shanghai especially within the westerners community.

This is Shanghai, You are watching Travelogue. Until next time, I will see you!

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com