Presents from the Past: Christmas Shopping in Old Shanghai

“Watch the crowds on Nanking Road these days. Happy faces everywhere, and nearly everyone carrying huge bundles wrapped in colored paper. Yes, Christmas is just around the corner…” –China Press, December 1936

Need a little inspiration for your Christmas shopping? Take a look at what was on offer in Old Shanghai! After all, as the China Press mused, “in what other city in the world can so many varied products at such reasonable prices be found?”

Christmas presents from the past provide a unique insight into Old Shanghai, from the products themselves, to the stores that purveyed them, to the entrenched gender divides in advertisements targeting the men and women who would be opening those gift-wrapped boxes on Christmas morning.

Your Christmas Car: The 1920 Chandler Coupe

It’s really hard to beat a brand new car for Christmas, especially one as cool as a Chandler! In 1920, Chandler’s line of six cars was available from their local agent, China Motors, located in the lovely Star Garage on Bubbling Well Road (today Nanjing Xi Lu), designed by Spanish architect Abelardo Lafuente. In the U.S., where it was produced, Chandler was considered a medium-priced carmaker, and retailed for US$1995 to US$3595, but we’re not sure how much China Motors charged.

Fun fact: Owners Leon and Max Friedman had quite the colorful life. After fleeing anti-Semitic pogroms in their native Romania, they ended up in the U.S., working as promotors for stunt pilots and barnstorming, before arriving in Shanghai. In 1923, Leon was one of the passengers taken hostage in the Lincheng Outrage, a thrilling tale, documented in The Peking Express by James Zimmerman.

Whiteaway Laidlaw’s “Bewildering Array of Toys, Games, Dolls”!

Whiteaway Laidlaw’s toy department wonderland featured a toy electrical train that ran daily, along with pretty much anything a 1920s child desired. Erector sets, metal toy construction sets, toy sailboats (for sailing in the Huangpu?), toy magic lanterns (an image projector), realistic looking toy bears and elephants on wheels, (ideal for terrorizing siblings in the nursery), clockwork trains, toy cars, china dolls, and more.

Situated on the corner of Nanking and Szechuen Roads, where it stands today, Whiteaway Laidlaw was one of four major foreign-owned department stores, the others being Hall & Holtz, Lane Crawford, and Weeks & Co. Founded in Calcutta in 1882 by Sir Robert Laidlaw, a British Liberal Party politician, and Edward Whiteaway, the Shanghai branch opened in 1904, and was noted for its household goods.

In 1930, the building was reconstructed, with a new Art Deco design by Hungarian architect Karoly Gonda. Now owned by state-owned Huilo Company, a recent renovation restored the name “Whiteaway Laidlaw” to the Sichuan Lu side of the building.

Left: The Whiteaway Laidlaw building today; Right: Whiteaway Laidlaw, with Hall & Holtz opposite.

Lane, Crawford’s Practical, Seasonable Gifts

Lane Crawford’s gift suggestions focused mostly on the practical: gloves, handkerchiefs, razors, umbrellas and walking sticks, perhaps what you might expect from a store founded by two practical Scots, Thomas Lane and Ninian Crawford. There is the occasional indulgence for the more luxury-minded: chocolates in fancy boxes, fur sets and fur coats, and the mysterious silver-fitted dressing box.

Founded in Hong Kong in 1850, Lane Crawford opened in Shanghai in 1872 and was located next to the Palace Hotel on Nanking Road. The building no longer stands.

Solving the Gift Problem at Sincere

Sincere, Shanghai’s first Chinese-owned department store, offered a helpful list of “good, practical” solutions to “the gift problem,” but ones with a more luxe sheen than our Scottish friends over at Lane Crawford. The Sincere ad tantalizingly suggests diamonds and jade, silks and satins, fur muffs and gold jewelry, and fancy chocolates. The men, though, seem to be receiving the short end of the stick.

“Get her an exquisite fur at Sincere’s,” suggests the ad, but for him? “Purchase a useful gift.” Safety razor, perhaps?

Founded in 1917 by Chinese-Australian Ma Ying-piu, Sincere was modelled on the department stores of Sydney, and was the first of four Chinese-owned stores on Nanking Road, the others being Wing On, Sun Sun, and Sun. These stores targeted Chinese shoppers, who increasingly had disposable incomes, with a dazzling range of goods – “from needles to [toy] elephants,” gushed one newspaper report – and products priced lower than their foreign competitors. The Sincere name was meant to suggest reliable, quality products at honest prices. The building still stands, and is today the Shanghai Fashion Store.

Savings and Utility at Wing On

Just a year after Sincere opened, Wing On opened across the street. Brainchild of another Australian-Chinese family, the Kwoks, Wing On also emphasized usefulness in their Christmas ads–with a just a touch of luxury. Utility and adornment for the ladies, and a reminder that they have “A choice collection of FURS”. Men, once again, were limited to “useful gifts that make men happy” (well, it beats the useless gifts, I suppose).

Oh, and the savings! Of time, money, and worry, when you shop at Wing On! The five-storey department store was the biggest in town, and they innovated the shopping experience by providing entertainment, a restaurant, fashion shows – all so that you could spend more time in their store. Wing On offered efficiency to their busy customers, with credit on purchases and delivery.

Left: Wing On’s Christmas ad; Center: Wing On, 1920s; Right: Wing On (left) and Sincere today.

Laou Kiu Chwang’s Christmas Silks

Back in the 1700s, silk was one of China’s most-desired trading products, and even in 1920, it remained a firm favorite with Shanghai shoppers. Department stores offered everything under the sun, but if silk was what you wanted, then you needed a silk specialist.

And as Laou Kiu Chwang suggests, no need to go traipsing all over town for your Christmas shopping: one-stop shopping, just get silk for everyone.

Sadly, the lovely Laou Kiu Chwan building no longer exists, although the building that housed another famous silk emporium, Lau Kai Fook, still stands on Nanjing Lu (it’s now the Huawei building).

Bianchi’s Tasty Dainties for Christmas

Christmas in Old Shanghai was all about entertaining – Old Shanghai eggnog, of course, but for hostesses whose cooks weren’t up to it, Bianchi’s at the Palace Hotel offered all the seasonal sweets: Christmas cakes, puddings, and mince pies. Founded by Italian Attilio Ferrari in 1918, they also offered imported chocolates (all your favorite brands!) and candies – perfect for gift-giving in fancy boxes at moderate prices!

Christmas Champagnes from Caldbeck & McGregor

It’s just not the festive season without Champers, is it? Liquor merchant Caldbeck & McGregor, agreed. No grinning Santas, holly, or even a fizzy champagne glass in their ads, though – it’s strictly business, but then again, Champagne at Christmas was not a hard sell in Old Shanghai, especially when it came from the International Settlement’s premier liquor importers.

Established in 1864, Caldbeck McGregor distributed wines and spirits as well as Aquarius mineral water. The company occupied several generations of buildings at 4 Foochow Road, but regardless, they always included a bar for tastings, after-work drinks (etc.). The 1937 building still stands, but it’s unclear if the in-house bar remains.

Inspired? Ready to put a car under the tree? If Christmas shopping has you panicked, have we got an idea for you: an Historic Shanghai gift certificate, for walks or for membership. It’s a slice of Old Shanghai, gift-wrapped. To order a gift certificate, click here.

Please order by December 24 for Christmas Day delivery.